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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Sail Shrinkage?

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existentialsailor
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1180 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/06/2005 : 05:12:07

Put my sails on yesterday in anticipation for hopefully splashing this week. My genny is brand new and went on well. My main is probably 5 years old and I had it cleaned and a few minor repairs done at sailcare in PA. I was surprised when I put it on. First I had to adjust my outhaul significantly to get the sail attached to the boom (it's loose footed), then I start putting the battens in and WHOA ! they are 5 inches too long! They fit just fine when I took them out last year...so my question is, do sails normally shrink when they are cleaned...this seems unusual to me.

Rick

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Brooke Willson
Admiral

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USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 06/06/2005 : 06:02:21

Sails are stiffer after the Sail Care process, but 5 inches of shrinkage is bizarre. Are you sure the battens aren't hanging up on something in the pockets? Also -- no insult intended -- are you sure you have the right battens in the right pockets? Is it at all possible they sent you someone else's sail?

Brooke

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 06/06/2005 : 13:10:19

Rick,

Brooke gave some good points to consider, especially the possibility that you have someone elses sail. Hope you had sail numbers. Some time ago I thought I'd have a sail reconditioned and when I put the sail on it had shrunk noticable. Sail care is the place that I sent the sail to.

Val on Calista # 3936

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Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 06/06/2005 : 13:49:13

I, too, recently had my mainsail done at Sailcare. They did a great job, and I appreciate how clean the sail now is, but it DID shrink a bit. Three of my four full length battens were OK, but I had to trim the longest one just a bit to get it in the pocket. The outhaul was short also. It's now stretching back to its former size. As previously noted, Sailcare will NOT improve the shape of your sai(s), it’s only a cleaning process.

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Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 06/06/2005 : 13:53:38

Hey Stu,
I see you have a C34. Are you a former C25 owner? What kind of keel do you have? Can you single hand it? I have been dreaming of a C36 someday, so you have any experience with comparing the 34 and 36? What kind of seas have you had yours out in?
Maybe if I can't afford a 36, a 34 might be the way to go.
Thanks, and you are welcome to post some pics of your 34 if you like, and we can all drool over her.

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bren737
Captain

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291 Posts

Response Posted - 06/06/2005 : 17:22:19

Rick,

How cold was the water? Didn't you see that 'Seinfeld' episode?

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existentialsailor
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1180 Posts

Response Posted - 06/06/2005 : 21:03:55

I was up at my boat tonight, I looked at the things brooke mentioned. I am sure I got my sail back. I am also sure I didn't mix up the battens, simply because on my Capri, the battens are of significantly different lengths. I also checked again for hang ups of the battens even though this was the first thing I thought of when I first realized I had a problem. I think the shrinkage is a bit excessive, but what do I know.
I'm replacing the sail as it isn't much use as is. It probably was in worse shape than I realized, not sailcare's fault. Thanks for the suggestions.
Bren, can't help you with Seinfeld, I never watch TV, no clue what the reference is, sorry.

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Ericson33
Admiral

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USA
892 Posts

Response Posted - 06/07/2005 : 02:50:42

My dingie got smaller once when put in cold water :) Ok had to say it... Rick, The PO of my boat had the main sail cleaned also at sailcare. I will shoot him over an email tonight, and get an awnser to you tomorrow. I just hope that he didn't send it to get claened after The boat had been damaged.. I have a racing main for the boat and the older one, shorten the battens if you need to.. Sail the boat a couple of times before sinking more money into her. Bring the sail home and measure it, I have both of mine her and I could measure them for you. You also might put the sail on the boat and stretch the crap out of it on the winch and outhaul. This wont help the leach of the sail but it might get the foot and head back to normal. You also might try and soaking it in really hot water for 30 min in your bath tub and see if you can get the battens to fit in.

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ChrisDara
1st Mate

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USA
88 Posts

Response Posted - 06/07/2005 : 09:57:55

Oh man! Bren, you beat me to it. haha

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.