Lesson 6

Sail Maintenance

With autumn being almost over in some parts of the world, and winter approaching faster than some would like, it is important to make sure that the boat will be prepared well for the next sailing season. Sails are a very important part of this preparation, and you should decide what condition they are in before your last sailing escapade this year. You need to answer such questions as: What were the problems that I had with my sails this year, if any? Do I need to give my sails for service? What are the new sails that I will need next season? If my budget is tight - what are the absolutely necessary things I need to change about my sails?

The following are the items we'll talk about here:

If you need new sails

Inspect your headsail

Inspect your mainsail

Inspect your spinnaker

Cleaning your sails

Winter storage of your sails

If you need new sails

Even though most sailmakers will know the parameters of the sails for given production boats, it's still useful to know them yourself anyway. This way you will be absolutely certain that the new sails will fit your boat perfectly. Some sailmakers will ask you for very specific measurements of your sails. Use the following pointers when measuring:

Measure to the edges of the sail - not to the ring.

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Always measure in a straight line - do not measure according to the edges (the curves) of the sail.

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Try to order your new sails still in the fall, as you will be most likely to get the best prices, and will have your sails ready when promised. Remember, that spring is a much busier time for sailmakers.

It is also a very good idea to take notes describing the problem areas - maybe even making them in pencil on your sail. Another valuable thing you can do to save some money and time while explaining your problem is to take pictures of the problem areas - whatever they are. Even if it is a flapping leech or wrinkles that are not supposed to be there - take the picture while sailing. This will give the sailmaker a noteworthy piece of information about the problems needing fixing.

Inspect your headsail

Here's a checklist for your inspection:

tensioning of the luff tape or rope (this changes with time) - will cause vertical wrinkles, or the sail will "bunch up" right before the rope; with applying more tension on the halyard, this problem increases

look for missing telltales

any tears of the sail - especially at the corners (head, tack and clew)

Inspect your mainsail

Here's a checklist for your inspection:

tensioning of the luff and foot rope - if the rope shrunk it will change the shape of the sail; very often it is simply possible to remove some stitches near the tack to remove the tension

look for missing telltales

look for any tears of the sail at the corners

inspect the batten pockets for tears

Inspect your spinnaker

Here's the checklist for your inspection:

look for any tears on the sail

inspect the porosity of your sail (nylon especially, but also polyester): get (possibly from the sailmaker) a new piece of the same material that your spinnaker was made of, and try to suck air through it. Then do the same thing with your spinnaker. If you can breathe through it, it means that the sail's finish has started to deteriorate and will need changing. You can't simply repair the finish - you do need to change the whole sail. However, this is not an especially huge problem - in strong wind it will be easier to manage your sail when it's porous. It depends on you: how much do you need to be fast, and how much do you use your spinnaker are important questions to ask yourself before committing to the making of a new spinnaker.

Cleaning your sails

Every used sail should be properly cleaned before storage. You can ask your sailmaker to do this - they will charge you by the square foot, or by the pound.

If you feel up to it, however, you can clean them yourself. You need to find a large clean area - no spilled oil, no grass. Spread your sail on the surface, rinse it thoroughly with fresh water, and then scrub it with a very soft brush (soft is the keyword here! If you can scrub your brand new car with it - you can use it on your sails.). If there are stains - use a clothing detergent to get rid of those. If you have trouble removing any stains, talk to a sailmaker. DO NOT USE ANY BLEACH unless the sailmaker has given you an OK for this. Try not to scrub too hard, and if you can't remove any stains - it's probably your best bet to give the sail to the sailmaker.

Winter storage of your sails

To fold your sails:

spread the sail on a clean surface,
flake it horizontally - make sure that foot is covered by the first fold,
and then roll it into a brick - from luff to leech.

Cover the sail with plastic sheeting to keep it dry and protect it from insects. To further protect it from the rodents you may place several mothballs in each of the corners of the "brick". Do not store the sail in a zippered or a turtle bag - this will wrinkle the sail, potentially damaging it. KEEP THE SAILS ASHORE IN A DRY AND CLEAN PLACE.

Lesson 7: "Attaching the Sails"