CLEANING SAILS

[pandos]

How do people clean their sails??. I know one can give them to a loft to have them cleaned and stored, I have seen people cleaning them in the gargen with buckets of soapy water and I have known people that stuff them in a bag and take them out the next year and they are fine. Some where there is a middle ground,???

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[Cantata]

Followed sailmaker's advice washing mainsail this year. Requires a wheelie bin, hopefully provided by your local council. Fill bin with water at temperature just able to bear. Use bio powder. Stuff sail in, squidge up and down a lot, leave for about an hour. Take it out, and rinse it in fresh water. Worked really well.

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[alan]

I've tried two methods:
(1) One year I copied my local chandlers/maintenance guys who spread a large sheet of thick plastic on the carpark and then spread the sail out and rinse it with a hose pipe, then brush it with a softish brush and a mild soap, then turn it over and repeat; then rinse it again a couple of times.
However, I didn't like the fact that you have to walk on the sail even if it is on a thick plastic sheet - I was concerned that the small grit from the car park could damage the sail material threads.

(2) Now I wash them in situ, by rinsing the sail thoroughly with a hose pipe whilst raising it. Then lower it again and commence to raise it slowly about a metre at a time (or as far as you can reach); with one person each side of the sail we wash with large sponges using a mild detergent - of course if you are alone you will have go from side to side of the sail (OK at first, but long walks when you get near the foot of the sail!!). When the sail has been completely soaped, lower it again and then commence to raise it whilst rinsing both sides of the sail (if you have two hose pipes it makes this faster - usually you can borrow the one from 'next door'!)

I have found method 2 above to work reasonably well; it doesn't get the real dark stains from the Sahara sand out - but neither does taking them to the local sailmaker.) An advantage of method 2 is that you don't have to take the sails off the boat and transport them home or wherever, and there is only the cost of some soap and a fair bit of elbow grease.

I look forward to reading how other people clean their sails ...........

Alan.
Nettuno, Italy.



<hr width=100% size=1>Alan Cloke

 

[dickh]

I just hang them up from the luff from my shed to a poiint up a tree so they hang vertically downwards, then spray them with the water hose, paying attention to the foot of the sail which will have received the most salt water. Spray both sides then leave hanging until dry. Make sure you choose a drying day. If not fully dry will hang them loosely in the garage for a couple of days. Then carefully fold and pack into a sailbag.

<hr width=100% size=1>dickh
I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[Micky]

Put sail in the bath and tread on them like you see wine makers treading on grapes, this make a quick easy job and plenty of fresh clean water.

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[clyst]

Kids blow-up paddling pool works for me.Fill with warm water 1/2 packet of DAZ and trample and rinse. Got a feeling the pool cost £3-99 from a cheapo shop. Better than scratching the bath IMHO anyway.

Terry

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[graham]

"kids paddling pool" Why didnt I think of that?

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[William_H]

I have to be contrary but why clean them. You must be getting a lot of dirt thaty I am not getting. Mine just get put away. They tend to wear out before anything gets too grubby howver if you must clean them all the ideas seem good. will

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[steveallan]

Take it to your local laundrette if they cannot do it they should be able to send it away for you. My main cost about £12 last year up from £5 the year before.

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