foresail UV strip

ghostlymoron

ghostlymoron

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 Apr 2005
Messages
9,889
Location
Shropshire
Visit site
My foresail has been rolled up the wrong way and, I presume, left on the furler for several years. (UV strip inside not outside). What can be done? Could I just take the strip off and sew it on the other side or will the unprotected and severely faded edge be irreparably damaged?
 
ghostlymoron said:
My foresail has been rolled up the wrong way and, I presume, left on the furler for several years. (UV strip inside not outside). What can be done? Could I just take the strip off and sew it on the other side or will the unprotected and severely faded edge be irreparably damaged?
Click to expand...

probably the stitching that will have suffered most.

If the sail appears serviceable and the UV strip Ok do as you suggest after re-stitching the sail if/where necessary.

Its a big job so dont reuse the old UV strip if its not in good nick.

Not possible or sensible to reverse the direction in which it rolls? Some furlers can be rolled either way, some can't
 
An advantage of having a UV strip of a contrasting colour, is that one can see at a glance that the sail is being rolled up the correct way. If it's rolled the wrong way, you get the "Barber's Pole" effect.
 
It's only 50ft2 so not huge. The furler can go either way but the luff of the sail is faded and looks unattractive. I presume the sail under the UV strip is good and the UV strip itself looks good as its never been exposed to sun. So plan looks good. I'll swap it over and furl the proper way.
 
ghostlymoron said:
Is there any special thread required for sails?
Click to expand...
You should use 'bonded polyester' thread, which should last longer than ordinary sewing thread. It will eventually fail though. On my spray hood it lasted 7 years. Get it from Kayospruce or similar supplier. There is also a special ptfe thread which never rots BUT it costs an arm and a leg!
 
This won't apply to the OP if he's simply going to roll the sail the other way, but for anyone thinking of a DIY UV strip job, the strip should not be in one piece, but comprised of a series of (slightly overlapping) pieces along the length of the luff. Applying strips in a single piece compromises the correct shape/tension in the sail (according to my sailmaker, who knows his stuff).
 
Having thought about it some more, I need to furl it the same way after the mod. This will expose the good edge of the sail when out and the manky edge will be covered by the pristine UV strip.
 
sailorman said:
feed the line to the other side of the drum & it will furl as designed for the uv strip
Click to expand...

It depends on the gear whether or not that is possible ... see my earlier post.

Mine is not reversible, at least not without some serious engineering work, although many are.

Moreover someone will come along in a minute and say that it must not furl in the direction that will untwist the forestay ..... not figured that one out myself because its got to furl and unfurl so one way will always be contrary to the lay of the wire.
 
VicS said:
It depends on the gear whether or not that is possible ... see my earlier post.

Mine is not reversible, at least not without some serious engineering work, although many are.

Moreover someone will come along in a minute and say that it must not furl in the direction that will untwist the forestay ..... not figured that one out myself because its got to furl and unfurl so one way will always be contrary to the lay of the wire.
Click to expand...


well my furler, as many do, actually turn both ways
anti clock wise to furl
clock wise to unfurl
did you forget that smilie :)
 
I had my uv strip renewed a few months ago and it cost 4.00 plus vat per foot. Total cost was over two hundred pounds.
 
VicS said:
Moreover someone will come along in a minute and say that it must not furl in the direction that will untwist the forestay ..... not figured that one out myself because its got to furl and unfurl so one way will always be contrary to the lay of the wire.
Click to expand...

From the Plastimo Jib Reefing assembly instructions.

"Reefing direction of the genoa
The genoa should be reefed in the same direction as the strands turn on the forestay."
 
kolster said:
From the Plastimo Jib Reefing assembly instructions.

"Reefing direction of the genoa
The genoa should be reefed in the same direction as the strands turn on the forestay."
Click to expand...

Interesting. The strands on my forestay go clockwise on the way up but anti-clockwise on the way down...
 
I have a Furlex which is designed such that the reefing line is down the Port side. This means that when pulling out the sail the reefing line is wound on a clockwise direction (looking down the forestay) and thus the sail fuels in on an anti clockwise direction. It cannot be reversed as the reefing line would need to do a 90deg turn at the port side exit slot of the reefing drum which would add significant friction when trying to furl the sail.
 
ghostlymoron said:
My foresail has been rolled up the wrong way and, I presume, left on the furler for several years. (UV strip inside not outside). What can be done? Could I just take the strip off and sew it on the other side or will the unprotected and severely faded edge be irreparably damaged?
Click to expand...

Mr Ghostly, everyone so far has assumed that 'several years' unprotected from Uv = a good sail. I question that. Take the sail to an honest sail expert and tell them what has happened and ask if the sail is worth repairing. If it is, let him do it. If not, ask him to quote for replacement.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top