How long would you expect a sail to last?

[Rick_A]

Hello folks.

How long would you expect a UV treated sail to last?
Having taken the boat out of the water at the weekend i found the foresail edge was rotten (the edge on the outside when furled). Now obviously this is caused by the sunlight hitting this one point when rolled up, but the sail is only 3 seasons old and was never used last year. The sail is advertised as being UV treated as we were told that a sacrificial strip was not necessary because of the UV treatment.
The sail wasn't cheap but i would expect it to last longer. Our previous foresail made by Jekells was 16 years old when it started to show the same symptoms.
The supplying company only offer a two year guarantee.
So dos the sail need to be treated every year or is it normal for this to happen so quickly?

 

[Simondjuk]

I don't know the answer to your question I'm afraid, but I'd be extremely disappointed. Our headsail is 5 years old, although may have been removed over the 4 winters prior to us buying the boat, and the sacrificial strip is just getting a little papery feeling and will, I expect, start to get tatty within the next couple of years. So basically, your actual sail has lasted less well than a sacrificial part of ours.

I'd have a word with the sailmaker and suggest that they might wish to repair or replace at a massive discount.

 

[johnalison]

Two or three years would be normal for an untreated sail and sounds unsatisfactory, certainly in home waters. We had a treated genoa once but it was the untreated stitching that gave way.

 

[LadyInBed]

So does the sail need to be treated every year or is it normal for this to happen so quickly?

I would get a uv strip sown on 'treated'sail or not, expect it to last 3 or 4 years.
In my experience, the sail may need some restiching after 4 to 5 years, recut after 8 years and shagged after 12.

 

[trapezeartist]

My genoa didn't have a UV strip because (allegedly) Elvstrom claim it is made of UV resistant sailcloth. When I had the same problem as the OP at about 4 years old, I took it to a sailmaker who told me there is no such thing as UV resistant sailcloth. Clearly there is a diversity of opinion on the subject, but the evidence supports the "no such thing" camp. The sailmaker cut off the leach, reworked the sail and put on a sacrificial strip. Cost about £120 I think.

 

[choppy]

My genoa didn't have a UV strip because (allegedly) Elvstrom claim it is made of UV resistant sailcloth. When I had the same problem as the OP at about 4 years old, I took it to a sailmaker who told me there is no such thing as UV resistant sailcloth. Clearly there is a diversity of opinion on the subject, but the evidence supports the "no such thing" camp. The sailmaker cut off the leach, reworked the sail and put on a sacrificial strip. Cost about £120 I think.

Had same experience, same speil with elvstrom sail - had to have a uv strip added after 3 seasons when leech shot. The sail shape is now much impaired so generally not pleased. Some talk/blame regarding an unreliable ex employee/manager resigned to putting it down to experience.

 

[sailorman]

Evlstrom sails supplied with AWBs are generally of poor quality. they are "contract" sails not bespoke

 

[choppy]

Evlstrom sails supplied with AWBs are generally of poor quality. they are "contract" sails not bespoke

pa
Mine was a new replacement for an Elvstrom original (I guessed would be a decent spec as Paul Elvstrom had same boat) - Most of the quality & work is fine if not good - just the misinfo re the uv treatment / sacrificial strip that was wrong.

 

[KellysEye]

>The sail is advertised as being UV treated as we were told that a sacrificial strip was not necessary because of the UV treatment.

UV protected sails last three to five years subject to latitude. If a sail has a sacrificial strip it will last as long as you take to stretch it, based on quality of cloth, how often you sail and wind strengths you sail in. In other words use a sacrificial strip even if the sail is UV protected.

If you sail in the Tropics the electrical ties that hold wiring on the stanchions break after two years of UV exposure, when I first saw it happen it brought home to me just how damaging UV is.

However there is Dabond UV resistant thread which was fine and lasted longer than the Sunbrella canvas Jane used for awnings, sprayhood, can covers, winch covers, GPS and SatC aerial covers.

 

[Rick_A]

Thanks for the replies folks.
I was going to have a sacrificial strip sewn on before next season anyway but may be a bit more work involved now.