Is this sail worth repairing?

[stav]

Evening all, I tend to use second hand sails but might invest in a new mainsail next year. Currently I have an old but ok fully battened (removed from its boat after 3 years of use and then stored for 15years or so). Normal light weight Dacron. The plan is to see what sailing I do this year and then order or not order a sail next winter. (I have just rerigged and done the through hulls). The Dacron sail is quite light fabric and with my heavy old girl (westerly Conway) I am slightly concerned about tearing it.I was asked if I wanted this sail and gratefully accepted it but it happens to be a bit small but might be good for some windier weather? But only if a strong repair can be done. So if you read all that thank you and with that context in mind can it be repaired to be used in heavier winds 18 plus knots? Probably dropped in anything over 40knts and just use a job and mizzen? I did buy some sail repaired tape 150mm wide. But is it strong/reliable? Keen to try a modern material sail to help decide what i want from my new sail next year. Thanks

 

[thinwater]

a. Without seeing the sail, no guess. Laminate sails tend to fail all at once, and that looks like cloth failure. I also see what looks like damage by your heel. Old racing sails often don't last long.

b. I see a LOT of leach hook. The battens are missing, but I also wonder if it was cut for a mast with a lot more prebend, or perhaps it isn't stretched out. Install the battens. If you can't get it flat, useless.

 

[Concerto]

Personally I think it is way past its useful life. The radial cut is unusual and is slightly short. The full length battens should support the sail better than short battens, so how or why do you have such a large hole in it. Are you sure about the age of the sail. You mention it is a light Dacron material, generally this is only used on a budget priced sail and does not have a long life.

 

[Baddox]

It is only a short rip and should be an easy repair; whether the rest of the sail will survive is impossible to tell from a photograph. For a few minutes with a patch and sewing machine I’d give it a go.
As mentioned, the sail does look baggy, perhaps from ageing and use reaching the end of its life. Or it could need more mast bend and it looks like there is scope to tighten the foot and reduce the draught too.

Nothing ventured, nothing lost.

 

[westernman]

If you can afford a new sail, then no, that sail is not worth repairing.
But if it is a choice between a new sail and not eating for a month, then I would try to patch up the old sail, but I would never be happy with it nor trust it in a blow.

 

[flaming]

Evening all, I tend to use second hand sails but might invest in a new mainsail next year. Currently I have an old but ok fully battened (removed from its boat after 3 years of use and then stored for 15years or so). Normal light weight Dacron. The plan is to see what sailing I do this year and then order or not order a sail next winter. (I have just rerigged and done the through hulls). The Dacron sail is quite light fabric and with my heavy old girl (westerly Conway) I am slightly concerned about tearing it.I was asked if I wanted this sail and gratefully accepted it but it happens to be a bit small but might be good for some windier weather? But only if a strong repair can be done. So if you read all that thank you and with that context in mind can it be repaired to be used in heavier winds 18 plus knots? Probably dropped in anything over 40knts and just use a job and mizzen? I did buy some sail repaired tape 150mm wide. But is it strong/reliable? Keen to try a modern material sail to help decide what i want from my new sail next year. Thanks

I’ve sent worse to the loft and got useable sails back…

I generally agree with the sentiments above, essentially on the fact that you must get battens for it. Otherwise, it’s a sewn panelled laminate rather than a moulded sail, so probably will fail in this way - a new hole appearing every time you sail - rather than a big bang and a lot of expensive streamers like the early moulded string sails did. So not the same sort of risk of being out in a blow without a useable sail. But hard to tell without seeing it if that cloth is giving up or just an unlucky hole.

 

[doug748]

I had a go with an old genoa using tape + a couple of passes with a sewing machine. It should stand up to some moderate use and mains generally take less stick.

It may give you breathing space to adjust your cash flow but, as above, some new spots will open up.
I would not spend any money with the sailmaker, dont think the return would be worth it.

.

 

[thinwater]

... Otherwise, it’s a sewn panelled laminate rather than a moulded sail, so probably will fail in this way - a new hole appearing every time you sail - rather than a big bang and a lot of expensive streamers like the early moulded string sails did. So not the same sort of risk of being out in a blow without a useable sail. But hard to tell without seeing it if that cloth is giving up or just an unlucky hole.

Maybe. I've had a sewn laminate like this blow in half at ~ 25 knots. I've repaired small tears, and a few sails later it's something else. If you can repair it yourself (adhesive repair is probably best) fine, but I wouldn't spend a dollar on it.

 

[Refueler]

I really dislike the laminate sails on my 38ft Racer ... I mean I HATE them !!

OK - on my 25ft - I decided to trial a different cut of sail and it was 2nd hand ... WOW what a difference ... immediate improvement.

When I conisder to replace the sails on my 38 - they will be 2nd hand ... chosen carefully ...

If they are 'blown' ... then they will be given to sailmaker to take out the 'blown' and reset ... overall the cost saving is signiificant ..

To OP - I would be wary of repairing a sail that tears easily ... I would certainly look at 2nd hand .... lets be honest a Westerly is no racing boat - its a Cruiser.

 

[thinwater]

I really dislike the laminate sails on my 38ft Racer ... I mean I HATE them !! ....

OK, I can think of reasons, but please say why. The only sails I have ever disliked were because they fit poorly. A mismatch in mast prebend is a common reason for used sails. And of course, older laminates take a lot of maintenance, that may not even help.

 

[Refueler]

OK, I can think of reasons, but please say why. The only sails I have ever disliked were because they fit poorly. A mismatch in mast prebend is a common reason for used sails. And of course, older laminates take a lot of maintenance, that may not even help.

Why ?

The laminates I have are heavy and difficult to manage when folding onto the boom ... they have full battens with relevant cars ... its like folding cardboard !
Nothing to do with roach / fit / prebend etc ... its just the handling of such heavy stiff material.

I would much prefer to have Dacron lighter sails - even if it means replacing more often.

 

[LiftyK]

I also enjoyed sailing with cast-off sails donated by friends. Not laminate sails but nevertheless well-used. One year my mainsail was with the sailmakers for inspection and repair. My phone rang. It was the sailmakers. "Erm, we are having a bit of bother.". I learned that the bolt rope at the leading edge can bunch up, and the technique used to spread it out again is to tension the leading edge and then run at it and barge it with your shoulder. This time, the person performing the deed went right through the sail. The sailmakers were very generous and offered to repair the sail this time and then explained it really ought be the very last repair. I enjoyed one more season with the sail and, as many friends had stopped sailing and therefore my supply of hand-me-down sails was drying up, I bought a new sail. What a transformation. My boat now sails almost upright.

So to answer your question on whether the sail should be repaired or retired, imagine hurling yourself at your sail and ask yourself if you would pass through or bounce off. The result might help you decide how to proceed.

 

[Refueler]

I removed the boltrope from a genoa years ago ... as it had broken in a couple of places .... when I removed it and saw what it really was - I sat down ... astounded !

The sail was of a reputable company .. name I shall not give .... but just to say that a boltrope is there to fit a groove and keep sail aligned to the foil / mast.... it has no part in carrying sails luff tension etc.

The sail - I replaced the boltrope with plastic covered washing line !! Yes you read it right ...

I compared the original boltrope and I found no difference in materials ............ the sail served me well and I know after selling the boat - it served new owner well also ....

I find it interesting that a sailmaker says they 'hurl themselves' at the sail to reset boltrope ! When its easy enough to hand it along ... done it on a number of sails on various boats

 

[Cerebus]

Depends upon your circumstances.

Me - totally DIY for as much as I can be and fit as long as I can be.
So I have many stitching devices, patches, glue, material…

In your position I would repair it and see how it held.
If failed and opened more, replace.

I don’t know your circumstances, your DIY skills or your disposable income, so I cannot say more obviously.

Hope you work it out, if not an all year sailor, you have time upon your side.

 

[stav]

Thanks for the replies, I will give the repair a go and sort out some battens. Must say if I have a good season and keep her looking forward to a new mainsail!

 

[Cerebus]

Thanks for the replies, I will give the repair a go and sort out some battens. Must say if I have a good season and keep her looking forward to a new mainsail!

I think you can repair it and sail onwards… it is a tiny fault as far as I can see.

 

[Roberto]

FWIW, sometimes the broken sail is almost the only thing you have (meaning, tech repairs are thousands of miles or weeks away), in those cases the shred sail can be used as a pattern to sandwich/sew new cloth instead of trying to mend the torn one. We had a few similar cases, once a carbon sail with broken black filaments everywhere, a sailmaker friend said you can't possibly repair it so we sewed and sewed additional patches until the whole amorphous thing got a decent shape and off we went

 

[Refueler]

Old sails are excellent donors to make covers .....