Mylar sails

[doug748]

I have got an old Saunders Mylar Genoa which is starting to go tatty especially at the luff.

If it furls ok I am thinking of giving it a go for cruising purposes. How long do the team think it will last before falling to bits?
Do we think it would be a better bet than my old Dacron alternative?

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[potentillaCO32]

I have got an old Saunders Mylar Genoa which is starting to go tatty especially at the luff.

If it furls ok I am thinking of giving it a go for cruising purposes. How long do the team think it will last before falling to bits?
Do we think it would be a better bet than my old Dacron alternative?

.

I think it will last 6 months, 2 weeks and 3 days. Ripping to bits at 3.31 pm.
Way better than you old dacron alternative for many things.

 

[flaming]

I have got an old Saunders Mylar Genoa which is starting to go tatty especially at the luff.

If it furls ok I am thinking of giving it a go for cruising purposes. How long do the team think it will last before falling to bits?
Do we think it would be a better bet than my old Dacron alternative?

.

If you were able to post some pictures we might be able to answer those questions....

 

[Chiara’s slave]

We bought a boat with knackered mylar sails, 30 years ago. Took it to France anyway, bits of mylar flying off in the breeze proving how knackered they were. About half the main was just mesh, by the time we got home. I think you’ll know pretty quickly if you put it up and try it.

 

[doug748]

Here are a few snaps:


It's mainly a feature at the luff, you can see cellophane like backing coming away..





And in a few places strands starting to come away.....



There is only one small breach which I have covered with tape. It was stuffed in a bag.
Going to use it anyway, after fitting new luff tape.....Just curious about how long these things last towards the end and how well they keep their shape.

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[flaming]

Shape will be more than acceptable for your use. An occasional loose strand isn’t a big deal, but the Mylar film breaking down is what kills these sails. Get some sticky backed sailcloth patch tape. Patch big and patch early.

 

[zoidberg]

Get some sticky backed sailcloth patch tape. Patch big and patch early.

Proprietary name(s), please and/or where to buy....

 

[Rappey]

Do we think it would be a better bet than my old Dacron alternative?

Knowing what condition the dacron sail is in would be of some help to give any opinion.

 

[doug748]

Dacron looks better than my usual, I don't usually retire sails till I can read the time on my wristwatch through them.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

The advantage of the mylar one is that whatever shape it is now is the shape it will be with 20 knots of breeeze in it, which won’t be the cae with the Dacron one, which is probably already stretched and hollow at the leech, and will be even worse with that 20knots. As Flaming says…repair tape, that isn’t that bad. My one was obviously well beyond repair tape, but I had an urgent need to sail to Normandy, and no alternative sail.