Old sail, new UV strip?

If you lived closer I might have offered to do it... but they do take time (of which I seem to be seriously lacking these days) and need a large flat space in which to work. I am usually lucky enough to find empty office areas at work... Hopefully at the link below you can click right and go through the sequence of my UV panel replacement on a genoa for a masthead Moody s38.
UV panel replacement with Weathermax

I used self adhesive WeatherMax from Contender Sailcloth in Segensworth - nice and easy to visit them and pick up immediately. The self adhesive version of the WeatherMax just made it easier to stick in place before sewing. Sewing was then done with a single step zig zag.

Others have mentioned unpicking to save money - That's a really small part of the job so I doubt would save much.
 
Keeping a decent UV strip on the sail will increase it's useful life. If you're a racer, it's a no brainer. The sail will lose its shape by the time the UV strip needs to be replaced, but I lost 15% of my roller genoa when the UV strip failed. It was replaced with a coloured UV strip and I realised the original, which was self coloured, wasn't deep enough to protect the sail when wrapped. My Main, which is the same age and protected by a sail cover when not in use, is almost as good as new while my Genoa has finally given up the ghost.
 
The price appears competitive, so perhaps you're straining at a gnat.
A lot depends on the genoa - a bi-radial keeps its shape longer, lasts and is an expensive sail to replace - if yours is a crosscut I can understand you having a dilemma.
You do need a competent sailmaker to put a UV strip on without distorting the leech.

I've a genoa, now 18 years old and on its 3rd UV strip, £300 would be about 15% of a comparable replacement and the cost of the replacement UV strip was €250 for a 30m2 sail. That was in Thessaloniki which is a cheap place to have such things done.
But then the UV is rather more noticeable in the Med.
 
Unpick it and remove it yourself. Save your £300 put it towards a new one in 6 years time. The sail should last at least another 6 years then it's time for replacement. Chances are it will last a lot longer in Scotland. yes we have long summer days but we don't always see the sun.
 
Spyro said:
Unpick it and remove it yourself. Save your £300 put it towards a new one in 6 years time. The sail should last at least another 6 years then it's time for replacement. Chances are it will last a lot longer in Scotland. yes we have long summer days but we don't always see the sun.
Click to expand...

Sounds good to me. I'm in the same situation, awaiting a quote to replace the UV strip on my jib sail. Having read this thread I'm wondering if I'll remove the old strip, have another two or three years from the old sail then buy a new one.
 
Humblebee said:
Sounds good to me. I'm in the same situation, awaiting a quote to replace the UV strip on my jib sail. Having read this thread I'm wondering if I'll remove the old strip, have another two or three years from the old sail then buy a new one.
Click to expand...

Yep, that's what I did 5 years ago and no prob yet ... however I always took the sail off the furler if leaving the boat for period. ( just like the pre furler days).
 
£280 - £300 is about right price. I wasnt prepared to spend that, rather save it and put towards a new sail. spent £60 on some sunbrella and thread and the wife did the job on the drive, large flat surface so it gets stitched flat so it doesnt distort the sail shape. Was it worth it? only just, sail looks good and sets nicely but a lot of effort.
 
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