Old sails - what to do with them ?

[arfa]

I was clearing out the attic and came across my old sails which I kept on the basis that it would be good to have some "reserve canvas".
Now having changed to properly cut and battened sails I wouldn't dream of hosting the old sails again. My question is what can be done with old sails ? Is it worth getting them recut ? Can the material be recycled ?

 

[Sans Bateau]

You could always use them to safely pack away your old flares that no one wants.

Or sell them, old and past it to you, but maybe just what someone needs who is sailing on a tight budget.

 

[Giblets]

Flog 'em to Quba Sails (http://www.quba.com/) where they will use them to make up very expensive clothing. My daughter has just bought a bodywarmer of theirs for £199.00, FFS.

 

[Fantasie 19]

Use them for sun shades on the boat?

 

[Refueler]

Ebay ... worth a few bob to another ...

Sun Awnings in garden .....

Sacrificial covers for boat bits / sails etc. .....

Stitched into sail bags / ditty bags ....

Stick em on For sale Forum below ... bet someone will have them ... I bought old sails for my Weekender and believe me they are 10x better than the old ones I had.


Basically they may be old and past Sell by Date for you ... but someone else my feel differently ...

 

[Bav34]

Sea Teach have always bought my old sails.

http://www.seateach.com/

There is a list of used sails under 'Sail Stock Listings' just to give you the idea of what they stock.

 

[Refueler]

Sea Teach have always bought my old sails.

http://www.seateach.com/

There is a list of used sails under 'Sail Stock Listings' just to give you the idea of what they stock.

When I needed a furling genny for my previous boat - Seateach sold me a really good secondhand sail ... as far as I know that sail is still in use now ... 10 yrs later.

 

[arfa]

Thank you for the replies, I will probably get in touch with seateach to see if they can offload them. I'd be a bit wary of a private sale as they would have to come with the warning that they're useless in a blow in their present condition

 

[Searush]

i put mine up the mast & sail with 'em

 

[doug748]

Flog 'em to Quba Sails (http://www.quba.com/) where they will use them to make up very expensive clothing. My daughter has just bought a bodywarmer of theirs for £199.00, FFS.

Yes, and can you think of a worse material to make clothing from?

Imagine going into the Dragon's Den with the business model.

 

[Ruffles]

i put mine up the mast & sail with 'em

Has anyone actually tried taking sails and halyards to a recycling centre? Seems a bit odd if they'll take polyester drinks bottles but not polyester fibre? There must be a lifetimes worth of bottles in one halyard!

 

[Refueler]

Has anyone actually tried taking sails and halyards to a recycling centre? Seems a bit odd if they'll take polyester drinks bottles but not polyester fibre? There must be a lifetimes worth of bottles in one halyard!

Why ?

I can think of loads of uses for this sort of stuff ...

Even giving to local Scouts is better than letting some Tip / Recycle guy make money out of your scrap !

 

[r_h]

Has anyone actually tried taking sails and halyards to a recycling centre?

I believe Shepards Marina in Cowes takes sails in for recycling in some form

 

[Richard Shead]

I have had

Yes, and can you think of a worse material to make clothing from?

Imagine going into the Dragon's Den with the business model.

One for over ten years and still going strong (an early version)...

Must be doing something right they turn over nearly 5 million.....but you are right shockingly expensive

 

[Bilgediver]

I was clearing out the attic and came across my old sails which I kept on the basis that it would be good to have some "reserve canvas".
Now having changed to properly cut and battened sails I wouldn't dream of hosting the old sails again. My question is what can be done with old sails ? Is it worth getting them recut ? Can the material be recycled ?

Give them to your neighbours to use as patio awnings.

 

[Pete7]

Has anyone actually tried taking sails and halyards to a recycling centre? Seems a bit odd if they'll take polyester drinks bottles but not polyester fibre? There must be a lifetimes worth of bottles in one halyard!

The re-cycling centre under the Northam Bridge in Southampton keeps sails to one side and flogs them for £5 each. Picked up a couple of old spinnakers for a friends wife to turn into bean bags. Another made a boat cover for a his rib.

Pete

 

[Pete7]

Arfa, deffinately worth a punt on flee bay or even Searushes Marina skip. If they only make £50 at least they may benefit someone just starting out or on a limited budget.

An old spinnaker made £289 last week.

Pete