Paint Genoa

[jonathanhsm]

I know this is a subject that has been visited before but I am looking for latest recommendations. The UV strip on enormous 150% genoa is worn through and in tatters in places...probably because the sail is furled on the boat all year round. The sail is ancient and the cost of new UV strip absolutely not worth it. But assuming I can face the tedious job of removing the sacrificial strip I could then paint the leech of the sail it covered with uv resistant paint. In the past Ive seen some say acrylic house paint .... others inflatable boat paint Any recommendations and brands ?

(And yes I know the answer is probably a new sail ... but I am loathe to spend more than the boat is worth !)

 

[dansaskip]

You have said it yourself - it the sail is ancient and the UV strip in tatters then the sail is probably well past its best - or knackered in other words, probably baggy and doesn't set well. Treat yourself and boat to a new sail.

 

[thinwater]

New sails are better, but I had a painted UV strip on this sail for years. Very easy, never chipped a bit.
Painted UV Strip

I used 2 coats of Amazon MDR inflatable paint. I tested a bunch before I made this choice--this was the on that did not chip. I used the sail for 4 years, before I replaced it for other reasons. It was a skrim/laminate/skrim sail that had good shape but that would not tolerate stitching anyway.

When you consider how many sponsored boas have painted advertisements on the sails, it's not that strange. From what I understand, one of the biggest problem with paint on sails is the drying time it hogs on the loft floor; it must dry for days before it can be folded.

 

[jonathanhsm]

Thanks ... any idea where I get Amazon MDR in UK ... all searches seem to lead me to US ?

 

[thinwater]

I did not test non-US products.

That said, this looks like the sort of thing you need. You might ask them if it has been used on sails.
https://www.rib-shop.com/topside-flexible-paint/

This sort of paint is also handy for protecting small spots of sails with UV strips, but where the cover missed a few key spots, such as webbing at the tack and clew. That's often what fails.

 

[jonathanhsm]

Sorry just realised you are in the US!

 

[thinwater]

Sorry just realized you are in the US!

I like this forum! Lots of good sailors in the UK, and we (sort of) speak the same language, as least regarding sailing.

 

[Refueler]

If your sail is anything like mine ... removing the old UV strip was not so easy and I did get a couple of short tears .. about 2 -3" when doing it ...

But the biggest problem was the glue left behind on the sail from when the UV strip was applied before stitching. I tried everything .. 3 different brands of Glue remover ... alcohol .... even WD40 ... tried so many products and nothing shifted it. I gave up in the end and because I'd always wanted a different size sail - I replaced it with 2nd hand ... best decision I made.

I suppose UV paint might cover the glue and stop it sticking when sail is furled / folded ??

 

[jonathanhsm]

as they say in your part of the world "you're welcome!"

 

[thinwater]

... I suppose UV paint might cover the glue and stop it sticking when sail is furled / folded ??

The sail I painted did not have a UV strip at all, which is (a) why it needed one and (b) why I didn't talk about removing the old one. I got the sail second hand for cheap from a racer (he didn't keep it on a furler) and it served for a while. Painting was easy.

I did let it dry for ~ 2 days before folding. I did not have any problems with sticking. I wouldn't think ancient, dried out glue would be a problem, but I don't know for sure. I'd test a very small spot to see if the paint dried properly. I doubt you need to clean off all the glue. What does not come off easily is probably not a problem. But I would absolutely test a 6" x 6" spot with paint.

I'm not sure why paint is not used for UV strips. The sailmakers I talked to suggested both tradition and drying time (tying up loft floor) as reasons. For new polyester sails, Sunbrella is king for durability. As for the lighter cover materials, my experience is that paint is probably just as good, since most of them are not that durable and don't stop UV as well as paint (I've had the lighter covers--they suck IMO).

 

[Refueler]

Believe me - that glue is sticky once summer comes along .... and |I was trying to pre-warn OP ...

He may be lucky and his sail does not have same as mine ... but knowing that many sailmakers do use glue to position joints etc ... ??

I even considered Spinnaker tape over it to cover ....

 

[thinwater]

Believe me - that glue is sticky once summer comes along .... and |I was trying to pre-warn OP ...

He may be lucky and his sail does not have same as mine ... but knowing that many sailmakers do use glue to position joints etc ... ??

I even considered Spinnaker tape over it to cover ....

^^ There you go.

I'm not a big fan of SA.

 

[rotrax]

Just a comment. Some years ago I bought a fantastic set of Australian made Kangeroo skin racing leathers from a top Aussie Speedway rider that fitted me perfectly. Trouble was they were a very bright green.

The guy next door to our workshop premises was a Classic Car trimmer, specialising in Connolly leather. He regularly 're-connollised' ie 'refreshed' leather car seats. He had just done a Lancia for Rowan Atkinson.

He took a look at my new leathers, said he could make them black, and he did. He used a plasticiser added to conventional leather/fabric paint so it became especially flexible. He applied it with an airbrush.

They were great and lasted for years.

 

[Refueler]

^^ There you go.

I'm not a big fan of SA.

SA ??? Whats that ??

 

[thinwater]

SA ??? Whats that ??

Self-adhesive. A common abbreviation in some circles. You will also see it in part numbers.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Have a chat to these guys, specialist in paint-on flexible coatings for exactly the purpose required.

Home | OCEANFLEXIBLECOATINGS.COM

No connection with me.

 

[vyv_cox]

An alternative to renewing/painting the UV strip might be to make a sock for the sail. Many sailors do not want a UV strip at all and have a sock instead. Doesn't need to be made from high-tech material or with an industrial sewing machine.

 

[Refueler]

An alternative to renewing/painting the UV strip might be to make a sock for the sail. Many sailors do not want a UV strip at all and have a sock instead. Doesn't need to be made from high-tech material or with an industrial sewing machine.

Myself and a number of boats around mine have no UV ... no its not a white UV ! With no sock ...

I'm not so concerned as I replaced UV 2x on the sail on my 25 and it still ended up with damage to repair each time UV was replaced. Not sure how much the UV reduced it by ...