Rotting Zips in Sail Covers

[sparkie]

Hi all, four years ago I made sail covers from acrylic canvas, using plastic zips, all from Point North in Holyhead. On taking them off for the winter I've found that the fabric of the zips is rotting, presumably from UV action. I've contacted Point North, who say that UV degradation is becoming worse, and that the zips must be protected from sunlight.

I will clearly need to replace these zips in the near future, but don't want the same problem four years hence, as it's quite a job. It's also impractical to completely protect them from UV.

Has anyone else experienced this increase in UV problems, and any ideas as to an alternative source of long zips??

Cheers Sparkie

 

[bigwow]

Some one on here was recommending some spray on UV protector for hoods, inc the windows, I can’t remember the name but I’m sure someone, with a better memory than me, will be along with it soon

 

[Cantata]

My current sail cover, not made by me I hasten to add, has a flap over the zip so it lives in darkness. Perhaps worth adding if you can do that.

 

[Martin_J]

As Cantata says.. it's the way that they are sewn in that helps. Just taking a few photos of mine now to show that both sides of the zip have material over them that prevents exposure to the sun.
A bit like an invisible zip but with one flap even bigger..

Photos soon...

 

[sparkie]

Yes it's a possibility for the main zip, but it would entail a lot of re-making, which I'm keen to avoid if at all possible. On the zips which close the reefing line slits it would be well-nigh impossible methinks.

 

[Billjratt]

I've recently done the stackpack and have another two to do on one of the 'conservatory' covers. I will most certainly be adding a flap - possibly with a few velcro patches to keep it in place. A knackered zip is a real pest when the rest of the cover is in reasonable nick.
A couple of 8 x 4 sheets of ply on trestles with the sewing machine in the middle makes working with large heavy things easier I find.

 

[sparkie]

As Cantata says.. it's the way that they are sewn in that helps. Just taking a few photos of mine now to show that both sides of the zip have material over them that prevents exposure to the sun.
A bit like an invisible zip but with one flap even bigger..

Photos soon...

Photos would be great. Thanks.

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

Had the same trouble with the first stack pack that I made. No trouble at all with the second one which has now been up for some six years.

The cause? The first one was made with a zipper that must have been made of polypropylene. That has no chance of surviving continuous exposure to UV light. In the summer months the UV index here is more than 10! Go for a zipper that is made from different fabric; this usually feels softer than cheap ones made from PP.

 

[sparkie]

Had the same trouble with the first stack pack that I made. No trouble at all with the second one which has now been up for some six years.

The cause? The first one was made with a zipper that must have been made of polypropylene. That has no chance of surviving continuous exposure to UV light. In the summer months the UV index here is more than 10! Go for a zipper that is made from different fabric; this usually feels softer than cheap ones made from PP.

Point North assure me that they are selling the best zips available- as used by leading sail makers- but I guess they would wouldn't they? I've no idea what the fabric is, maker's name is PK. Any idea where I can find an alternative??

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

I regret that I cannot give you the names of any supplier because I do not live in England.

I cut the lengths that I need off of a continuous industrial roll and then fit a slider. I don't remember off-hand whether there is a name on the roll but I believe that it is YKK and the one that failed was an OPTI. I can check to see if there is a name tomorrow. Please note that with my method the two ends of the zipper (when opened) remain sewn together and cannot be separated (as on a jacket). This is not a problem because I leave a 'tail' that extends for some six inches aft of the sail.

FWIW the polyprop zipper tape has an interlocking nylon spiral that forms the 'teeth' and the tape itself feels stiff and sharp at the cut end. The other type has a much softer feel to the tape fabric and has proper plastic teeth moulded onto the meeting edges.

 

[sparkie]

[This is not a problem because I leave a 'tail' that extends for some six inches aft of the sail.

FWIW the polyprop zipper tape has an interlocking nylon spiral that forms the 'teeth' and the tape itself feels stiff and sharp at the cut end. The other type has a much softer feel to the tape fabric and has proper plastic teeth moulded onto the meeting edges.[/QUOTE]

I also leave a "tail" at the aft end of the cover, and it is this that has rotted. It sounds very much as if my zips are the better quality ones you describe, having proper teeth. If yours are YKK and have worked for six years, then that is a brand name I can look out for. Cheers.

 

[ffiill]

Think Points North/Mouse Sails of Holyhead are genuine-on a professionally made stack pack both the zips and the webbing loops that hold the lazyjacks went after about 5 years of exposure as did my genoa as it had been set to furl the wrong way such that the UV strip was on the inside.
As for biodegradable tescos bags I used one to wrap my spare anchor short chain in-one winter and its powder!-had ones full of things in my garage go as well-all it takes is sunlight.

 

[rob2]

Have you considered adding a flap om a few poppers either side of the zip? Not necessary to fit it when stopping for lunch, but will stop UV when on the moorings. You could loop the tail of the zip round and tuck it in.

Rob.

 

[sparkie]

Have you considered adding a flap om a few poppers either side of the zip? Not necessary to fit it when stopping for lunch, but will stop UV when on the moorings. You could loop the tail of the zip round and tuck it in.

Rob.

If I have to redesign Rob then it will have to be something like that- my initial thoughts are to attempt to find a UV resistant zip- that will solve the problem. However it may be that (as often the case) I'm looking for something that doesn't exist..........

Cheers

 

[alahol2]

On the 'tail' that hangs out the back of the pack I am going to sew a strip of Acrylic canvas on each side to try and stave off disintegration for a couple more years.

 

[Martin_J]

Photo at this URL showing how the zip is protected from the sun both when zipped and unzipped...

https://skydrive.live.com/embedphoto.aspx/ybw/IMG^_0606.JPG?cid=d57b857b59d08b86&sc=photos


Regarding the tail at the clew end... Our local sailmaker puts open zips on now... Those tails were never very good for doing up anyway - they always needed two hands. I however have stitched the end of the cover together so that the zipper never goes past the end. Not had a problem and outhaul and all three reefs still work...

Regarding those zippers on the side that you pass the reefing lines through.. I have modified my stackpack sailcover and have slits/slots underneath (right by the boom). They add to ventilation and also mean that the reefing line is solely tied around the boom at that point. I never liked the reefing lines passing through zipped slots and crushing the inner of the stackpack when tightened anyway.

Also added an extra 14" width to the underside of the stack pack.. so much easier to flake a new sail over the boom now.. and the zip can be pulled (from the stitched together bit at the end) with one hand now...

 

[Stu Jackson]

...my genoa as it had been set to furl the wrong way such that the UV strip was on the inside.

WADR, that's an easy fix: just reverse the roll of the furler.