Rust stains on sails!

[Billy_Mizzen]

The white Terylene sails on Billy Mizzen, though old-ish are serviceable enough to get another couple of seasons use out of. However they’ve got a number of rust stains on which I’m having trouble shifting and was wondering whether any body here has any useful tips, or knows of any magic gunks or goo’s which would do the trick?

 

[AndrewB]

Leave them. Nothing will remove them that won't do worst to the sail.

 

[nordic_ranger]

I remove rust stains from my old Mainsail using Oxalic acid. Dilute crystals 10-1 in tepid water and scrub stained area, it worked a treat.

 

[Billy_Mizzen]

Thanks for that I'll give it a go!

 

[oldfrank]

'Terylene' is old! OF

 

[VicS]

Oxalic acid, being poisonous, is not always easy to obtain. The alternative would be the "Stain Devil" for brown stains. It should be readily available from any decent hardware store. It is a powder that is sprinkled onto the dampened area. It contains sodium hydrosulphite (aka sodium dithionite, Na2S2O4)

 

[Swagman]

Oxlic Acid Crystals are commonly used to clean swimming pools so check out Pool Suppliers for possibly best prices. A couple of table spoons in a bucket of fresh water is super effective on most materials - including hulls! I've used it on cloth and webbing with no obvious side effect - other than the rust is gone.
Cheers
JOHN

 

[Billy_Mizzen]

Well I’m not really sure if they are ‘Terylene’, what I should have said is that they’re definitely synthetic but nothing exotic!

I managed to find some oxalic acid on eBay quite easily and at a very reasonable price! Thanks for all the advice.