Sail launder

[RJJ]

Hi. I put a 100pc and 120pc headsail in for a clean and some stipulated repairs. 45 footer.

The invoice has landed.

I wonder what bill anyone might expect for the cleaning only? It's already rather more than I expect and the repairs haven't even been added yet.

Previous experience with the same person was remarkably good value. I wonder if he's made a mistake?

As it stands, I previously washed the sails myself using percarbonate in a big tub, to good effect, but I was too lazy/preoccupied to DIY this year. Guess it serves me right.

 

[Tranona]

Sail cleaning is charged by the kilo and your sails will be pretty heavy. Can't remember offhand the charge per kilo, but most sailmakers use the same laundry.

 

[Slowboat35]

G'ie is a clue! What was the laundry bill?

 

[lustyd]

Does the cleaning include inspection? Looking for stitching problems is time consuming work. I’m going to guess at £200 per sail?

 

[stranded]

£192 40m2 main and £150 50m2 gennie last summer.

 

[Tranona]

Does the cleaning include inspection? Looking for stitching problems is time consuming work. I’m going to guess at £200 per sail?

The usual way is for the sailmaker to inspect the sail and advise repairs and cleaning needed. Sail goes of to the laundry for cleaning and repairs are done back at the loft. I shall have this done next winter after 6 years' use. The sailmaker I use will also store sails over the winter if required as part of the package.

 

[RJJ]

G'ie is a clue! What was the laundry bill?

Check and clean: £200 (£5 per kilo) - which, reviewing correspondence, I asked for the checking but not the cleaning
Check and clean and mildew treat: £350 (£10 per kilo)
Plus VAT

 

[Praxinoscope]

In January 2020 paid £5.40 per kilo for washing and valeting (minor repairs and advising if further work needed) for my genoa and main, this included winter storage.

 

[Slowboat35]

I'm glad I did the laundry myself this year!

 

[Never Grumble]

I can't remember how heavy the sail was, but £5/kg sort of rings a bell. Just checked the invoice for washing our Genoa (large overlapping 33 ft yacht) wash clean, minor repairs and new tell tales cost me £165 last summer.

 

[Tranona]

Just checked my last cleaning bill which was for the sprayhood including reproofing at £6.5 kilo.

 

[RJJ]

I can't remember how heavy the sail was, but £5/kg sort of rings a bell. Just checked the invoice for washing our Genoa (large overlapping 33 ft yacht) wash clean, minor repairs and new tell tales cost me £165 last summer.

Thanks NG. Inc VAT?

 

[lustyd]

Check and clean: £200 (£5 per kilo) - which, reviewing correspondence, I asked for the checking but not the cleaning
Check and clean and mildew treat: £350 (£10 per kilo)
Plus VAT

It's not cheap but I wouldn't necessarily call it unreasonable given the effort involved and the equipment and wages that need paying. Given the volumes I'd assume the person putting your sail through the machine isn't some low paid factory worker on minimum wage but rather a multi skilled sail loft worker.

To put it in perspective, if you look at what a solicitor charges, £200 might get you to the point where the sail is unpacked, maybe even wet if you used a very cheap one.

 

[laika]

Kemp were charging £5.50+VAT per kilo for cleaning 3 years ago. Inspection and repair was on top of that.

 

[Never Grumble]

Thanks NG. Inc VAT?

yes that was including VAT, I used Flew Sails over in Portchester. I think you will find that they and many of the local sailmakers send them to Tip Top Sail laundry and don't do the cleaning on site.