Sail laundering

[STOL71]

Gave mine to Lonton & Gray. All good!!

 

[davidwf]

See Seashoreman's link in his post - One Sails is an agent for TipTop. One Sails, like the other sailmakers, do any minor repairs once the sail's been cleaned.

Well its up to One Sails to specify the cleaning and as explained to me by John Parker he only gets the sails rinsed, may have been that mine are laminates hence no detergents.

 

[Robert Wilson]

Many years ago I sent a Dacron sail to be cleaned and they knocked the stuffing out of it completely and I had to replace it. I imagine that modern sails are more resistant, and washing wouldn't make a laminate porous. I baulk at the cost of having sails cleaned, and although I had this done after the first years, I now only do spot cleaning at home and send them off when work is needed,

I sent mine away last year, to a local chap who then sent them to a mainstream company on the South Coast.
They came back sparkly white but while sailing this season I notice all the seams have puckered to a greater or lesser degree.
Is this normal/to be expected?

Also I note my main is baggier towards the foot than I remember - may be nothing to do with the laundering.

In future I for one will be "hoisting" them in the drive-way and rinsing them with a hose pipe.

 

[Ohlin Karcher]

Not even thought about sail cleaning yet

They’re still in use & will be up until January ?

+1, plenty of rain and sleet can only help by washing away abrasive salt crystals and dead mildew.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

I remember a sail from The Backwaters to my berth in the Blackwater.

Classic wind against tide in the Wallet. I had hank on jibs then, changed down a gear but left the previous jib tied to the rail. Most of it unravelled and was dragged through the seawater for the rest of the journey home. There was no way I was going back out there.

The sail ended up beautifully clean .

 

[Poignard]

I never wash mine and they are very old.

I keep my boat in Southern Brittany where the air is clean and they don't look as if they need it.

 

[Robert Wilson]

Further to my post #23 - Main, Genoa and No2 foresail "strung across the drive" and hosed-off and left to dry in the wind - and washed again by mother nature's rain.

The forecast said it would definitely be dry :disgust:

Engine serviced, boat cleared-out, spray-hood off, washed n put away.
Just all the "ropes" to wash now, then that's it til March :encouragement:

 

[Boj]

In which case, it would be worth making sure that customers' property is covered.

I imagine that the sails left will be on your insurance? imagine a sail loft insuraning every sail that came into them - i'm fairly sure last time i went into sail loft it stated all items left at owners risk, which i actually took as any extraneous item that might be in bag but now thinking about this i'm sure it means everything left is yours and remains yours?

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Many years ago I sent a Dacron sail to be cleaned and they knocked the stuffing out of it completely and I had to replace it. I imagine that modern sails are more resistant, and washing wouldn't make a laminate porous. I baulk at the cost of having sails cleaned, and although I had this done after the first years, I now only do spot cleaning at home and send them off when work is needed,

I have to agree.

I'm no expert on Dacron sails but the filler must be affected by cleaning.

 

[Poignard]

I imagine that the sails left will be on your insurance? imagine a sail loft insuraning every sail that came into them - i'm fairly sure last time i went into sail loft it stated all items left at owners risk, which i actually took as any extraneous item that might be in bag but now thinking about this i'm sure it means everything left is yours and remains yours?

The company to whom you entrust your property should have public liability insurance. If they don't they are taking a great risk. Not only should they be insured against damage to customers' property but also against harm caused to you.

A company that is not properly insured is one you should avoid.