sail valeting..yes or no

radio1

radio1

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15 Feb 2007
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hello group

My Genoa (34ft boat) is 2yrs old and the UV strip is fairly grubby due to airborn pollution from local docks etc.

Is it worth sending it away to be professionally cleaned or should I give it a go myself an a sunny day.

I dont want to get it cleaned if it means a risk of damage to the dacron. After cleaning i will be looking into getting a sock for it.

BTW its a furling genny and any recomended companies would be usefull

location here Newcastle Tyneside

TIA

franky
 
worthwhile in my opinion. Not so much for the cleaning (which you can do yourself) but for the restitching and repair, which you can also do yourself, but can be a bit of a tricky job.

I suppose it depends on how much time you have on your hand and how valuable that time is (and what your ability with the sila-repair kit actually is too).
 
Not worthwhile for a two year old sail. It is only the UV strip that is a bit dirty. I have found in the past that professional cleaning literally knocks the stuffing out of sails. This is not a good thing. Also professional washing will not bring the sail back to 'as new' condition.

I would recommend having a go yourself lightly cleaning the UV strip with washing up liquid or similar. If the stitching is coming undone/frayed on a two year old sail I would be inclined to complain to the manufacturer.

Donald
 
could try Trident sails Gateshead quay, or Storrar on the coast rd Newcastle......both seem to give good service, I had a few small repairs done to my sails last year by Trident, they were very reasonable.

as for cleaning I would go with Aja's advice.
 
thanks for the info..

The sail is in good condition just grubby along the UV strip, so dont want to risk any harm to the very clean dacron in the body of the sail.

will speak to storrar and trident also and see what they suggest also.

The sail is quite stiff compared to older sails I have seen

thanks
 
Just got the bill from Arun Sails for valeting and check over & repair for the main and fore sails of my 37 footer. Washing for both sails was £60 and check over and repairs was £50. I think that was very fair as they are quite large sails.
 
So, when you have finished you will have a UV strip on your sail and a sock to protect the UV strip which is protecting the sail.

I bet you've got fender socks too.

Can I sell you some insurance??
 
I prerfer to wash sails myself. Not too difficult if you use the Avon as a bath and if you have sufficient room at home to hang the sails (by the luff) to dry. Nowadays most sailmakers send the sails to a central agency which has very large washing machines in which to wash the sails; I am not sure if this is the best way to ensure that the sails receive enough TLC!
 
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