Sail Washing

[MontyMariner]

What's the going rate to have your sails washed in your area?

 

[Snowgoose-1]

What's the going rate to have your sails washed in your area?

There are only a couple of businesses in the uk that launder sails. They have all the washers and dryers geared for cleaning sails. This means your local sailmaker will be using these businesse and not doing the work themselves.
You could ring round your local sailmakers to get the best rate.

 

[Lightwave395]

Just awaiting the invoice from Ratsey in Cowes for washing a very grubby Genoa, they don't do it themselves but contract it out , not sure who to

 

[wonkywinch]

As discovered in this thread the Solent use Tip Top.

Post in thread 'Sail cleaner/laundry in Hamble area?'

12 Mar 2024

Suggest you try Kemps at Gosport

If they all send the sails to one place, I might as well stay local in Hamble but appreciate the suggestion.

• wonkywinch

Sail Cleaning | Tiptop Sail Laundry | Portsmouth

 

[ashtead]

End up in WATERLOOville I think when collected but they don’t trade direct -for many now the price is a couple of hundred£ I suspect

 

[Snowgoose-1]

I wonder if they include the sail
"filler" that might be compromised when washing.

Mr Google.

Modern woven polyester sailcloth (Dacron), a specialized resinous finish or coating is applied to fill the gaps between the woven fibers. This process is often called "resinising" and acts as a filler to create a tighter, more stable, and less porous fabric.

 

[Refueler]

I wonder if they include the sail
"filler" that might be compromised when washing.

Mr Google.

Modern woven polyester sailcloth (Dacron), a specialized resinous finish or coating is applied to fill the gaps between the woven fibers. This process is often called "resinising" and acts as a filler to create a tighter, more stable, and less porous fabric.

Even in the days of real canvas sails - often they were 'filled' ... in those days it was a form of wax based ...

When I asked the Sailmaker over here about 'washing' my sails - he advised - string up between two trees ... get a pressure washer .... or lay out on a tarp and pressure wash ...

 

[seeSimon]

SW Sail, newish sail laundry business in Truro (not sailmakers), charges £5 / kg plus vat to wash. Same again to mildew treat.
Appears to operate locally? Not clear about additional transport costs.
Not used.

My local sail maker was shockingly expensive, imho, when I naively agreed (without first fixing the price) to have a smallish jib washed while in for repair...wished I hadn't!
They do wash by hand, on site. Seen them doing it.
I don't recall the exact price, but As the old adge goes..."quality remembered etc..."
I don't know what they washed with (seems like fertiliser based!) as sail was greener than ever before at the end of that season...and a few black marks remained.
Perhaps a cunning plan for repeat business?

All plus VAT and no "deals" ... it appears that there are fleets of v fancy new leased vehicles to pay for?

I'm back to a scrub on the lawn, using a large polythene sheet as a work surface...but my biggest sail is "only" 29m2.
Assim only rinsed.

 

[ashtead]

I think this turns on your size -we would have washed a centaur jib /main by hand but doesn’t really work for us so hence washed via Kemps who offer a great service checking and replacing uv strips etc at same time but it isn’t a cheap process

 

[MontyMariner]

string up between two trees ... get a pressure washer

I used to do that (bathroom window to garden fence) when I had a 22 footer but with a 10 mtr X 3 mtr foot sail it will be a bit unwieldy and I'm not sure that the fence post will take the weight!

 

[MoodySabre]

I’ve just had my 130% Genoa done by Dolphin and it was £80 including VAT

 

[mjcp]

Main (33lbs) and genoa (21lbs) wash by Owen Sails, Oban. £3.25 /lbs + VAT

Other valet costs:
33 foot 1980s cruiser/racer, Dacron sails, both needed a bit of a fettle, £45 + VAT ea.

 

[The Q]

Even in the days of real canvas sails - often they were 'filled' ... in those days it was a form of wax based ...

When I asked the Sailmaker over here about 'washing' my sails - he advised - string up between two trees ... get a pressure washer .... or lay out on a tarp and pressure wash ...

The use of wax is modern, traditionally it was fish oils, plus animal fats, occasionally tar..

 

[LeonF]

What's the going rate to have your sails washed in your area?

I sent my jib and staysail back to Hyde to be laundered and have the UV strip replaced and they took them to GP Sails who did a great job and posted them back to me. Definitely use them again.

 

[MontyMariner]

SW Sail, newish sail laundry business in Truro (not sailmakers), charges £5 / kg plus vat to wash. Same again to mildew treat.

I contacted them, about £70 for my sail, three week turnaround, £13 for Courier - They are on there way.
A quote from a pace in Poole about £170 and they send them off in batches about once a month.