UV strip replacement/PRICE?

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MINESAPINT2

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I am just wondering whether I have committed a cardinal sin. I need UV strips replacing on 4 head sails and have emailed 3 sail manufacturers with a description of one of the sails asking for an indication on price. Not one of them has replied.

Apart from the UV strips the sails are in OK condition but I imagine once all costs are considered I might as well just buy new sails.

I have just googled and found one company advertising UV strip replacement for £14.50/m. No doubt + VAT + carriage. No idea if this includes new cringles etc.

Mike
 
If you emailed recently you've picked probably the worst few weeks of the year to ask sailmakers for a price. Every one will be busy with last-minute jobs found before boats are relaunched.
 
Assuming the existing strips are now shredding, have you considered just removing them yourself and then using the sails without? Hopefully they will then last as long as a new strip then in a few years put the money you saved towards a new sail.
 
Spyro said:
Assuming the existing strips are now shredding, have you considered just removing them yourself and then using the sails without? Hopefully they will then last as long as a new strip then in a few years put the money you saved towards a new sail.
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Yes I have but the only problem is before the old strips (now removed by myself) were stitched they were held in place for stitching with some hellish tacky double sided tape which is now stuck to the sail. Not sure if I will be able to remove it.

Mike
 
MINESAPINT2 said:
Yes I have but the only problem is before the old strips (now removed by myself) were stitched they were held in place for stitching with some hellish tacky double sided tape which is now stuck to the sail. Not sure if I will be able to remove it.

Mike
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The double sided tape strips are used by the sailmaker to temporarily fix the sunbrella fabric before its stitched to the sail to keep it flat and smooth or the sail wont set nicely, removing it will be fun. I was quoted some £300 inc for the genoa on a 26 footer.
 
130% Masthead Genoa for 39 footer was £600 for new UV strip new webbing top and bottom and a few other minor repairs about 3 years ago. It was mid-summer so lofts not so busy.
 
£400 for small repairs and new UV strip for self tacking jib on 37 footer. Waste of money - blew out within a year. Should just have gone new headsail route.
 
Paid about £500 including laundry and some minor repairs on a 36 footer.

With hindsight I would have just removed and not bothered to replace. I think that by the time the UV strip has worn out that much the Genoa will probably be reasonably stretched but still usable. Give it another 4-5 years of use with no UV stripor a UV strip that is basically dead and it will be ripe for replacement and you will already have £500 in the bank towards it.
 
jac said:
Paid about £500 including laundry and some minor repairs on a 36 footer.

With hindsight I would have just removed and not bothered to replace. I think that by the time the UV strip has worn out that much the Genoa will probably be reasonably stretched but still usable. Give it another 4-5 years of use with no UV stripor a UV strip that is basically dead and it will be ripe for replacement and you will already have £500 in the bank towards it.
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Exactly my thoughts no point having a 15 year old stretched out headsail with 5 years left on the uv strip. 5 and 600 quid for a replacement uv strip is a complete rip off.
 
If you're careful with the sail, it will last for years with no UV strip. Just take the sail off and stow it below when you leave the boat for a week or more.
 
MINESAPINT2 said:
I am just wondering whether I have committed a cardinal sin. I need UV strips replacing on 4 head sails and have emailed 3 sail manufacturers with a description of one of the sails asking for an indication on price. Not one of them has replied.

Apart from the UV strips the sails are in OK condition but I imagine once all costs are considered I might as well just buy new sails.

I have just googled and found one company advertising UV strip replacement for £14.50/m. No doubt + VAT + carriage. No idea if this includes new cringles etc.

Mike
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Best time to e-mail sailmakers is in September.

I don't understand why you need a UV strip on four sails though. Presumably one is the main one you leave on and the others are for stronger winds, so you could manage with just a UV strip on the largest.
 
lpdsn said:
Best time to e-mail sailmakers is in September.

I don't understand why you need a UV strip on four sails though. Presumably one is the main one you leave on and the others are for stronger winds, so you could manage with just a UV strip on the largest.
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Explanation...4 sails.

She is a gaff cutter and was supplied new to previous owner with 2 white head sails. Owners wife decided she would prefer tan head sails so 2 additional sails purchased. This was 22 years ago and original main is still good but UV strips on all 4 head sails in a sorry state. Good advice in this thread I feel. Price of UV strip replacement disproportionate to price of new sail. I will just strip UV strips off when appropriate and just keep using the sails until they need replacing.

Thanks

Mike
 
MINESAPINT2 said:
Explanation...4 sails.

She is a gaff cutter and was supplied new to previous owner with 2 white head sails. Owners wife decided she would prefer tan head sails so 2 additional sails purchased. This was 22 years ago and original main is still good but UV strips on all 4 head sails in a sorry state. Good advice in this thread I feel. Price of UV strip replacement disproportionate to price of new sail. I will just strip UV strips off when appropriate and just keep using the sails until they need replacing.

Thanks

Mike
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There's a very good chance that the original UV strips deteoriated to the extent thay became ineffective a number of years ago, so your 22 year old sails probably have already suffered. If there's any that are in a better state, say a less frequently used staysail, it might just be worth the effort, but I suspect you'd get the best bargain by running the old sails into the ground. It would be hard to argue that they owe you much.
 
Prices quoted so far on here make me think I got quite a good deal a year or so back when I paid a bit under £350 (inc VAT) to have my genoa washed, get a couple of small repairs done and have a new sunstrip stitched on. Flew sails, Fareham. Nice job, too.
 
sgr143 said:
Prices quoted so far on here make me think I got quite a good deal a year or so back when I paid a bit under £350 (inc VAT) to have my genoa washed, get a couple of small repairs done and have a new sunstrip stitched on. Flew sails, Fareham. Nice job, too.
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Seems to me the price of Uv strips is dependant on where you are based .
East coast prices are usually cheaper .Certainly quoting less than the above for similar jobs .
At least a sailmaker would give you an accurate appraisal of the condition of the sails .Alternatively ,consider a zipped .sail cover which would work for both sails.
 
I picked up my 110% 16 year old jib from the sailmaker this weekend. My boat is 36’ long. It needed a patch restitched near the head of the sail and a new UV strip. Total cost? £330.
 
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