Valeting of sails

[Chris_White]

Can anyone advise where to send cruising yacht sails for washing? I know most sail makers take them, but they then send them on to the professionals for cleaning. Ideally I would like to cut out the middle man and deal direct.

 

[Talbot]

Difficult to recommend without knowledge of size of boat (hence size of sails) and your location. I very seldom have my sails washed, but do have them checked over by the sailmaker -- a stitch in time etc, and also they then stow them for me until I need to hang them up again. This winter one of the sails is being washed cause it is also having a new UV strip, but all the others are just being checked.

I use Arun and have always been happy with them.

 

[Chris_White]

Thanks for this. Sails are for Catalina 320, boat kept on River Hamble but could send sails anywhere.

 

[Talbot]

would suggest that Arun would be ideal for this:

Arun Sails Ltd
The Sail Centre, Southfield Industrial Park
Bosham
Chichester
PO18 8NW
West Sussex
Tel: 01243 573185
Fax: 01243 573032
Internet: www.sailmakers.com


Of course there are others, but I have experience of this company and am happy to recommend them

 

[silverseal]

My launderette in Gosport charges £2.40 to wash and spin dry a machines worth. 6 sails for a 32 footer cost under a tenner!

 

[geoffatstanpit]

Is that some special kind of a launderette? I don't think I could get my Comet sail in the machines in my local one let alone anything off a 32 footer?

Geoff

 

[silverseal]

Dunno . the launderette in Bury road has large machines which takes 10 lbs clothes. Copes with battenless mainsail no probs... but they do the laundering and very helpful they are too. Managed to get a storm jib, cruising chute and no2 jib in the same machine at the same time

 

[William_H]

I don'tknow much about sails but shudder at the idea of putting them in a washing machine. It seems to me you would beat the filler out of the cloth and make them very soft and definitely not new looking. I hang them up in the garden and use the hose to wash off the salt and hang to dry. Even then I don't think it is necessary unless you have a lot of polution or dust. will

 

[Iota]

Hood are doing a free service
http://www.hood-sails.com/flash_content/servicefr.html

Iota

 

[Plan_B]

I'd go along with you William, after having worsening problems each year with my in-mast reefing, the manufacturers agent recommended that I never have my sails laundered again, but just thoroughly wash them with fresh water and hang to dry.

The sail was getting softer each year and bunching at the mast.

Dave D