davew190
New Member
What's the best way to wash sails?
I'm thinking of giving them a clean before the first sail of the season,
I'm thinking of giving them a clean before the first sail of the season,
washing sails
- Thread starter davew190
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saltwater_gypsy
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 13 Jan 2008
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- 1,946
- Location
- Now back in Scotland . Boat for sale
What I do with the main is to start on a warm calm day and hoist about a metre of main . Give it a good scrub and rinse on both sides and then hoist another metre and so on until the whole sail is clean. Leave at full hoist until dry.
I usually take the genoa off the boat and scrub it on a pontoon before hoisting again to dry.
I dont think it matters too much which detergent you use but people will have their own preferences.
I usually take the genoa off the boat and scrub it on a pontoon before hoisting again to dry.
I dont think it matters too much which detergent you use but people will have their own preferences.
sarabande
Well-Known Member
assuming that you are afloat while you do all this dhobying, what effect do you think that the detergent has on the marine life ? Let alone the ingestion and inspiration of small particles of the stuff into your own body and that of people nearby.
AFAIK there's no detergent that does not use a surfactant - so spare a couple minutes and read this article from The Ecologist
http://www.theecologist.org/pages/archive_detail.asp?content_id=2085
AFAIK there's no detergent that does not use a surfactant - so spare a couple minutes and read this article from The Ecologist
http://www.theecologist.org/pages/archive_detail.asp?content_id=2085
castaway
Well-Known Member
I keep an old bath behind my shed and wash the sails every autumn in my back garden. Just pick a decent day.
My sails are at the top end of what is possible I reckon but I can just about get them well washed with a biological detergent.
Its pretty dificult to know if a 'pro' job would be much better but this is certainly cheaper and at the very least gets the salt and loose dirt out.
I hang them up to dry on a very long line fixed to the house gable end and strung down the garden .
Regards Nick
My sails are at the top end of what is possible I reckon but I can just about get them well washed with a biological detergent.
Its pretty dificult to know if a 'pro' job would be much better but this is certainly cheaper and at the very least gets the salt and loose dirt out.
I hang them up to dry on a very long line fixed to the house gable end and strung down the garden .
Regards Nick
sarabande
Well-Known Member
It's a fairy tale...
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davew190
New Member
Thanks for all the info, I will be on dry land when washing them! Back garden with a large container and some detergent.
Vara
Well-Known Member
Wheelie bin and a posser,
Or one of those very cheap blow up kids paddling pools and feet a les grapes.
The paddling pool is easy as you just tread on the edges to drain the water.
Have used Dreft for this in the past and it works reasonably well.
Water and detergent does not seem to do any damage to lawn.
Or one of those very cheap blow up kids paddling pools and feet a les grapes.
The paddling pool is easy as you just tread on the edges to drain the water.
Have used Dreft for this in the past and it works reasonably well.
Water and detergent does not seem to do any damage to lawn.
Refueler
Well-Known Member
Fiar enough - but unfortunately there are environmetally acceptable Detergents based on Coconut Oil, other natural occurring Oils as purely examples.
In fact one is accepted enough to be used when Fullers Earth is insufficient to de-oil sea-birds after spills.
Environmentalism is good but also needs to be seen addressing the wide picture, not extracts to suit.
Sorry but no offence intended - just would like to straighten the picture somewhat.
In fact one is accepted enough to be used when Fullers Earth is insufficient to de-oil sea-birds after spills.
Environmentalism is good but also needs to be seen addressing the wide picture, not extracts to suit.
Sorry but no offence intended - just would like to straighten the picture somewhat.
Refueler
Well-Known Member
Bath ... warm water and washing powder ...
Now go for a walk in the bath !! a la grape style
Then carry out to garden .. string up and hose off ...
Some talk about using power washers - personally I would not like that ... I know some sail-lofts do ... but ones I used in past used big industrial wash machines on light cycle to stop creasing cloth.
Now go for a walk in the bath !! a la grape style
Then carry out to garden .. string up and hose off ...
Some talk about using power washers - personally I would not like that ... I know some sail-lofts do ... but ones I used in past used big industrial wash machines on light cycle to stop creasing cloth.
oakum
Well-Known Member
<<<<< Enlightenment is motor-sailing >>>>>
Er ----- no pollution caused by motorsailing then ???
Er ----- no pollution caused by motorsailing then ???
sarabande
Well-Known Member
I have long advocated the use of appropriate "detergents", and recommended Oil Technics, who have a range of stuff to meet about any environmentalist's criteria.
What causes me to become a little impatient is the unthinking use of chemicals (often disguised in flowery "biodegradable" language by the maker) to clean teak decks, bilges, sails, etc. In many cases, such decisions are driven by innocent ignorance, but I have seen too frequently the use of really strong cleaners when people know well what the safety sheets say.
I think we are on the same side - at least I hope so /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif - and wonder if you can suggest by name suitable products to act as cleaners for the various boaty operations that are needed. I don't really want to look at this narrowly from the viewpoint of a committed Green, because there are times when on the farm we have to use stuff like herbicides, rodenticides, when best practice is overwhelmed by a rather inconsistent and powerful Nature.
I do hate seeing a sheen of detergent on the water's face when owners are enthusiastically cleaning off after a weekend out, though.
Oil Technics, clicky here were extremely helpful when we had an issue on diesel spillage on garage forecourts. I have no connection other than knowing of the effectiveness of their products and their own knowledge base.
What causes me to become a little impatient is the unthinking use of chemicals (often disguised in flowery "biodegradable" language by the maker) to clean teak decks, bilges, sails, etc. In many cases, such decisions are driven by innocent ignorance, but I have seen too frequently the use of really strong cleaners when people know well what the safety sheets say.
I think we are on the same side - at least I hope so /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif - and wonder if you can suggest by name suitable products to act as cleaners for the various boaty operations that are needed. I don't really want to look at this narrowly from the viewpoint of a committed Green, because there are times when on the farm we have to use stuff like herbicides, rodenticides, when best practice is overwhelmed by a rather inconsistent and powerful Nature.
I do hate seeing a sheen of detergent on the water's face when owners are enthusiastically cleaning off after a weekend out, though.
Oil Technics, clicky here were extremely helpful when we had an issue on diesel spillage on garage forecourts. I have no connection other than knowing of the effectiveness of their products and their own knowledge base.
oakum
Well-Known Member
<<< I do hate seeing a sheen of detergent on the water's face when owners are enthusiastically cleaning off after a weekend out, though. >>>
Very similar to the sheen seen when firing up an inboard engine at the beginning of the season - sorry you're cherry picking what's acceptable under the guise of being environmentally concerned - I don't buy your criticism of sail washing in the marina whilst in the same breath advocating motorsailing - I cannot comment on the "--cides" you use on the farm except I'm sure there are greener alternatives but they probably require a level of change which is not commercially viable hence the attempt to justify their use.
Very similar to the sheen seen when firing up an inboard engine at the beginning of the season - sorry you're cherry picking what's acceptable under the guise of being environmentally concerned - I don't buy your criticism of sail washing in the marina whilst in the same breath advocating motorsailing - I cannot comment on the "--cides" you use on the farm except I'm sure there are greener alternatives but they probably require a level of change which is not commercially viable hence the attempt to justify their use.
William_H
Well-Known Member
Well I don't think it necessary to wash sails at all. However a hose down with fresh water while either hoisted on the mast or hung over a washing line or similar rope stretched between high places at home. Only use detergent for spot cleaning. olewill
Refueler
Well-Known Member
Sara ... I'll not recc'd any product basically because then I'd be considered biased in my lab. We work for various companys as well as Oil and this is commercial.
As to detergent on water ... many people think a squirt of fairy at a small diesel sheen is cleaning up. The Fairy in fact does more damage than the little bit of diesel - by dispersing and breaking the surface tension of the water ... plus of course it's components and diesel ...
As to detergent on water ... many people think a squirt of fairy at a small diesel sheen is cleaning up. The Fairy in fact does more damage than the little bit of diesel - by dispersing and breaking the surface tension of the water ... plus of course it's components and diesel ...
davew190
New Member
didn't want to start a enviromental debate! i was just going to wash the sails off at home!!! all very interesting!
Refueler
Well-Known Member
Bath and washing pwoder !! simple. If you have grease marks or other apart from rust stains - then light brushing on the spot..... before treading out in bath.
nigelhudson
Well-Known Member
In answer to your original question you can wash sails on a flat lawn by laying out a tarpaulin over a square of timbers. This creates a large shallow bath which is perfect for sails, sprayhoods, cockpit covers etc.
