what do you do with old sails?

[Champagne Murphy]

Really baggy main. Are there any recycling possibilities? And yes, we do have another as back up

 

[Deleted member 36384]

http://www.quba.com/subcategory/accessories-beanbags

They also do clothes, bags and other things, but the bean bags are an obvious recycling idea for this material. I also see sails used in shops and cafes as props from time to time.

 

[snowleopard]

Really baggy main. Are there any recycling possibilities? And yes, we do have another as back up

Unless you have an industrial sewing machine I suggest you just dump them. Having them made up into bags etc would cost more than they are worth.

And yes - I have a stack of them that I can't bring myself to dump.

 

[Jamesuk]

Tried to Clear some in 2013.

I got someone to collect the main. The genoa ended up in a skip.

To the right person it would have made the most amazing awning.

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...9p-for-Elvstrom-sails-for-a-63ft-yacht!!-eBay

 

[Greenheart]

Awnings or cockpit/pushpit dodgers, seem a good idea.

My old mainsail seems to me to be baggiest towards the boom - most likely it is meant to be cut that way - but since I sewed reef-points into a line about 6ft above the boom, I've been surprised at how well the reduced area sets...it appears to have dispensed with the baggy section...

...so perhaps mainsails that are past their best, might be cut into nicely-fitting little trysails which one won't lament much if they're further worn or damaged in heavy weather?

 

[TQA]

In the Carib there is a charity that organizes getting them to Haiti. They will get used there by the local fisherman and interisland sailboats.

Life is pretty desperate there and any sail with any life in it will get reused. [ This one includes recycled Aids awareness banners ]

View attachment 51740

It is not unusual to see wooden sailboats from Haiti sailing up to Nassau and back. No winches, no engine, no nav aids, no charts just old fashioned seamanship.

 

[Birdseye]

got a tri radial cruising laminate genoa if anybody wants it . for a 35 ft masthead boat - there are the tiniest splits just beginning to appear in the laminate at the leach. free to a good home.

 

[KAL]

Really baggy main. Are there any recycling possibilities? And yes, we do have another as back up

At the moment, I bend them on and sail with them!!

 

[sailorman]

Unless you have an industrial sewing machine I suggest you just dump them. Having them made up into bags etc would cost more than they are worth.

And yes - I have a stack of them that I can't bring myself to dump.

I dumped my 7 season heavily mildewed laminate genoa in the skip, hey ho it only cost £1800 anyway :disgust:

 

[MoodySabre]

Another forumite made an anchor staysail with part of mine. I also made a bag for my cockpit tent, a bag for the dinghy oars, a sunshade and a bag for my wife's yoga mat complete with handle from a bit of bolt rope. Good way to waste a few hours.

My old genoa was sold for £50 at a charity stall at a boat jumble.

 

[jampot]

I have turned my old ones in to play dens for local schools and groups - yes it takes some strong needle work but the kids love them

If anyone has old ones but not the appropriate sewing gear then I am happy to collect (Solent area + 30 miles or so) and redistribute for them

Jay

 

[Even Chance]

Awnings or cockpit/pushpit dodgers, seem a good idea.

My old mainsail seems to me to be baggiest towards the boom - most likely it is meant to be cut that way - but since I sewed reef-points into a line about 6ft above the boom, I've been surprised at how well the reduced area sets...it appears to have dispensed with the baggy section...

...so perhaps mainsails that are past their best, might be cut into nicely-fitting little trysails which one won't lament much if they're further worn or damaged in heavy weather?

Ive done this, and it works great. I cut an old main at the top reefing point, and re-sewed the foot with an old Singer sewing machine fitted with a denim needle.
The wee sail sets brilliantly.
I also did a reefing Genny the same, and turned it into a self-tacking jib, using a 50mm dia aluminium tube and turned/milled acetal end fittings as a jib-boom. It uses a lazy-horse sheeting arrangement instead of a track to allow for nice short tacking without touching the sheets. Handles great.

 

[Leighb]

Sail & Cover at Woolverstone will probably be happy to take it, they make things out of old sails. I took my old genoa there a couple of years ago. They won't give you anything for it though, but who would in any case?

Give Sarah a ring and see if they still do this. 01473 780075.

 

[Koeketiene]

Really baggy main. Are there any recycling possibilities? And yes, we do have another as back up

Old baggy main went into the skip.
Large genoa - with still some life left in it - went to a boat jumble.
Last I heard, it's now somewhere off Portugal. Further than we've gotten - so far.

 

[Bobc]

My old genoa is now a sunshade over the bar at Jolly Harbour

 

[Fantasie 19]

Really baggy main. Are there any recycling possibilities? And yes, we do have another as back up

Offer them free via eBay (just charge a nominal fee for the listing), your class association, or here if you don't have a class association - there is always someone badly off who would welcome a sail in whatever condition if it was the difference between being able to go out sailing and not.... I'll be replacing my sail this year, but to my knowledge it's had at least three owners..... maybe more...

 

[Ruffles]

Sailmaker will take them. They go to some charitable cause, forget what.

 

[Tricia]

I gave my old sails to the animal shelter on Langkawi (Langkawi Lassie), they used them to make awnings for the dog pens. I would ask around your local area and see if any of the people/animal shelters can use them.

Tricia

 

[Greenheart]

SWMBO had been "tidying" when I got home last night. I could tell from the mess in the living room.

"Oh, I found one of your crumpled old sails in the cupboard. I thought you were meant to roll those things carefully?" said she, disapprovingly.

It was an old white shower curtain.

 

[Jamesuk]

Send them to earthquake hit countries? With a bit of thought they make great tempory shelters