What to do when you dye your sail blue (inadvertently)

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NFCN

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This is, of course, an admission of relative stupidity.

On a fine summer's day this year I set to with a bottle of Renovo canvas restorer to restore my stackpack, little appreciating the power of the stuff. I had left my mainsail in situ, thinking that just the outside of the canvas would be restored.

Net result was some charming blue patches where contact was made. The mainsail is still in shape and fully battened, and I want to hang on to it. Having sailed with the blue patches through the season, the number of comments made, and times the story is told have become wearing. I now seek to clean off, or dye the blue back white.

Bleach is out of the question for fear of weakening the fabric, and having tried any number of solvents to no avail I would appreciate any advice on what to do. I've had the sail laundered (only marginal effect) and the sailmaker was unable to suggest much except a new sail. And Renovo couldn't help either.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Many thanks

Nick
 
The sail material obviously dyes quite well so how about dying it all blue-at least it will match the sail cover!
 
You need to test a blue bit for fastness but restrict the test to a small area. If not fast you may be able to wash out the worst of the stains by concentrating on the dyed areas. Then wash the whole sail ( some risk of the whole sail getting a faint blue tinge)
You could live with that or consider a tasteful dye of the whole sail(s) ( a nice red?) which should then be fairly even.
 
Dylon do a stain remover and it's safe for man made fabrics. Apply it with a scrubbing brush and rinse it off. It has to worth trying.
 
NFCN said:
This is, of course, an admission of relative stupidity.

Nick
Click to expand...

Relative ???

You are right not to use a chlorine based bleach. It can turn polyester sail fabrics permanently yellow!

Dylon stain remover is suggested ... but Dylon offer quite a range of stain removers. It may well be worth investigating their products or even contacting them for advice.

You dont say exactly which Renovo product you used... they make a range . Presumably you used a coloured soft top "Reviver" rather than a "Canvas Cleaner"

Maybe Renovo would be prepared to tell you what dye(s) it contains. A specialist cleaner or Dylon may then be in a better position to suggest a method of removing it.

Personally I might feel tempted to try a peroxide based laundry whitener such as Vanish. As well as the powder we have some in a trigger spray bottle.
 
Thanks for the advice do far. It was indeed Canvas Reviver (Navy Blue) and I did ring them - but they were unable to suggest an antidote. I've tried Vanish but to no avail.
 
Did something similar: painted spray hood with Renovo, didn't notice it draining onto the coachroof and side decks. It coloured some control lines, which have been improved by multiple washes in very dilute bleach and detergent, though only improved a bit. Seems impossible to get out of GRP so may end to paint decks.
 
Possibly a better solution is to find out what your sails are made of and contact the sailcloth manufacturer.
It'll be some kind of polyester fibre bonded with a resin. Probably Dacron.
 
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