Zips

[KAM]

I'm just about to change the zip on my sail cover. The original had plastic pullers. It seems to be that "marine" zips are now supplied with metal pullers. I normally avoid these like the plague. Any thoughts. Have things moved on?

 

[wilkinsonsails]

Plastic ones go brittle with UV ,we use metal ones and make sure they are rinsed with fresh water .Longest lasting seem to be the bright metal ones .
For inside covers the plastic ones are better.

 

[Deleted member 478]

Smear lip balm on the teeth of your zips to protect them. Thank me later.

 

[rogerthebodger]

Ensure you include a flap of fabric held covering the zip with some Velcro to protect all the zip from the UV

 

[Martin_J]

You can buy them with either metal or plastic sliders.

Plastic sliders do tend to wear themselves out quicker if the fabrics are pulling apart as you struggle to do up the zipper (but they have less chance of corrosion).

If the zip teeth are fine, you could just buy a slider (likely to be 10mm), pull the original off the top end and either put a stitch or one of the 'top stops' in place to stop it falling off again.

Remember that if the zip undoes completely (i.e. comes apart), then you need to buy a finished (open ended) zip and not continuous zipping.

Sliders and top stops available below in the continuous zipping section...

Chain Continuous Zipping - Marine

Finished zips in the 'open ended section.

 

[Humblebee]

Smear lip balm on the teeth of your zips to protect them. Thank me later.

I haven't tried lip balm, but find a dry silicon lubricant effective and easy. Something like this;

https://www.screwfix.com/p/ob41-sil...VuZNQBh2fUDoVEAQYAiABEgLbNvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Washing with fresh water, as mentioned above, is also good practice.

 

[KAM]

You can buy them with either metal or plastic sliders.

Plastic sliders do tend to wear themselves out quicker if the fabrics are pulling apart as you struggle to do up the zipper (but they have less chance of corrosion).

If the zip teeth are fine, you could just buy a slider (likely to be 10mm), pull the original off the top end and either put a stitch or one of the 'top stops' in place to stop it falling off again.

Remember that if the zip undoes completely (i.e. comes apart), then you need to buy a finished (open ended) zip and not continuous zipping.

Sliders and top stops available below in the continuous zipping section...

Chain Continuous Zipping - Marine

Finished zips in the 'open ended section.

Great thanks for that. That's where I ordered the zip. I phoned them up and they said they didn't do plastic sliders but there they are.

 

[lustyd]

Bees wax is a good lube, it doesn’t get messy at all and stays put well. Divers use it on dry suit zips.

 

[PetiteFleur]

As Rodgerthedodger says, make sure there is a flap of material covering all the zip. Mine additionally has pieces of velcro to secure it especially at the ends. I get my zips from Kayospruce, branded ones but they still have metal pullers. No problems so far.

 

[KAM]

I thought the plastic sliders were Ok lasted 14 years with no maintenance.

 

[Metalicmike]

I just had my plastic sail cover zip re sewn, I spray mine with silicone and it is well protected from the sun as it is constructed with the hem line overlapping the zip. It works great, the cover is getting a bit worn and has a few holes waiting to be patched. A word of warning, mine has glassfibre rods finished in white, don't be fooled wear gloves, I got fibres stuck in my hand whist removing them.