SAIL CLEANING

[GARY WEEKLY]

Who has actually cleaned there sails? what did you use and how were the results? can you soak them in woolite or something else and what should y ou not use? i,am waiting to hear back from the board before i make a bubu!

[kmclemore]

Never had my Mac's sails cleaned - indeed, they are still like new because the previous owner never used them. However, I had my 'other' boat's sails cleaned by Sailcare. They did a beautiful job, but they aren't cheap - you get what you pay for, I guess. They have an on-line price request and they also have some rough quotes, too... they list the cost for doing a Mac 25 mainsail as $110.

The LaMauney reconditioning process begins with our inspection of each sail.

Sails are measured, inspected for needed repairs, and the cloth checked for deterioration from the sun. Then the sails are carefully cleaned followed by the re-resining process of impregnating the cloth with resins and setting these resins with controlled heat.

In addition, a fungicidal agent is added to inhibit mildew growth, another is added for water repellency, and a third agent provides ultraviolet protection. All this is part of the LaMauney Process.

The sails are once again inspected and then packaged for shipping. Your sail will be clean, free of most wrinkles, and the cloth will have a new stiffness. The existing shape of the sail will be maintained since the LaMauney Process is designed to control the bias stretch of the cloth. The smoothness of the cloth combined with the re-resining will enable your sail to take on its best shape.

My sails came back literally as good as new ones... nice and stiff and snappy, and they even replaced the faded emblem.

If you want to try to clean'em up yourself there are some tips from the Catalina folks over here. (I like how they even give instructions for getting out blood! Yikes - those guys must be some *serious* sailors!)

[baldbaby2000]

I was at a talk by Dave Miller from North Sails on my Canadian trip. He said to use a mild detergent. He also said that keeping sails clean makes them last longer. The dirt allows mildew to grow which hurts the sails. Also let the sails dry first before storing. It's best to roll the sail for storage but if folding is necessary he said not to fold on the same crease each time. I had always tried to fold the same way because of the way I was taught but it sounds like the better way is also easier! I did have some blood to clean up but got to it right away with cold water and dishwashing detergent; that seemed to do the job.