How often do you wash and dry your sails?

jettywookie

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Jul 21, 2016

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Posts: 41
Posted: Aug 13, 2016 - 08:30 PM

I have the 2nd story balcony/ sail drying rack. I wash mine each sail
DamonLinkous

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Posted: Aug 13, 2016 - 10:09 PM

Why?
Edchris177

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Posted: Aug 13, 2016 - 11:32 PM

If I think my sails are dirty, I flip my boat.
That's the only reason I've ever flipped.
That's my story, & I'm sticking to it!

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Hobie 18 Magnum
Dart 15
Mystere 6.0XL Sold Was a handful solo
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martyr

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Posted: Aug 14, 2016 - 01:06 AM

^ Hahaha, that's awesome!!!!!

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Marty
1984 Hobie 16 Redline Yellow Nationals, "Yellow Fever"
Opelika, Al / Lake Martin
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Wolfman

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Registered: Jun 24, 2009

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Posted: Aug 14, 2016 - 01:34 AM

Ive done it once and only spot stain removal

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Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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JohnES

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Posted: Aug 14, 2016 - 01:53 AM

Acetone... Buckets and buckets of acetone will get the job done

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John Schwartz
Ventura, CA
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dmgbear55

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Posted: Aug 14, 2016 - 11:53 AM

I think the need to wash sails depends a lot on whether or not you are sailing in saltwater or not. In saltwater the Dacron sails will get crusty and slightly discolored. I'm with edchrist on the solution, just flip the boat in a freshwater lake once in a while, or if that isn't an option then hose them off in the yard.

dg

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dg
NACRA 5.2 #400
This End Up
Original owner since 1975
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Dogboy

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Posted: Aug 14, 2016 - 12:17 PM

Biggest issue with salt water is that your aluminum fittings will corrode over time. If the sails are put away damp with salt water on them, it will accelerate corrosion. Ususally if you just make sure they're dry before you roll them up, you will be OK. Maybe rinse them off and scrub the fittings at the end of each season.

The problem with rinsing them off all the time (aside from taking up a lot of space and time) is that if they are damp, the sails will mildew. Mildew grows in a fresh water environment, but not in brackish/salt water.

Bottom line, making sure your sails are totally dry before storing them is the most important thing.

sm
jettywookie

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Registered: Jul 21, 2016

Last visit: Sep 07, 2019

Posts: 41
Posted: Aug 14, 2016 - 01:36 PM

The season out here in San Diego is all year. I sail only in saltwater. so I rinse and hang over the balcony. It works great for a sail drying rack. I forgot you a lot of you guys are out east or down south.
gahamby

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Posted: Aug 15, 2016 - 10:50 AM

I hang them on the clothesline along with the rest of the gear and hose off the lot after every trip. I hose down the boat, and trailer also. I get so much ramp rash that I only scrub the hulls once in a while.

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'82 Super Cat 15
Hull #315
Virginia
Previously owned: '70 H14, '79 H16, '68 Sailmaster 26, '85 H14T
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MN3

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Posted: Aug 15, 2016 - 03:25 PM

I sail in saltwater 100%

Unless i flip in salt water .... i don't really rinse them too often

I am not so great at letting my sails dry as i come off the beach, roll em up and put em in the box for tomorrows sail. by the time it's sunday night and i have taken my mast down, drive home, wash the boat and trailer, push the beast into the back yard, shower, walk dog, eat.... there is no freakin way im going under my boat, pulling out my main/jib/spin and washing them

IF i do flip, or they just need it bad...
I will tie up my main (clew) to a block i have in a palm tree (up high) - and tie to my fence 35' away and hose away, hope the wind doesn' kick up and let em dry for a few hours.

occasionally i put my jib or spin in the shower for a rise
DamonLinkous

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Posted: Aug 15, 2016 - 05:11 PM

JohnESAcetone... Buckets and buckets of acetone will get the job done

I wonder how many members here remember what that refers to?

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Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

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martyr

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Posted: Aug 15, 2016 - 07:50 PM

Being new here, I was wondering why the heck would you want to put acetone on your sails????

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Marty
1984 Hobie 16 Redline Yellow Nationals, "Yellow Fever"
Opelika, Al / Lake Martin
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tominpa

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Posted: Aug 15, 2016 - 09:06 PM

Some people have a sense of humor...if you take the use of acetone as advise and not humor, you will have some large holes to fill.

In many years of ownership, my sails have stayed clean and fairly crisp. You can make sales look and feel like new by having them professionally cleaned and the Dacron coating re-applied by a sail shop. It's much less expensive than new sails, which is what you'll need if you use acetone.

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Tom
NACRA 5.7 (1984 Sail 181)
Pennsylvania
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JohnES

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Posted: Aug 15, 2016 - 09:11 PM

DamonLinkous
JohnESAcetone... Buckets and buckets of acetone will get the job done

I wonder how many members here remember what that refers to?

Ahhhhh.. the good old days... you remember, being able to trap out for hours on end!

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John Schwartz
Ventura, CA
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gahamby

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Posted: Aug 16, 2016 - 02:24 PM

I had my boat mast up on the beach at Kitty Hawk for a week last summer. It was caked with salt at the end of the week. It required an extensive hose down. The biggest problem I have with the sails is salt getting under the metal plates for the clew and head. The previous owner did not attend to this. I had to replace the headboard entirely and re rivet the clew plate. Using stainless rivets in the stainless clew plate eliminated the corrosion problem there.

--
'82 Super Cat 15
Hull #315
Virginia
Previously owned: '70 H14, '79 H16, '68 Sailmaster 26, '85 H14T
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leeboweffect

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Posted: Aug 21, 2016 - 10:38 AM

I use muriatic acid once a week for extra brightness. It's also handy as an annual toilet bowl cleaner for rental properites.

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Hobie 16 (3 formerly)
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gahamby

Rank: Mate

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Posted: Aug 21, 2016 - 11:47 AM

I'll stick with white vinegar for the boat. If you have galvanized iron drain pipes that acid can make for an interesting day.

--
'82 Super Cat 15
Hull #315
Virginia
Previously owned: '70 H14, '79 H16, '68 Sailmaster 26, '85 H14T
--
Edchris177

Rank: Chief

Registered: Nov 26, 2009

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Posts: 2531
Posted: Aug 21, 2016 - 11:52 PM

QuoteI wonder how many members here remember what that refers to?

I first saw that as a link, here on TheBeachCats. You should repost it

--
Hobie 18 Magnum
Dart 15
Mystere 6.0XL Sold Was a handful solo
Nacra 5.7
Nacra 5.0
Bombardier Invitation (Now officially DEAD)
Various other Dock cluttering WaterCrap
--