Sail Storage & Heat!

[kjames]

Hi all

It's heating up in this part of the world. During my refit, I have stored my sails in the roof space of my house, which is uninsulated with terracotta tiles. Tomorrow temp forecast is 41 degC and the roof space will easily make 55 degC ( 130 degF). We are also expecting a hot summer, so it will often be over 30 degC, so roof space will often be 40 degC plus.

Is there any possibility the sails could be damaged?

Cheers

[GordMay]

Most sailmakers recommend storing sails in a dry, cool, ventilated place.

The susceptibility of a sail to heat damage may be related to which particular cloth is used (polyester/Dacron, nylon, or exotic Aramids & laminates, etc).

For instance, temperatures approaching 160F will cause Dacron to deform. While it’s unlikely that most storage areas will get that hot, the underside of a roof on a hot day in the deep south mifgt get pretty close.

[denverd0n]

There is a very good possibility that the sails will be damaged by that sort of heat. I would find somewhere else to store them.

[kjames]

Thanks guys. Will have to find somewhere else. It is difficult finding places to store everything during the refit. Cheers

[gjordan]

Make sure you put some kind of insect repellant in the sail bags(mothballs?). I stored sails in a friends attic and wood ants ate little holes throughout all of the folded layers. The sail looked like it had been shot with a shotgun.____An expensive lesson learned.____Grant.

[Cheechako]

You could probably fit them allin a 4 x 4 storage space....? Cheap and out of the way.