Leaving up Code Zero without UV Strip: How Long?

[Letterkenny]

I have a code zero for my boat and currently it doesn’t have a UV strip to protect it from the sun. How long can I leave it up without damaging the sail? Realistically, all I want to do is be able to rig it up at the dock and then take it down after a day of sailing.

[Stu Jackson]

As long as you take it down, what's the issue?


I had a jib on an old CDI furler when I bought my boat in 1998. The furler top swivel wouldn't come down and it took me a few years to build up a kitty for a new furler. By the time it came down that few years later, the edge was gone. I had the 110 cut down to an 85!


Daily, no problem, months and years, of course.


Your question is like saying: Will my sail disintegrate if I use it in the sun?

[Calif.Ted]

I had a 150 laminate on a furler that I covered using an ATN Genoa Sleeve which cost about $600. But as Stu says if it's not up when you are not using the boat it's not necessary.
And UV on a laminate is same as on your skin, the clock's ticking always, it's just sitting under the sun unnecessarily that should be avoided.

[Letterkenny]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

As long as you take it down, what's the issue?


I had a jib on an old CDI furler when I bought my boat in 1998. The furler top swivel wouldn't come down and it took me a few years to build up a kitty for a new furler. By the time it came down that few years later, the edge was gone. I had the 110 cut down to an 85!


Daily, no problem, months and years, of course.


Your question is like saying: Will my sail disintegrate if I use it in the sun?

New sails so want to keep them in good shape. Just hear that many people will put it away mid sail if not using it which seems to defeat the point of having a furling sail.

[wingssail]

Originally Posted by Letterkenny

I have a code zero for my boat and currently it doesn’t have a UV strip to protect it from the sun. How long can I leave it up without damaging the sail? Realistically, all I want to do is be able to rig it up at the dock and then take it down after a day of sailing.

Every hour of exposure to UV damages the fabric of the code zero and that is additive. So the less you leave it up the longer it will last. But I think that unless you are going sailing every week and leaving it up all day, the UV damage will not be apparent for a long time.

However, sails are hugely expensive and I am at a point in life when I cannot buy replacement sails whenever I want, so I take extreme care of them.

I would put the furler up when I wanted to use the sail and take it down when it's not in actual use, assuming your code zero is on a self contained furling unit. Besides, going to windward with a furled code zero up there isn't efficient anyhow.

[mglonnro]

Originally Posted by Letterkenny

New sails so want to keep them in good shape. Just hear that many people will put it away mid sail if not using it which seems to defeat the point of having a furling sail.

We never hoisted it before leaving. We put it up when it was actually needed and then furled it and left it there only if there was a chance we would need it again during the same sail. Also, if there was a lot of (up)wind coming, I wanted it down, since it felt safer not to have a large furled CZ bouncing around up there and adding to the windage.

I think it is a good idea to be quite active in this respect, that is to not let it stay out in the sun much more than is needed..

We often left it out on the deck, however, in its bag. I don't know how well the bag protected it, but at least a bit, I hope.

[Tupaia]

Originally Posted by Letterkenny

Realistically, all I want to do is be able to rig it up at the dock and then take it down after a day of sailing.

Why? A Code Zero is a specialised sail for use in specific conditions. Why would you compromise performance in conditions that are inappropriate for its use. Rigging it at the dock would suggest that you are not really that bothered about performance or you need to rearrange your setup so that it is easier put up and take down.

[Letterkenny]

Originally Posted by Tupaia

Why? A Code Zero is a specialised sail for use in specific conditions. Why would you compromise performance in conditions that are inappropriate for its use. Rigging it at the dock would suggest that you are not really that bothered about performance or you need to rearrange your setup so that it is easier put up and take down.

Got a good deal on it so I’m not planning to use it mainly for racing or anything other than a multipurpose sail to use in our light winds here either upwind or downwind. So you are correct that I’m not bothered about performance but not worth it economically to do something different.

[Zzmeyer]

A huge advantage of the 0 is the ability to leave it up. Yes there is some inefficiency but for me always offset by ease of deployment and recovery. Last year I did a 1000 mile offshore trip where the 0 went up at the dock and came down at the end. My 70+ year old crew set it more than a half dozen times a day. Although I had a uv stripe I’d have done the same thing. My main was up the entire time and I never considered taking it down for uv protection.