I Ripped a Sail Today . . .

[bassman1956]

Had the little Shell Swifty 14 out today... Beautiful winds, 9 to 12 or so, maybe 14.

I ripped the sail.



It got caught running it up, and I didn't see it until I was out on the water. Worked fine before launch. (I run the sail up once when rigging for put-in, then run it down again, and run it back up just before pushing off from the boat dock.)

Once jammed, it didn't want to go up OR down. It's only me in the boat, and when I tried to let the boat point into the wind so I could fix it, the boat wanted to turn off the wind and backwind, or basically, blow over. In an effort to get it down, it just started to shred. About a 2' rip along the leech, (mast side), between lacing grommets, and then about a foot inward.



Sailing's out until I get it fixed or replaced. Doyle Sail is right down town, so I'll see what they say. But really, a bummer day!

I just wanted a break from several weeks of job hell, and staring at the computer doing a reply to an "interrogatory" for an accident. Really P'd me off. Now I'm just sad.

Well, me and the pup got a walk at the river instead.


Are sails repairable? This looks like it may take a block of fabric, not just a strip, and will require significant work on the leech hem. I'm crossing my fingers...

[Bash]

Originally Posted by bassman1956

Are sails repairable?

Absolutely! If the base fabric is in good condition, a rip in the leech shouldn't be too much of a problem.

If, on the other hand, the fabric has deteriorated significantly, it's going to be time for a new sail.

A good sailmaker should be able to test the condition of your fabric on the spot.

[rebel heart]

They're usually quite repairable and not just by professional sail repair people. The sail repairs on Catalina Island are handled by the furniture and upholstery shop. The more it affects the shape (and not just a simple tear), the more you might want to have a sail repair shop do it.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by bassman1956

But really, a bummer day!

I Really P'd me off. Now I'm just sad.

Beats the hell outta doing the housework. Just get it fixed and ask the sail maker to sew a smile on the dial

Boats have problems all the time, thats why they are called boats... but if you relaxe through the most demanding situation or problem it doesnt seem as bad and first thought

[biltong]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Beats the hell outta doing the housework. Just get it fixed and ask the sail maker to sew a smile on the dial

Boats have problems all the time, thats why they are called boats... but if you relaxe through the most demanding situation or problem it doesnt seem as bad and first thought

Well said, Mark. No arguement with that.
Problem: ripped a sail.
Solution: throw out a line and catch dinner

[bassman1956]

Thanks guys. There's a local upholstery shop I can check with. If not them, maybe they can recommend someone. Yeah, overall, I've had this thing in the drink about a hundred times over the last 7 summers. This is the worst I've done, so that's not so bad. Just bad timing and more work.

Also found that I cracked half the stop off of the dagger board. No idea how I did that! Well, that's what epoxy's for!

[Bash]

Originally Posted by bassman1956

Thanks guys. There's a local upholstery shop I can check with. If not them, maybe they can recommend someone.

I would not recommend taking a sail to an upholstery shop for repairs. I had a friend do such a thing, taking his sail to a canvass shop instead of a sail loft, and they restitched everything without using a zigzag stitch, which ended up in more extensive damage the first time the sail was used.

[bassman1956]

My bad...
It's a tear in the luff.

As in, front edge of the sail laced to the mast.

D'OH!




It was late, I was bummed, the sun was in my eyes...




(we need the facepalm smilie)

[bassman1956]

Here's a pic:



It's about 18" long along the hem, and messy, and about 12" deep into the sail. Is on it's way to Doyle's, downtown. Will get it cleaned at the same time. And, have asked them about adding a couple telltails to it too. May have it back in a week or so.