Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 28-07-2020, 00:32   #1
Registered User

Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 71
Repair your own sails or send out?

Do you repair your own sails or send them out? If you send then out, do you have a local company do it or ship out of area?
How often do you repair your sails?
zamber is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2020, 21:36   #2
Registered User

Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 71
Re: Repair your own sails or send out?

Anybody wants to say?
zamber is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2020, 22:39   #3
Moderator
 
Jim Cate's Avatar

Join Date: May 2008
Location: cruising SW Pacific
Boat: Jon Sayer 1-off 46 ft fract rig sloop strip plank in W Red Cedar
Posts: 21,134
Re: Repair your own sails or send out?

OK, I'll have a stab at it, Zamber.

As usual, it depends! First thing, until sails are near end of useful life, repairs are not often required. The first thing to go usually is stitching, often in way of the shrouds or other chafe inducing bits... and stitching is easy to renew yourself. By hand is often easy enough, but if there is a long bit of parted seam, then a machine will surely help speed one on your way. IMO there is no need whatsoever to pass that on to a sailmaker.

Beyond stitching, small tears, often from snagging the sail on something sharp like a cotter pin can also be hand stitched and then reinforced with a small patch made from cloth of similar nature to that of the sail. I've done a few of those on white sails, and a few more on kites, for they are more prone to such damage. Again, no need for the pros here.

But as the sail ages, its strength wanes and larger tears are possible, perhaps to the point of needing a new panel, and that's a bit much for a simple sailor to handle. This is both from the point of handling a big mass of cloth, lots of stitching and reinforcing, and also from the need to shape the seams correctly to maintain sail shape. For such repairs a pro will likely do a far better job than you can. If you are in the woop-woop and no sailmaker is in sight, and you have the needed cloth and a space to work, well, a poorly mended sail is better than no sail at all, so give it a go.

As to local or send out, I'm always in favor of using a local sailmaker. You can take the sail to him and spread it out and discuss the options for repair. Most any sailmaker has the skill needed to do even big repairs, so don't worry much about the ability of a local. In fact, he's more likely to do a good job if he has had a chance to chat with you personally.

So, there's this sailors thoughts on your query.

Cheers,

Jim
__________________
Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II, lying Port Cygnet Tasmania once again.
Jim Cate is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2020, 23:01   #4
Registered User
 
wingssail's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: On Vessel WINGS, wherever there's an ocean, currently in Mexico
Boat: Serendipity 43
Posts: 5,508
Send a message via AIM to wingssail Send a message via Skype™ to wingssail
Re: Repair your own sails or send out?

Quote:
Originally Posted by zamber View Post
Do you repair your own sails or send them out? If you send then out, do you have a local company do it or ship out of area?
How often do you repair your sails?
We don't allow sail damage to take our boat out of service.

We carry a big sailrite machine and plenty of sail repair material. I perform almost all of my sail repairs. This allows us to get the sail back up and in use quickly, often the same day.

Most repairs can be done on board, even underway. Most are simple, small tears or patches. Some are bigger jobs, I will tackle almost all of them. Some I do at the local yacht club. If the repair will affect the shape and needs a good loft to get smooth seams, or if a heavier machine (rarely) or special press is needed we send it out locally. But in some remote areas we have used tailor shops, furniture repair shops, or anyone who has a machine. I only send a sail to the factory if it is a warranty job.

We sail hard and often and have a powerful boat which can be hard on sails
so sail repairs are needed frequently. I often wonder how other people deal with this need, and I have concluded that they just don't sail as much as we do, so they have fewer repair needs, or maybe they are better sailors and don't damage sails.

Click image for larger version

Name:	1417-Fred Sewing.jpg
Views:	43
Size:	468.9 KB
ID:	220726

Click image for larger version

Name:	e20-191738-Sewing.jpg
Views:	40
Size:	449.0 KB
ID:	220727

Click image for larger version

Name:	4205-Sewing shop.jpg
Views:	43
Size:	442.5 KB
ID:	220728

By the way, here is my current sewing list:

Click image for larger version

Name:	Sail Repair List.jpg
Views:	42
Size:	124.2 KB
ID:	220729
__________________
These lines upon my face tell you the story of who I am but these stories don't mean anything
when you've got no one to tell them to Fred Roswold Wings https://wingssail.blogspot.com/
wingssail is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
sail, sails

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
How Do I send Sails From USA To Bermuda Kenmonty Deck hardware: Rigging, Sails & Hoisting 1 26-02-2018 21:22
Don't Send Sails to Sail Care silversailor General Sailing Forum 0 16-10-2016 13:24
Using "Send to GPS" to send via IP? jim326 OpenCPN 10 30-03-2016 17:41
Sails, Sails, Sails... for sale? Jack Long General Sailing Forum 5 13-08-2008 23:41
ANybody ever send an inverter/charger back for rebuild repair? Chief Engineer Electrical: Batteries, Generators & Solar 17 22-02-2008 14:57

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 21:10.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.