Stay Pack Main Sail Cover Material

[Want to sail]

Our MainSail cover is looking pretty worn and I was thinking about sewing a new one. I found some material that I had used to make a new Bimini. The material is 100% polyester face with 100% pvc back and only cost me $4 a yard. While this has worked well for our bimini (it looks like sunbrella with a rubber back) I worry that the lack of breathability would be a problem with a mainsail cover. I had thought to use the old cover as a liner as well as my pattern. Would this type of material work?
Your input would be appreciated.
Want to sail

[blahman]

Want to sail,

Your fear of breathability being an issue is well founded; mildew will build up rather quickly within a stackpack. You could, perhaps, use a phifertex-style material near the bottom to allow some airflow, and that may work. Or perhaps design it to have an open bottom with straps connecting the sides...but I'd bet you'll still have issues with condensations sitting inside.

$4/yd is good, but one can readily purchase 60" Sunbrella for $12/yd; a stackpack for your boat would use about 14yds, so it's not too outrageous. Factor in zippers and thread, and you can probably build it for <$200.

As for construction, there is nothing too hairy about it. I suggest building the pack with a full-length zipper that zips from aft forward, and build a uv-flap to cover that top zipper.

Good luck,
Aaron

[barnakiel]

Acrylic, Sunbrella or alike. Build the stack back so that the air can circulate.

Do not store your sails wet / salty. Hose the salt off, dry the sails, then cover.

b.

[Want to sail]

Thanks Aaron and Barnakiel,
Thats what I thought. I will be keeping a lookout for a good deal on sunbrella.
Deby