Sail Care, Cleaning, and Reconditioning.

[Oldrig]

Send them to SailCare in Pennsylvania, and they'll wash them, removing the rust stains, and restore some of their original stiffness and smoothness. I used their services on my old, floppy and rust-stained working jib, and it came back looking like new.

Call them and they'll answer questions. Jerry, the owner, often answers the phone.

www.sailcare.com

--Joe

[Publius]

okay joe sounds like that could work, i do live in PA.

though cost is an issue, tight budget.  ill check it out.

[Mario G]

I bought a very good condition used sail for my C-22 that has been to sail care at some point in the past but now needs cleaning and I was wondering if theres a way I can do to just to make it look better, or shpuld I just send it out?

[AdriftAtSea]

What is wrong with it... is it just dirty...then a children's wading pool or bath tub and some oxi-clean will help straighten it right out.

[Mario G]

Thank you very much Adrift the sails look so much better.  I can't think of anything that will keep me from sailing soon.

[Christopher]

What exactly is done when someone or some company says they can recondition a sail?  I picture some guy taking them home home and hosing them off and scrubbing them on his lawn and then charging you 300 bucks for such a job, but I'm an extreme cynic.

3 of the 4 sails I got with my boat are in awesome shape... the main looks brand new, but the 150% is pretty beat.  It lacks a solar protector as well.  Is "reconditioning" worthwhile for a beat up old sail?  I don't suspect this is the original as it fits the furlex and is made by Northsails, but it's definitely been used.

[Godot]

I sent mine to Sailcare a couple of years ago.  Frankly, I thought the jib, at least, was beyond saving.  Nope.  Came back in GREAT shape.  I don't know how long the process lasts; but it was a lot cheaper than new sails....

[Tim]

Sailcare's site does a pretty good job of describing the process.

http://www.sailcare.com/sail-cleaning.shtml

They did a great job on my jibs.

[Christopher]

Nice!  Do you recall what they charged?  I have a 150 that needs work. 

[Godot]

I don't (it's been a couple of years).  However, I do remember that having them do a repair on the jib (an eight foot tear), adding a set of reef points to the main, and doing the sailcare process on both cost around half of a new main and jib from Fareast sails.

[Tim]

Nice!  Do you recall what they charged?  I have a 150 that needs work. 

If you take a look at their website you can get an idea of the cost

[Christopher]

Aha - Found it!  Very cool... so many expenses.. hard to know which ones to fight for justification with the accountant for.

[newt]

Err, for the cheapskate (me) what do they do to recondition a sail? What could we do to emulate the same treatment? I can sew and wash (no- this is not a singles advertisement)

[Christopher]

It looks like from their description the most significant phase of the process is the addition of resin and heat treatment which increases the stiffness and ability to hold sail shape and remove the wrinkles and creases. 

That's what I was wondering initially too... do they just wash and sew the things and that's it?  But it looks like they actually are able to restore at least some of the sails "crispiness".

[Frank]

Err, for the cheapskate (me) what do they do to recondition a sail? What could we do to emulate the same treatment? I can sew and wash (no- this is not a singles advertisement)

Sure...but do you clean windows too???

[Godot]

It's a re-resining process, not just cleaning.  I seriously doubt that's a home repair.  If your sails are in pretty good condition you could make any repairs yourself and give it a good cleaning with a garden hose and a mild detergent in your back yard.

The re-resining process, BTW, works magic.  My sails looked (and felt) brand new.  Well, almost.  Very crisp.  And I couldn't see through them anymore!

[s/v Faith]

Merged these threads together to help anyone looking for info.

  I know it is more work, but if we all do a quick search before starting a new topic all the benefits of prior discussion can be shared more easily.

  THanks,

[newt]

I'm sorry, but are you calling someone who can clean, sew and wash windows lazy?

[Oldrig]

I may have said this earlier, if so please forgive me:

SailCare did a terrific job restoring my working/storm jib. The sail had dreadful rust stains on it, and it was limp and soft. For about $150, they put it through their re-resining process, cleaned it beautifully and added a new set of telltales.

Before sending off the sail, I called them and spoke with the owner, who is very approachable, unless he's at a boat show. I'd definitely use them again.

--Joe

[newt]

It sounds like a good deal.  Maybe when i can't stand the crinkles in my sail anymore.