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RS400atC View Drop Down
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    Posted: 13 Dec 12 at 9:12am
Here in the UK, I'm more worried about the effects of frost on sails put away wet, so I take any decent sails home this time of year.
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Posts: 1459 		Post Options Post Options   Quote sargesail Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Dec 12 at 10:42pm
Leaving the salt on is fine if you can get it bone dry...and keep it that way...otherwise the damp just won't go away.

Perhaps less of an issue for non-absorbent film sails - but once the laminate is pierced the weave tends to suck it up on most dinghy sails.

At the mo we have a boiler in an external walk-in cupboard.  Our sails have never been dryer!
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Posts: 6662 		Post Options Post Options   Quote JimC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Dec 12 at 8:54pm
Originally posted by RS400atC

Is there not an issue with salt crystailising in the stitching and chafing the thread?

I know people say that, but I don't recall ever having the stitching die before the cloth goes in high wear areas.
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Posts: 6499 		Post Options Post Options   Quote iGRF Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Dec 12 at 8:46pm
Most windsurfing sails are laminate or mono film anyway so a bit more resilient than mylar or dacron.
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RS400atC View Drop Down
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Posts: 3011 		Post Options Post Options   Quote RS400atC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Dec 12 at 7:11pm
Originally posted by iGRF

Just a little word of wisdom on the washing the sails in fresh water to put them away idea.
We found (windsurfers down the years)if at the coast, it's better to leave them salty if your going to store them for a protracted period, the fresh water wash often lets them rot, bacteria and other stuff like gnawing animals are put off by salt, just a point, all the other stuff laminate de laminating with excess UV is all correct.


Is there not an issue with salt crystailising in the stitching and chafing the thread?
I think it's best to rinse and dry sails if possible, at least now and then.
UV kills almost all fabrics given a chance.
Laminate sails may be more reliant on glue to hold the panels together, maybe an issue when very hot?
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Posts: 3011 		Post Options Post Options   Quote RS400atC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Dec 12 at 7:06pm
Originally posted by alstorer

Mindyou, UV will do for Dacron too, it'll just take longer. And dacron sails stand up to flapping a bit better- laminate sails will quickly delaminate if allowed to flap around too much, this is part of the reason that B14 fleet are moving to dacron jibs paired with laminate (3DL even!) mainsails.


standard issue in the Merlin.
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Posts: 6499 		Post Options Post Options   Quote iGRF Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Dec 12 at 5:02pm
Just a little word of wisdom on the washing the sails in fresh water to put them away idea.
We found (windsurfers down the years)if at the coast, it's better to leave them salty if your going to store them for a protracted period, the fresh water wash often lets them rot, bacteria and other stuff like gnawing animals are put off by salt, just a point, all the other stuff laminate de laminating with excess UV is all correct.
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Posts: 389 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Mister Nick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Dec 12 at 4:47pm
A lot of people from countries with very humid climates have said that their mylar/other laminate sails seemed to delaminate faster than they would have liked, particularly when not dried properly or left in sail lockers or other cramped places. Obviously UV is a big factor too. If you leave a laminate sail out in the sun permanently then it'll get totally shagged very fast. I'm no expert but there was a thread on this same topic on Sailing Anarchy a while ago and this was the kind of stuff that people mentioned.

If it was me, I'd buy the mylar and just find a cool, dry, small room or something and run a dehumidifier in it whilst the sails were stored. Washing the sails down, drying them and loosely rolling should be done after every session too. Even if you don't buy the mylar sail this is still a very good idea.

Yes, mylar sails are faster and more efficient. Most race boats use them so that says a lot. Dacron sails will take a lot more abuse though, much harder to put a hole in. They'll stand up to flogging much better too. You'll do more damage to a mylar sail from one windy day where you let it flap too much than you will do from a whole season with a dacron one.


Edited by Mister Nick - 12 Dec 12 at 4:52pm
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alstorer View Drop Down
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Posts: 2899 		Post Options Post Options   Quote alstorer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Dec 12 at 4:38pm
Mindyou, UV will do for Dacron too, it'll just take longer. And dacron sails stand up to flapping a bit better- laminate sails will quickly delaminate if allowed to flap around too much, this is part of the reason that B14 fleet are moving to dacron jibs paired with laminate (3DL even!) mainsails.
-_
Al
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Posts: 25 		Post Options Post Options   Quote THUNT Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Dec 12 at 2:19pm
I used to work overseas in hot climates, working with both types of sails, particularly on the Vision.

The Dacron would outlast the laminate sails, especially if they were left out in the sun. 

Noah is right, the UV causes the Mylar sails to de-laminate. We used to leave sails attached to the booms and if sail covers weren't put on properly, the clew would be exposed and it was always this area that suffered most/de-laminated first.

One thing to remember is to ensure they are washed off after every sail in fresh water, dried properly and stored in a dry area. This would help the life of both.

What are you primarily using the sails for?
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