A yachts sails are a big investment so it is essential when on a yacht delivery they are cared for and maintained. In this blog we look at the types of sail material, how to take care of it and preventative maintenance.
Types of Sail Cloth
Modern sailcloth fabric is derived from industrial fiber and film. Sailors may know some of these products by the brand names of certain suppliers, but the properties of these sail fabrics are often not well understood. Achieving a better understanding of these fibers' characteristics and how to maintain them properly will help extend their lifespan.
Let’s start with the three main forms of sail construction and materials used in todays sails.
Woven Polyester Sailcloth
The most common material for recreational cruising yachts is polyester. It replaced cotton in the 1950s and is often known as Dacron, a trade name by DuPont. Although technology has progressed, the fundamental weaving principles of sailcloth remain unchanged.
Warp fibers run along the cloth and are bent around fill fibers, which run across the cloth.
The yarns weave over and under each other, a process known as crimp. When the cloth is stressed, these yarns straighten, causing stretch. Woven fabrics are durable and cost-effective, making them perfect for cruising sails.
Woven Nylon Cruising Chutes and Spinnakers
The majority of spinnakers and cruising chutes are constructed from woven nylon due to its excellent tear strength. Nylons can be coated, impregnated, and oriented in warp or fill directions, but the key factor is the balance between stretch, tear strength, and weight.
Nylon has a considerable amount of stretch, which is beneficial for downwind sails where some degree of sail stretch is advantageous.
Laminate Sailcloth
Laminates are created by layering various materials to form a composite structure. A basic laminate includes an open scrim, which is the visible grid of fibers, with a film layer attached to each side. The film prevents air from passing through the laminate, while the scrim bears the load. Laminates are much more efficient than woven fabrics because the scrim in laminates is "forced" rather than woven. This method bonds flat fiber ribbons into a lattice, eliminating weaving, which reduces crimp and thus minimizes stretch.
There are dozens of laminate products on the market, almost all of which contain three essential elements:
One or more layers of film.
Kevlar, Vectran, Spectra, carbon or polyester which are laid into the laminate to enhance the strength in a particular direction.
Taffeta a woven fabric glued to the outside of the laminate.
The primary benefit of laminates is their strength in proportion to their weight.
While a double taffeta cruise laminate might not be much lighter than a comparable polyester, it offers significantly greater strength, resulting in more stable forms and improved performance.
The disadvantages include higher cost and reduced durability.
No matter what material your sails are made of, correct sail maintenance and management greatly prolongs a their life and saves you money.
So here is a few tips on how to reduce wear and maintain your sails.
Chafe
Whenever possible, try to prevent your sails from rubbing against parts of the boat. The more the sail contacts other objects, the faster it will wear. If you can't completely avoid chafing, cover areas of your rigging that tend to rub against the sails with tape or leather. Pay particular attention to split pins/rings where they may contact the sail.
It is important to regularly check areas that are more susceptible to wear, such as the stitching and the sacrificial U.V stripe.
Consider reinforcing vulnerable areas and keep rolls of sticky-back Dacron on board to apply patches should you notice wear on a long passage.
Flogging
Flogging and leech flutter can rapidly damage the sailcloth and diminish sail performance, so it's essential to limit their exposure to flapping in the wind.
Avoid motoring into the wind with your sails flogging and stop leech flutter by adjusting the leech cord and making sure the sheet car for the genoa is correctly aligned. This will prevent the top part of the genoa's leech from twisting away and fluttering in the wind.
If you plan to leave your vessel for any period and strong winds are possible, make sure that the wind cannot catch any small section of the sail, particularly a loosely rolled genoa. Any flapping can rapidly damage the sails.
UV Damage
Direct sunlight is a major adversary of sail cloth. Over time, UV rays can deteriorate sailcloth and rot stitching, making it brittle and prone to tearing.
It's advisable to inspect the sacrificial strip that shields the luff and foot of your roller-furling jib. If it's significantly faded, have it checked or replaced before the sun's rays harm the rest of the sail. Whenever your sails are not in use, make sure they are covered and kept out of direct sunlight.
Moisture and Cleaning
Before you attempt to remove stains from your sail if in any doubt it is advisable to check which chemical cleaners are appropriate to use with your sailmaker as even biological liquids can damage sails.
After use all sails benefit in a rinse with fresh water to remove any salt, grit, or sand that may have got trapped in the seams, as this can erode the stitching and fabric.
Dacron sails can be cleaned using a mild soap solution and water to eliminate dirt. For persistent stains, a small amount of non-chlorine bleach, like Oxiclean, may be added. The suggested ratio is about 1 cup per gallon of water, but if unsure, consult your sail maker. Chlorine can cause the stitches to deteriorate.
For nylon sails, simply rinse with fresh water and a mild soap. Under no circumstances should any chlorine based cleaner or bleach ever be used on nylon sails and never soak a nylon sail in a swimming pool.
While nylon is a rugged material, it is very susceptible to damage from exposure to chlorine.
Laminated Sails
Once again the most important rule is no bleach. Laminated sails should be cleaned with a non bleach gentle cleaner, we recommend Simple Green as it is kinder to the environment and has no chemicals harmful to sail materials, combined with a light scrub and a rinse with fresh water. Be careful not damage the sail with excessive scrubbing. Depending on the stain, you may not be able to remove it completely.
Storage
If only leaving for a short time and leaving your sails in place we recommend easing the jib halyard, main halyard, and outhaul to prevent permanent luff and foot stretching. Releasing batten tension also reduces distortion at the batten ends. Shake any reefs out.
If leaving your vessel for a long period of time we would always recommend removing and cleaning sails to avoid damage from the elements.
After removal there is the perfect opportunity for a visual inspection.
Check battens for splintering. Splintered battens will quickly damage sail cloth so replace any that have damage, if a replacement is not available tape up until a replacement can be sourced.
Check luff slides and other hardware to make sure they are still securely attached to the sail.
Check seam stitching is still intact. UV can quickly damage certain threads.
Regularly rinse sail bag zippers and lubricate with silicone spray.
Patch minor tears with a suitable sail repair tape as soon as possible, this will minimise damage before a proper repair can be made.
Check cruising chutes and spinnakers for small tears. Catching small holes early can reduce the chance of them becoming bigger tears later on.
Spray luff tapes on both genoas and mainsails as they slide up the track, using a lubricant such as SailKote. This will help clean the tracks and make hoisting and dousing easier.
After cleaning ensure your sails are completely dry before storing them, as moisture can lead to mildew. If possible remove any metal fittings on the sail tack or head which may leave rust marks when stored.
When folding sails avoid folding on the same fold lines every time so small creases don’t become permanent. Creases can cause breakdown in the sail fibric and weaken the sail so fold loosely or roll if practically possible.
Sails should be stored in a dry clean temperature controlled area. It is important the temperature stays consistent to avoid moisture forming due to cold nights and warm days. If in any doubt place a dehumidifier in the area and ensure a good airflow.
Guard against pests. Tiny animals often seek refuge in sails during the winter months and will readily gnaw through them to create a comfortable space. Ensure you store your sails in a location that rodents or other pests cannot access.
If sails are well cared for they should give you many seasons use whilst keeping their looks and shape.
And do not forget while your sails are off it is a good time to inspect your rig and fittings.