Michael Bradshaw Posted February 28, 2007 Report Share Posted February 28, 2007 With the current water restrictions I want to know how are other people washing / cleaning their sails down. I do this a few times during the season and then finally at the end before putting them away for the winter. Any ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emmessee Posted February 28, 2007 Report Share Posted February 28, 2007 It is essential to rinse them, so I do it with a watering can. It's a pain in the arse but there is no other option. I sometimes just put the hose in the watering can and then use the can that way. I know it is bending the rules, but you have to get your boat, fittings and sails salt free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xmatelot Posted February 28, 2007 Report Share Posted February 28, 2007 matt, thats how I water the garden. pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enaiche Posted February 28, 2007 Report Share Posted February 28, 2007 There was a discussion on the Australian Catamaran Forum on this site last year (last post 11/12/06) and whether to wash or not wash. I like the wiping with a damp sponge idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NacraPhelia628 Posted February 28, 2007 Report Share Posted February 28, 2007 You could always go inland, find a dam, rig your boat on a really windy day and then capsize it...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emmessee Posted February 28, 2007 Report Share Posted February 28, 2007 not many dams with that much water in them at the moment to try that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darryl J Barrett Posted February 28, 2007 Report Share Posted February 28, 2007 Salt water is a good preservative (before "colour fast" dyes it was used to "set the colour dyes into fabrics) and as such it is a lot better for the long life of sails than any "tap water" that has so many chemicals in it that are actually harmful to the fabrics IE chlorine, fluoride, etc, so I have always just dried my sails for the last forty years before putting them away and never washed/rinsed them down with tap water. I have sets of sails at home that were put away in the early eighties and never had the salt washed off of them, and they are still in excellent condition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emmessee Posted February 28, 2007 Report Share Posted February 28, 2007 This is true Darryl and I totally agree, but I have always got the salt off the metal bits. I rarely capsize these days so it is just off the bottom bits really. [This message has been edited by Emmessee (edited 28 February 2007).] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Bradshaw Posted February 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2007 Darryl, so you have never washed your sails? I was always told that you should rinse them often to get the salt off. Is this an 'old way of thinking' due to new materials used for the sail? I have always given them a final rinse at the end of the season, let them fully dry and then put them away. Have always found the sails kept well this way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emmessee Posted February 28, 2007 Report Share Posted February 28, 2007 now I have said that about capsizing I bet I spend the next three weekends in the drink. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
micky Posted March 1, 2007 Report Share Posted March 1, 2007 do not overwash sails, the fabrics are ok to be left with salt on. It is the stitching which will break down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darryl J Barrett Posted March 1, 2007 Report Share Posted March 1, 2007 I wouldn’t drink most “tap” waters with all the “crap” that is put in them to try to kill all the other “crap” that is already in there, let alone smear all those chemicals over my sails. Not only do I not wash off the salt but at least once a season I will lay out the sail in sea water with the batten tension off until it is thoroughly “wet”, then run it up the mast to dry pulling on all the luff tension that I can to stretch out the bolt rope as bolt ropes tend to contract over time and the sail becomes much harder to “flatten” whilst sailing. This saves loosening off the boltrope and restitching it into a new position. I only do this when the boltrope is a “rope”. With the “push up” luffs, which are basically high pressure hydraulic tube it is not necessary, As far as the stitching is concerned, all stitching is polyester/synthetic thread and should be unaffected by salt water. The stitching will usually wear out by “rubbing” or being over extended or just long exposure to UV light, well before it would break down through contact with anything in seawater. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darryl J Barrett Posted March 1, 2007 Report Share Posted March 1, 2007 Although I can't vouch for what's in the sea water in Botony Bay as I have seen long streams of funny brown floaties bobbing along that look just like what is usually flushed down the toilet the day before? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg W Posted March 1, 2007 Report Share Posted March 1, 2007 Arrrrhhh..............them just be blind mullett. Nuthin ta worry about! Cheers Greg W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emmessee Posted March 2, 2007 Report Share Posted March 2, 2007 just don't eat them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emmessee Posted March 2, 2007 Report Share Posted March 2, 2007 you should see what I have sailed through in Hong Kong. I could hardly breath out on the boat. Big boat so no getting wet or you would end up with a bad belly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claws Posted March 2, 2007 Report Share Posted March 2, 2007 Hi all. Everybody is welcome to come visit us here at Mt Isa, and take the boats out on our lovely Lake Moondarra, and wash your sails if you wish. A BBQ and beer is guarenteed after the "washing" is done!! Claws Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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