Sail and Rigging Service
Although our sails look good, if we look closely, the sunlight seeping out of the holes opened by the widening of the seams running from the corners to the middle is a sign that our sails are getting old. Because our sails are constantly exposed to UV rays and salt water, the seams deteriorate over time and the sewing threads wear out and weaken.
We can test the strength of our sails with a small test. If the threads break as a result of the force that would be applied between the seam and the fabric with a sharp tool such as a hook, it means that it is time for maintenance or replacement of the sail. But when you pull the threads in this area with the hook and if it holds up by resisting, it means your sail will do fine for you next season.
After-Sailing Maintenance of Sails
Our sails are damaged by seawater, humidity and the sun. To minimize this effect, you should not leave sails that get wet during the cruise to dry out in this way. If possible, it should be rinsed with fresh water. If it is a sailboat with a classic mainsail system and the mainsail is stowed in a lazy bag, it should never be left wet. Water and moisture will accumulate inside the sailboat folded in the Lazy Bag. This will cause the formation of green algae with its early mold and the deformation of our sail and its seams.
Winterizing Sails
If you don't use your sailboat in winter, especially in places with high air pollution, your sailboat will get dirty because of rain and may stay wet all the time. Because of this, it is important to collect the sails if they are not going to be used. The mainsails that go into the classic mainsail and the lazy bag get wet in winter as a result of rain and snow. This causes the appearance of stains and algae. If the sails don't need to be disassembled, they should be aired on sunny and windless winter days, rinsed with fresh water and dried to get the dust out at least. This prevents stains on the sails, unpleasant odors and algae.
Folding Sails
The fold mark occurs when all the sails are folded. If you fold it from different places in each fold, the fold marks will increase. As a result, instead of folding them randomly, you can prevent multiplication by folding them from the same place each time. If the sail is small, rolling over can prevent folding. If it is large, the least possible folding would be appropriate.
Washing Sails
The stains that appear when neglected penetrate them, especially on white sails made of dacron. Over time, such stains cannot be removed. Frequent cleaning of the sails is important. Also, heavy materials should not be used to clean sails. This might damage the seams on your sails. Sails should be washed with plenty of water and a sponge.
Storage of Sails
Sails should be stored in a completely dry and dehumidified place. Humidity causes algae to grow on the sail. Heavy materials should not be placed on the sails and should be stored in a well-ventilated area high above the ground. It should be dried thoroughly before storage.
Sails should be serviced regularly, and torn corners and holes in the sails should be repaired before they led to more serious problems.