WA
71 posts
Hi,
I have been out at the Saturday wind fest in Crazy Waves as well and destroyed my 4.1 sail. Not during sailing, but while carrying my gear on my head, which is not a good idea, damaged already two sails by that. However, do not want to let it be repaired professionally (it is old) and do not have the money to buy a new one. So, my question is, what kind of sticky tape or layers or stickers do you use.
Regards
Dr.F.
QLD
2315 posts
Best and strongest way is to get some sticky back from sailmaker and use that on both sides, use a substantial amount either side of tear and do both sides. To put on use a tiny bit of detergent in water and put it on the sail first, it lets you remove/move the tape without damaging the sticky stuff. Make sure you get all the water/air bubbles out and it will last on there forever.
I've had no success with other tapes, some people use that silver tape but the problem is it is too narrow to effectively repair tears. I have some $2 tape really clear tape (looks like normal sticky tape to me just 2 inches wide) from crazy clarks which seems to work good on small tears but I have it on a big tear at the moment and it just isnt holding up. Since you are putting it on a wave sail which may come under some pressure use the sticky back.
SA
2898 posts
Go to sail maker and get offcuts of sticky back they use for sail numbers. it's usually in the rubbish bin.
otherwise go to a packaging supply place and get some reinforced clear tape. it's got fibreglass threads in the tape either just long ways or long and cross ways. I've seen a sail nearly completly held together with this tape. you need a knife to cut it.
WA
71 posts
Hi,
I have tried the clear tape 2 inches wide for a few repairs. Properly done you can hardly see it, but after about 5-10 surfdays it always broke again. This cut is very long ~50cm. So need some texile tape.
One question to your "detergent in water" idea mkseven. Do you use normal dish washing stuff? How do you get rid of that, do you press it all in one direction, I suppose you can not get rid of that completely, doesn't it reduce the strength of the adhesive.
Where (at which sailmaker, package supply) do you suggest to aks?
Regards
Dr.F.
QLD
2315 posts
Yeah dishwashing is good but only use a little bit, put it in a spray bottle. Getting it out...don't use very much, get some sort of flat soft plastic and start in the middle and work out, then put it in sailbag and leave it in the sun for a while. I have done this with all my sails with sail numbers and never had one come off, sticky back adhesive dosent soften in water but this is the technique they use to put stickers on cars and how they used to put tint film on. As with the other tape it is hardest to get the air away from where the tear is and thats where you need to get it to stick the best in order to last.
Sailmaker, pick a colour then ring around and find the cheapest (some are hellishly expensive), comes in 1.2m wide off the roll from memory, I paid $20/m for black.
