Washing doesn't affect the longevity one bit. If you want them to last then apart from the obvious ( ie avoiding physically mistreatment) the number one thing is to minimise the exposure to uv. You can spray them with 303 as Nebbs suggested. It has uv screening properties but it doesn't last long. I don't think they are structurally bothered by mould and mildew. The thing that makes them cloudy is micro scratching. Cloudiness has nothing to do with uv deterioration but there is a bit of correlation with cloudiness, age and exposure. Still a sail can be well and truly cloudy but still strong if has been never been left lying in the sun.

I remember reading about an ad hoc test a bloke did on different sail cloths to test their longevity on exposure to uv. He put them on a frame and left them out in the sun for months on end and gave them a daily wash. He also tested 303 while he was at it and found it worked but its effect was slight. He only gave one application though.

The test was posted on rec.windsurfing round about 2000 if you want to hunt for it.
The implication of the test was that xply was more than 2 x better than mono and mylar but dacron as I recall was the big winner.

But yeah, sail care - just keep em out of the sun and only sail at night time.

Daneli said...

So basically I have been wasting my time washing down the sail after every session!!!

Nope.. not wasting your time at all..

Salt water dries, the salt crystalises, leaving lots of sharp little salt crystals between the layers or your rolled sail. Then when you put it in the car it vibrates and rubs those sharp little crystals all over your nice new monofilm.

Over time, salt crystals and sand will probably do more damage to your sail than UV exposure - unless you're sailing all day every day, or leave your gear rigged up permanently.

Some will argue that the damage caused by unrolling and re-rolling your sail to wash it outweighs the benefits of the washing, but if you do it carefully there's really no need to add crinkles to the film.

555 said...

Daneli said...

So basically I have been wasting my time washing down the sail after every session!!!

Nope.. not wasting your time at all..

Salt water dries, the salt crystalises, leaving lots of sharp little salt crystals between the layers or your rolled sail. Then when you put it in the car it vibrates and rubs those sharp little crystals all over your nice new monofilm.

Over time, salt crystals and sand will probably do more damage to your sail than UV exposure - unless you're sailing all day every day, or leave your gear rigged up permanently.

Some will argue that the damage caused by unrolling and re-rolling your sail to wash it outweighs the benefits of the washing, but if you do it carefully there's really no need to add crinkles to the film.

I understand salt is not hard enough to scratch sails. Sand will make them cloudy. Uv will kill them. You might think that your 3 year old wave sail was shredded because the makka that clobbered it was particularly fierce, but it may well be because it only had 50% of its strength left due to uv exposure. A sail can LOOK absolutely pristine and still be cooked. The uv life of a sail is significantly short. Leaving it lying flat on the beach in the middle of the day is giving it the maximum possible exposure - considerably worse exposure than when sailing.

So yes, wash the sand off, but don't dry them in the sun. If they're not sandy washing wont help, except to make them clean.

NotWal said...

Washing doesn't affect the longevity one bit.

Most manufacturer's recommend washing and drying away from the sun. I found a guy that Amoralled
www.armorall.com/
his sails when new, and he stated that he has never seen any UV damage.

After every sail i come home and hang them under the carport in the shade. Then rise them with a high pressure hose, all though mast sleve and everything, then leave them to dry in the wind over the night. Then all the other gear just sit underneath to dry because i wash all of it so theres no rusting in uni joints, fins, screws, booms, bolts etc. and just clean the boards for the sake of it i suppose.

I like to think this will get the most out of my gear and long life span if i keep it really well by cleaning. Do the same for fresh water aswell, mainly the drying so that i don't get mould on the sails and what not.

Bubs

Actually, NotWal, I agree with you. However, I recently bought a North sail with came with instructions that recommended washing and drying the sail after every session. I've also seen that since Armorall is petrol based and 303 products aren't, they are better. A Mfg. Rep from 303 states that regular applications make a difference. However, I agree that it must be rather tedius to have apply these products often. You can put in 27 three hour sessions with a sail before UV damage starts to set in. Who doesn't want a new sail after that much time on the water with one?

gregwed said...

I've been sailing on and off for many years. Always give mine a quick spray with fresh water and then hang under the house to dry for a day or two - out of the sun. Haven't had any problems with damaged sails, always last for years. So my recommendation regardless of what the manufacturers say, wash then dry in the shade before rolling up and storing.
Also sailed Contenders and Cats for many years before sailboarding, same story. Adding up to about 30 years!
Cheers - Greg W

This is what I have been doing, but I do see damage.