WA
1012 posts
has anyone had a go at repairng their own sails and how did it go
WA
12885 posts
Back in the begining I was confident enough to give it a go, modified my first no batten sails, added bits on here and there, put battens in to improve shape, (stuffed the wife's sowing machine in the process) but they were very strange. Figured there was more to sails than first meets the eye!! All I've done since is use different sorts of sticky stuff, over the odd hole.
1979 posts
Pretty easy to get it very wrong if you havent been shown how to do it correctly.
WA
1160 posts
stickers are the way to go
QLD
14967 posts
Hi Sydguy,
use clear mylar tape bought from a chandlery or a sticker. i carry a roll at all times.
You can also use 303 protectant on your sails to extend life, particularly the monofilm. It is excellent. it is like a sunscreen for your gear. makes them look almost new again as well. (like armor all, but don't use armor all).
After first application you can see a very subtle residue on the sail, but that goes away after a session on the water. i think it has almost doubled my sail life. i got some from autobarn a couple of seasons back and use it twice a year.
like everything, do a test spot first.
NSW
46 posts
My recommendation is plain old contact. Get it in a roll from newagencies etc. Get the clear stuff for repairs and coloured to make numbers. It lasts well and peels of easily when the time comes. If I get damage I usually clean the sail and rig it and apply contact to both sides.
QLD
7436 posts
Contact? I've tried that in the past and it went cloudy and peeled off. There are probably lots of different products that present as "clear contact" but how do you find the right one?
