SAIL AND CANVAS CLEANING VACUWASH AUSTRALIA
  • Home
  • SAILS
  • Tents
  • Canvas
  • What does it cost?
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Testimonials
  • FAQs
  • Gallery
  • Links
  • Downloads
  • Interstate transport options
  • General Terms
  • Awards
  • SailkotePlus
  • Privacy Policy

Categories

All
Canvas
McLube SailkotePlus
Sails
Tips & Tricks

Archives

June 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
June 2019
May 2019
December 2018
October 2018
June 2018
May 2018
March 2018
May 2017
March 2017
November 2016
September 2016
June 2016
May 2016
February 2016
December 2015
October 2015
August 2015
July 2015

Furling your headsail

6/30/2019

0 Comments

 

It might sound simple, but having seen hundreds of sails over the past few years, I have a reasonable appreciation of what goes wrong when the headsail is furled incorrectly.
A furled headsail lives outside in the UV, weather and pollution. There is a sacrificial UV strip down the leech and foot of the sail, this needs to be on the outside of the sail, yes many sails are furled incorrectly so the protected side is on the inside thus doing no good. The furl shouldn't have any folds in it either this will have the same effect of no UV strip. The easy way to see this is if you have a coloured UV strip, and your sail looks like the 'twirly' light outside a barber shop, then its furled incorrectly.
Wrap a few extra turns on the drum so that the sheets will go around the sail a few times, prevents the clew from being exposed even just a little bit and the resultant UV damage.
A tight furl will also help stop the cockys from gripping the sail and munching away at the UV, yep they love it, dunno why but I see plenty of sails damaged by cockys.

Not much you can do to prevent the pollution getting on the sail, but an annual Vacuwash of the sail will stop any accumulation of dirt. Combine a wash with a  coating of SailkotePlus and many of the above problems will disappear.

​
0 Comments

Nasty weather forecast?

6/30/2019

0 Comments

 
Sydney in winter has some nasty east coast lows that can play havoc to even the best prepared boat.
Here is a forecast for the low of just a few weeks ago, 50 knot winds! that means gusts over 70 knots, serious stuff.
Just because your boat is tied up at a wharf or swinging on a mooring doesn't mean that you are any safer than a boat at sea in the same conditions.
If you can do so, take down your canvas biminis, dodgers and other bits that are there to protect varnish, otherwise you might find that what they are there to protect will actually be damaged by them as they flag in the wind after a fastening comes loose
Your furling headsail should be, removed (although I never see anyone do this) or at least tightly furled with no creases, an application of McLube SailkotePlus will ensure you achieve this furl, a few extra turns of the sheets around the sail too. Tie off tightly the sheets and the furling line. Its amazing watching a furled headsail unfurl and destroy itself from the head down.

Why are trimmers and sailmakers always full of work post these weather events? ​ 
Picture
0 Comments

Home

About Us

FAQs

Gallery

Contact Us

Copyright © 2015
  • Home
  • SAILS
  • Tents
  • Canvas
  • What does it cost?
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Testimonials
  • FAQs
  • Gallery
  • Links
  • Downloads
  • Interstate transport options
  • General Terms
  • Awards
  • SailkotePlus
  • Privacy Policy