How to properly care for your yacht's sails

Introduction

This blog is about how you should clean and care for your sailboat’s sails. It covers what to inspect and repair before storing away the sails during winter months, when they’re not in use.

You should inspect your sails at the end of every sailing season, or every other sailing season when you have the sailboat stored in a dry dock.

If you store your boat for more than one year, it’s even more important to check that everything is okay with the sails before taking them out again: because they are not exposed to sunlight, moisture can accumulate and damage the fabric.

Put the sail on top of something to prevent the sharp lines from damaging the other side of the sail.

Put the sail on a clean, dry surface.

It’s tempting to leave your sails out in the sun and let them bake until they’re crispy and ready for sailing. But don’t do this! You’ll damage the fabric if you leave them exposed to direct sunlight, even on a hot day. If it’s too humid for your boat (or if you have no choice), put the sail on top of something that can withstand exposure to water and keep it away from anything damp or dirty, like sand or dirt. And don’t leave it lying around outside—it needs protection from inclement weather just as much as any other piece of clothing would!

Carefully and thoroughly wash away all saltwater, sand, and dirt from both sides of the sails.

After the sail dries, you can use a soft brush to get rid of any dirt and residual saltwater that remains on the sail. You should also check your sail for damage, as well as any tears or holes. If you find any damage, call a professional to repair it before further sailing.

Next, fill up a bucket with warm water and add in two cups of white vinegar (you can use more or less depending on how dirty your sails are). Use this mixture to rinse off your sails from both sides until all dirt has been removed from the fabric material itself. Do not use harsh chemicals such as bleach or detergents when washing these materials because they may stain them over time.

After drying your sails, inspect them for any damage.

After you have dried your sail, inspect it for any damage. Look for tears or rips in the fabric and check for any stains, mildew, or mold on the canvas. Check that all of the stitching is intact and that there are no loose threads anywhere. Finally, look at each batten to see if it is secure in its track.

Patch any small tears; if you’re unsure about repairing a sail yourself and are berthed in Arlington, VA, then visit our shipyard! We can have one of our experts fix your sails for you!

Small tears can be fixed at home. However, if you’re not sure how to do this or are berthed in Arlington, VA, then visit our shipyard! We can have one of our experts fix your sails for you!

If you do choose to repair a tear yourself, make sure that there are no wrinkles in the sails. Stretch out the sail while you fix it to prevent this from happening.

It’s not just the damage that needs inspection either. Make sure that your sailboat’s sails are in great condition before storing them away for winter or other times of the year.

Coil and put away all halyards, sheets, and deck hardware.

Once the sails are down, coil and put away all halyards, sheets, and deck hardware.

Halyards should be coiled in a neat fashion with minimal kinks or tangles. If you have to store them for any length of time after being used on your boat, be sure to store them in a dry place to prevent damage.

If you have any loose or frayed pieces of line that need to be replaced with new ones, do so now before getting underway again.

Replace any worn lines or sections that need to be replaced.

After cleaning your sails, it is important to replace any worn lines or sections that need to be replaced. Lines should be replaced if they are frayed or cracked. Sections of the sail should be replaced if they are torn or ripped, twisted, knotted, tangled or too short for their intended use.

Polish all metal and wooden parts like halyard sheaves, traveler tracks and winches using appropriate solvents.

To clean the metal parts of your sailboat, you can use a soft cloth with mild soap solution. If your sailboat has wooden parts, clean them with an oil (such as Teak oil).

To polish all metal and wooden parts like halyard sheaves, traveler tracks and winches using appropriate solvents.

Don’t forget to inspect and repair your sails before storing them away!

Inspect your sails for damage.
Repair any damage that has occurred during use or storage.
Store the sails in a dry place if possible, because moisture can cause mildew and mold to form on the sailcloth. If you have no other option than to store your sails indoors, make sure they are properly cared for and stored in a clean environment where they will not be damaged by other items stored nearby.

Conclusion

Properly cleaning and caring for your sailboat’s sails will ensure that your sailing season goes smoothly. It can also save you money, as it’s easier to fix small tears when they’re still fresh than after they’ve had time to get bigger!