Our used sails came with the sailboat
we bought. We have two used sails, a main and a
jib. They have perform great for us and we have taken very
good care of them. We also know the people who owned the boat before us
took very good care of them. Some people throw out their used
sails when they buy new ones but my husband likes to have plenty of
spare parts so I know whenever we do purchase new sails we will be
keeping these. One never knows what can happen and if the new sail
sustains a rip we will have the used sails for backup. That is an awful
thought but better to be prepared. Boat Insurance From BoatUS 
is a good
thing to have to help with the cost of new or used sails.
Windward Sail I Art Print
Hausenflock, Alan
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A yearly trip to the sail maker for inspection is well worth the time and money. At a sail loft you can find many different sails for all kinds of sailboats. The sailmaker's trained eye will see where problems can occur and look over places that are likely to chafe. You can help him by marking lightly on the sail where you think some problem areas might be as each boat and sail design is different. He will naturally look at the batten pockets on the main sail to make sure they are a good fit. Also, he will check on the main sail where the main bears against the lee shrouds and running back-stays, and also along the leech where the sail bears against the topping lift. A shock cord rigged between the topping lift and permanent back-stay will keep the topping lift out of the way of the leech. Never leave the boom hanging. The boom is very heavy and the weight will stretch the leech of the already used sail. Use the topping lift to hold the boom until the mainsail is all the way up. On a smaller sailboat, hold the boom by hand until the mainsail is hoisted to prevent stretching.
Dacron is a tightly woven fabric so the stitches sit on top of the cloth and therefore can be pulled easily. If you notice a pulled stitch, deal with it right away. Put some sail maker's adhesive tape on it for a quick fix until you can get it re-stitched or put some reinforced stitches in. Make sure the main sail slides slide easily. The main sail should come down from its own weight and if it doesn’t find out why not and fix the problem soon. To much pull on the used sail can stretch it out of shape.
Sailing III Art Print
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On the head sail, the foot of the used sail can be chafed by the lifelines or snagged by the stanchions. Reinforcement can be put here. A few stitches to learn so you can fix or reinforce grommets on your tacks or clews yourself are the round stitch and the herringbone stitch. A good idea is to have a Sail Repair Kit
on board if
you
have used sails. It should include sewing twine, needles,
beeswax, a sewing palm and a booklet that will show the stitches. They
are easy and the pictures are helpful.
Keeping the used sails clean will make them last longer. Salt that is left on the sails after evaporation can absorb moisture left behind and this makes the cloth stiffer and heavier. This will aid the deterioration of the cloth of the already used sails. Keep them rinsed often with fresh water and keep them dry. Mildew does not weaken Dacron it only discolors the sails. Mildew is sometimes hard to remove but does not make the used sails deteriorate faster. Batten pockets are a good place for mildew to start. Be sure your sails are dry when you put them away. Use a 1% cold water solution of bleach and let it stand for 2 hours to get rid of mildew. Then wash with mild soap and rinse with fresh water. For cleaning large sails lay them out on clean concrete and scrub with a brush and hose off.
Buy at AllPosters.com
Our sailboat has roller furling on the jib which is nice because on the end of the furl is the sail cover. This keeps the jib neat and clean and protected. Our main stays on the boom and we have a sail cover for that. We make sure the battens are out or straight from bow to stern as we fold the main to rest on the boom. Then we put the cover on.
Used sails or new sails are very important and very expensive items on a sailboat. Somtimes you can find used sails in the classified section of magazines or newspapers and of course online. Check often for deals becuase they don't last long. They need special treatment so they will last a long time. It is worth every bit of effort and time that you put into them. They are so beautiful when set. When the engine is finally turned off and all you hear is the water on the bow and the wind in the sails, who cares if they are used? They are yours, they are working and you are sailing!
Windward Sail I Art Print
Hausenflock, Alan
Buy at AllPosters.com
A yearly trip to the sail maker for inspection is well worth the time and money. At a sail loft you can find many different sails for all kinds of sailboats. The sailmaker's trained eye will see where problems can occur and look over places that are likely to chafe. You can help him by marking lightly on the sail where you think some problem areas might be as each boat and sail design is different. He will naturally look at the batten pockets on the main sail to make sure they are a good fit. Also, he will check on the main sail where the main bears against the lee shrouds and running back-stays, and also along the leech where the sail bears against the topping lift. A shock cord rigged between the topping lift and permanent back-stay will keep the topping lift out of the way of the leech. Never leave the boom hanging. The boom is very heavy and the weight will stretch the leech of the already used sail. Use the topping lift to hold the boom until the mainsail is all the way up. On a smaller sailboat, hold the boom by hand until the mainsail is hoisted to prevent stretching.
Dacron is a tightly woven fabric so the stitches sit on top of the cloth and therefore can be pulled easily. If you notice a pulled stitch, deal with it right away. Put some sail maker's adhesive tape on it for a quick fix until you can get it re-stitched or put some reinforced stitches in. Make sure the main sail slides slide easily. The main sail should come down from its own weight and if it doesn’t find out why not and fix the problem soon. To much pull on the used sail can stretch it out of shape.
Sailing III Art Print
Buy at AllPosters.com
On the head sail, the foot of the used sail can be chafed by the lifelines or snagged by the stanchions. Reinforcement can be put here. A few stitches to learn so you can fix or reinforce grommets on your tacks or clews yourself are the round stitch and the herringbone stitch. A good idea is to have a Sail Repair Kit
Keeping the used sails clean will make them last longer. Salt that is left on the sails after evaporation can absorb moisture left behind and this makes the cloth stiffer and heavier. This will aid the deterioration of the cloth of the already used sails. Keep them rinsed often with fresh water and keep them dry. Mildew does not weaken Dacron it only discolors the sails. Mildew is sometimes hard to remove but does not make the used sails deteriorate faster. Batten pockets are a good place for mildew to start. Be sure your sails are dry when you put them away. Use a 1% cold water solution of bleach and let it stand for 2 hours to get rid of mildew. Then wash with mild soap and rinse with fresh water. For cleaning large sails lay them out on clean concrete and scrub with a brush and hose off.
Buy at AllPosters.com
Our sailboat has roller furling on the jib which is nice because on the end of the furl is the sail cover. This keeps the jib neat and clean and protected. Our main stays on the boom and we have a sail cover for that. We make sure the battens are out or straight from bow to stern as we fold the main to rest on the boom. Then we put the cover on.
Used sails or new sails are very important and very expensive items on a sailboat. Somtimes you can find used sails in the classified section of magazines or newspapers and of course online. Check often for deals becuase they don't last long. They need special treatment so they will last a long time. It is worth every bit of effort and time that you put into them. They are so beautiful when set. When the engine is finally turned off and all you hear is the water on the bow and the wind in the sails, who cares if they are used? They are yours, they are working and you are sailing!
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