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Sailing with old sails can severely hamper performance and safety of a boat. The sail is the engine of the boat therefore, it is essential to have sails that are in good repair before attempting a voyage. So what exactly constitutes a good sail, and how do you know when you should replace them?
Here are 7 signs that you need new sails:
- The fabric of your sails appears worn or frayed.
- The body of your sails feels soft and limp.
- Your sails are no longer holding their shape.
- Your sails need to be patched and re-stitched regularly.
- You’re moving slower than usual when sailing upwind.
- Your sails have more than 4,000 hours of use.
- It’s been over 10 years since you last replaced your sails.
As sails age, they become increasingly less functional, especially if not stored and cared for properly over the years. In the rest of this article, I will discuss the seven signs that it may be time to replace your sails.
1. The Fabric of Your Sails Appear Worn or Frayed
One of the most significant signs that it might be time to throw in the towel and purchase new sails is when they appear noticeably worn or frayed.
What exactly does noticeably worn look like?
Signs the fabric of your sails may have worn out are:
- The fabric appears thinner in some places.
- There are holes in your sails fabric.
- The fabric has changed color or appears to be sun-damaged.
- The stitching is starting to come apart in your hands.
If you notice any of these signs, it’s probably time to consider purchasing new sails for your boat.
It’s normal for sails to age and wear out. However, how quickly your sails wear out can depend on how much sun exposure they receive, the brand, how often they are used, and how they’re stored when not in use.
2. The Body of Your Sails Feels Soft and Limp
A good sail’s fabric should feel stiff and slippery rather than soft and limp. In addition, they should make a crinkling sound similar to cellophane when folded up.
Typically the body of your sail will degrade more quickly than the fabric. A great way you can tell if the body has become worn is by touching the sail with your hands to see if it has become too soft to be effective.
Another sign is if you notice a lot of fluttering from your sails when sailing. Good sails should be firm and hold their shape without flapping around too much in the wind.
3. Your Sails Are No Longer Holding Their Shape
If your sails seem to be catching the wind and bowing further out than they ought to, it is time to buy new sails.
It can be hard to determine whether or not your sails are holding their shape, a pro tip is to check your old pictures and see if there’s a difference between today and 6 months before
As we previously discussed, sails should be firm and somewhat rigid, and over time they’ll wear down and become softer due to factors such as sun, heat, and wind.
If you aren’t sure how much life your sails have left, you can always take them to a sailmaker to see if anything can be done or if they think it’s time for you to buy new ones.
4. Your Sails Need To Be Patched and Re-Stitched Regularly
Over time your sails are bound to tear or need other repairs. This is generally inevitable, but how do you tell if your sails have entirely had it, or they just need a quick patch or stitch?
It’s probably time to retire your old sails if:
- You have to patch your sails frequently.
- You have to have the stitching re-stitched multiple times.
Sometimes it will make the most financial sense to repair your old sails rather than buying new ones, especially if they aren’t that old.
Repairing holes or loose stitching in your sails is totally fine. The only problem with repairing your sails comes when you have to do it frequently. In this case, it would be much better to purchase new ones.
5. You’re Moving Slower Than Usual When Sailing up Wind
If you have noticed a decrease in your sailing speed, chances are your sails aren’t up to par, especially if you find yourself struggling to maintain speed upwind where the forces acting on the sails are greater.
When leisurely sailing, you may not notice the wear of your sails as much. But the issue becomes more critical when making long voyages or trying to race your sailboat.
You definitely don’t want your sails to rupture when you need them the most, in strong winds during storms.
6. Your Sails Have More Than 4,000 Hours of Use
A great way to measure the life of your sails alongside the physical wear is to measure the hours they have been used.
Typically sails can last anywhere from 3,500 to 4,000 hours of use if properly cared for. Now this number can vary significantly with each sail.
Some of the factors that can affect these numbers are:
- Type of fabric.
- The brand.
- Sun exposure.
- Proper storage.
- Regular washing before storage.
- How often you use your sails.
As you can see, there are many ways to add extra wear and tear to your sail’s structural integrity.
7. It’s Been Over 10 Years Since You Last Replaced Your Sails
Most people say you should replace your sails every 5-10 years as you notice your sails accruing extra wear and tear. However, your sail’s age can also greatly vary based on several factors:
- Sun exposure
- Frequent use
- Brand
- How well they are taken care of
Ultimately how well you maintain your sails and keep them clean will aid in prolonging your sail’s overall life. It’s important to remove salt so a good investment for prolonging your sails is a Boat Cleaning Kit (available on Amazon). It’ll ensure you have the tools necessary to clean your sails before storing them.
Final Thoughts
Replacing your sails doesn’t have to be scary and difficult, and has many benefits, such as increased speed and maneuverability.
Just to quickly recap, here’s what you should look out for when deciding if it’s time to purchase new sails:
- Worn spots on your sails
- The seams appear to be fraying or breaking apart.
- Your sails are no longer holding their shape.
- They have way more than 3,000 hours of use.
- You haven’t replaced your sails in over 10 years.