Sail Repair
At Cap’n Jacq’s Canvas and Sail loft, we do custom time honoured, traditional repairs to your sails. We have solutions for the following problems:
Mainsails
- A common problem is the batten pocket. A tear appears on the backside of the sail or on the pocket itself. The batten may leave the sail on its own (they don’t float).
- Other problems occur along the leech (back edge). The leech line can chafe through its tabling or when you stop the leech from flapping with the line your sail develops a terrible hooked shape. Occasionally the sail panels can begin to separate.
- The clew area usually presents only a couple of problems, the clew ring may begin to pull out of the sail or the boltrope along the foot of the sail may separate from the sail near the clew.
- The luff of the sail may fail in a number of ways. The luff rope may separate from the sail, often near the headboard, grommets can pull out, slides/slugs may break or the rope itself can shrink preventing the sail from being hoisted to its original design shape. Reef patches and grommets can fail and tear the sail panel.
- Stitching may be worn from extensive UV exposure or form wear and tear. We check all the stitching and repair and weak areas.
- Shackles used to attach your mainsail slides to your sail can cause wear and tear, and extensive damage to your sails. We replace the shackles with webbing to prevent damage, yet allow for a strong connection of your sail to your spars. We can also replace any damaged slides and recommend a better slide system if you are having trouble raising and lowering your sails.
Headsails
- Most common headsail problems occur near the leech (trailing edge). If the sail is the roller furling variety, the sacrificial UV strip may tear or separate. The leech line may break through the folded edge.
- Tears may occur where the sail contacts the spreaders as you tack your boat. The clew ring may pull out of the sail’s clew patch or the leech line cleat may quit cleating.
- Luff problems include, grommets pulling out, tears appear near hanks, furling luff rope separates from the sail or the luff rope may shrink preventing the sail from being hoisted to it’s designed height.
- Stitching may be worn from extensive UV exposure or form wear and tear. We check all the stitching and repair and weak areas.
- Hanks used to attach your headsail to your forestay can wear or cause damage to the luff of the sail. We replace the hanks with a sew-on hank and add a protective leather patch. We also replace any worn hanks, sail material, and damaged grommets.
Spinnakers and other flying sails
- These lightweight sails may tear during the hoist or douse.
- The sails edges may separate from the sail.
- Entire corners may separate or grommets may pull out.
- Tears can occur along panel seams or the seams may separate.