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We work hard to produce sails that are built to last - tack after tack, season after season. They will provide you with many hours of efficient and reliable use. While AirForce Sails only require minimal maintenance, proper care will enhance their life appreciably.
Use your sails only in prescribed wind ranges.
Using your sails in wind strengths beyond those they were designed to address will dramatically reduce their life. If you have questions regarding the proper wind ranges for your sails, please contact AirForce Sails. Avoid prolonged flogging.
This accelerates cloth wear and reduces sail performance and life. While sailing on a close reach or upwind, tension leech and foot lines and only tighten enough to stop flutter. Do not motor upwind with the sail flogging. Always cover/bag your sail after sailing.
Sunlight (UV radiation) is one of your sail's worst enemies. The less time your sail is exposed to the sun the longer it will last.
On roller furling sails, check your cover.
Roller furling sail covers should be checked to ensure that they are on the outside of the sail when it is rolled and that they adequately cover the sail area. If you're going to be away from your boat for an extended length of time you should remove the sail, flake it, and store it in a dry place away from heat sources.
Store sails in a dry, ventilated area.
Sails stored onboard should be in a dry, ventilated area, away from the engine, heater or cabin lights, especially quartz-halogen.
Dry your sails before packing them.
Sometimes colors will bleed if the sail is stuffed wet in the sail bag. The tear strength of nylon is diminished by as much as a third when wet. So, when drying sails on a lawn, check carefully for sharp objects and rocks.
Combat chafe.
Chafe is another cause of early failure. To combat chafe, be sure spreader ends are taped and there are no exposed split pins or sharp edges around the mast, foredeck, lifelines. or turnbuckles.
Patch minor tears.
Use sticky-backed "insignia" cloth or sail repair tape and avoid using duct tape or packing tape. Get your sail repaired as soon as possible.
Check your sails annually.
Once a year, have your sails washed and checked over for chafe, broken stitching and potential hardware failures. During the off season, store your sails in a dry, ventilated place.
Use large folds when you flake.
If you flake your mainsail on the boom, pull aft on the leech as you make folds corresponding to the luff slugs. Tie loosely with webbing ties and be sure to cover right away. Avoid bending the battens.
Protect your sails from excess salt.
After sailing in heavy air where salt spray gets on the sails, you should wash them with fresh water. If possible, dry them by hoisting in calm weather only. If there are stains you want to remove, use a mild detergent and a gentle scrub brush.
Inspect stitching on sail covers annually.
The stitching on sail covers and sacrificial strips should be inspected annually for wear-particularly in southern climates. Although the acrylic in these covers can withstand 6-8 years of sunlight, the stitching may need attention once or twice over the same period.
At AirForce Sails, we take tremendous pride in the construction of your sails. Built specifically for the cruising sailor, we want your sails to last for years.
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