[C320-list] In-Mast Furling and Winter Storage

[Robert Seastream]

Any mild detergent will do.  Ivory liquid dish soap is one example.  A  
good rule of thumb is that if it won't hurt your skin, it won't hurt  
your sails.    Perhaps an ounce per gallon of warm water.  Use any  
variant of a 'push broom' (such as the car washing type) to 'scrub'  
the sails, unless you prefer doing it on your hands and knees with a  
handheld brush.  Remember that you're mostly removing salt (unless you  
boat near airports, cities, etc.), not grass stains, so be gentle.

Robert Seastream
Intuition # 906


On Oct 7, 2009, at 4:47 PM, Max Ruddy wrote:

> Bob:
>
> What do you use to wash your sails?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Max Ruddy
> Sail La Vie #270
>
> On Oct 7, 2009, at 1:51 PM, Robert Seastream wrote:
>
>> We take our sails home so that we can wash them, make repairs (if  
>> any), and have them ready for next season.
>> It also allows us to inspect the overall (swivel car, foil,  
>> halyards, etc.) furling system.
>>
>> Bob Seastream
>> Intuition # 906
>>
>>
>> On Oct 7, 2009, at 1:59 PM, Karl Krueger wrote:
>>
>>> Bob:
>>>
>>> There are pros and con's to both.  I store with  mast up in  
>>> eastern Wisconsin, Milwaukee, area.  I do not have in-mast  
>>> furling.  I prefer to have my sails in a dark, DRY area.  Yes,  
>>> it's beneficial not to fold your sail but, our winters are very  
>>> damp and cold.  I don't believe the cold would be an issue.  The  
>>> other item to take into consideration is what material your sail  
>>> is made of.  I have Marathon type, North's cruising version of  
>>> 3DL, which has issues with mildew.
>>>
>>> Karl Krueger
>>> Kindered Spirit #282
>>>
>>> --- On Tue, 10/6/09, Joe Abbagnaro <jabbagna at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> From: Joe Abbagnaro <jabbagna at gmail.com>
>>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] In-Mast Furling and Winter Storage
>>> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
>>> Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2009, 10:08 PM
>>>
>>>
>>> Most Boats around here in Connecticut with In Mast Keep the Main  
>>> Sail
>>> rolled into the Mast for the winter
>>>
>>> Joe
>>> #574
>>>
>>> On Tue, Oct 6, 2009 at 7:35 PM,  <bairdrjb at aol.com> wrote:
>>>> A few weeks ago we bought hull # 784 (2001) with In-Mast furling  
>>>> mainsail.
>>>> The previous owner did not remove the mainsail and kept it furled  
>>>> inside
>>>> the mast through eight West Michigan winters (fairly harsh  
>>>> conditions).  I
>>>> know of one other sailor at our marina who does the same thing.   
>>>> The boat is
>>>> equipped with a custom mast-up winter cover.
>>>>
>>>> The idea of not removing the main-sail seems a bit nuts, but the  
>>>> sail is in
>>>> excellent condition.  The word from these two guys is that  
>>>> removal is not
>>>> necessary and that hoisting the main-sail each Spring can be  
>>>> challenge.
>>>>
>>>> Eager for feedback from those who store their boats outdoors in  
>>>> winter
>>>> conditions.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks.
>>>>
>>>> Bob and Ingrid Baird
>>>> Hull 784 - Star Dust