keeping sail rigged

slycee · Joined: 19 Aug 2004 Posts: 2

Does keeping a sail fully rigged for a few days do any damage to the sail? (stretching, etc) Should the outhaul and downhaul be loosened at all?
Thanks.

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

For me, the joys of being able to rig up, then just sleep, eat, and sail for a few days til the wind moves on -- a rare treat near the Gorge -- and grabbing a different sail and being dialed in on a plane again in a minute or two when the wind changes is priceless. If (thats an IF;
I dont perceive any loss in performance, and Ive kept sails as long as 8 years . . . 2-4 years normally) it costs my sails a few minutes lifespan, so be it. I DO keep them in the shade, though.

Mike \m/

tshred · Joined: 02 Jun 1996 Posts: 48

I used to have a big van where I would keep my sails rigged the whole season. I would never loosen the downhaul or outhaul. They always lasted me at least 3 or 4 years. I did this for 20 years. Now my sails last me two years since I am sailing out of a car.

The big deal is the sun.

ray123 · Joined: 09 Jul 2000 Posts: 63

Hey,
I live and sail on the east coast and leave my sails rigged all year. Im a 2 minute walk from the water so it makes sense. I do loosen both the downhaul and the outhaul. Ive been told this makes a difference. They seem to last longer if I leave them rigged...the constant rolling and crinkling seems to do alot of damage. The main thing though is to keep them out of the sun while they are not being used.
I built a sail storage area by the side of my house that protects the sails from the sun.
Happy Sailing.
Ray

dcharlton · Joined: 24 Apr 2002 Posts: 414

No info at all on this topic, just wanted to say how miserable I am that people are soooooooo lucky as to be SOOOOO near the launch site they NEVER have to pack up!

Also, all the reading Ive done in windsurf mag tells me that the Sun is the most damaging factor.

You guys got any rooms to rent 2 minutes from the water?

wsmike · Joined: 07 Jun 2003 Posts: 412

All the rental places Ive ever seen just keep their sails all rigged, hanging in some kind of shed or the like.

nickjcuba · Joined: 28 Aug 2004 Posts: 1

I run the windsurfing program at a summer camp. We keep about 20 sails rigged throughout the summer, and it doesnt seem to do much to them. The high performance sails are kept in the shade, while most of our teaching sails are somewhat exposed--I dont suppose the sun is too bad for Dacron.

mark · Joined: 10 Apr 2000 Posts: 181

I also am fortunate to be able to leave my rais rigged all summer. Over the years I have not seen any damage to the sails. However I have noticed that carbon masts especially near the splice take on a permanent bend if left with the full outhaul and downhaul. Easing both when not using the sails seems to have minimized the problem.

coachg · Joined: 10 Sep 2000 Posts: 3550

Since you are fortunate enough to leave you sails rigged, why not use a one piece mast?

mark · Joined: 10 Apr 2000 Posts: 181

I dont think anyone makes one piece masts any more. The one piece carbon masts I have had in the past still take on a permanent bend if you leave the sails fully tensioned.