Mylar plastic coming off

What can be done? is it alright to just rip the plastic off decently in the area affected? Why only one side of the mylar sail has plastic and the other one doesn't?

Al

This is older Mylar technology. The Mylar laminated to dacron was to make a low stretch, but durable sail. The mylars used to be really bad when scratched or cut. They would explode. The dacron is tough, but stretches. They laminated the two together to get the best of both. Some delaminate over time as you have seen. You can peel the mylar off, but the strength is already gone. Now you would be working with a fairly light weight dacron.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Thank you Mr. Miller, is your name Matt or Mike?

so then if you do peel the mylar off yo have a useless sail that needs replacement?

Along the lines of peeling it off.

What are the thoughts of buying Mylar repair tape and taping it on the peeled off section? Is most of the strength now regained?

Thanks!

I have the same problem on my 1992 H16 Mardi Gras sails. the mylar tape works fine for fixing tears in mylar when its in the middle of the pannel. The tape needs a flush fit, if it has to go over the existhing stiching, it will not hold. I am going to take my sails and mylar tape ( I purchased a wide roll) to my local sail shop to have them sew the mylar tape on.

MMiller, is is possilble to get New Mardi Gras sails for the 16?

Hobie Cat stopped making Mylar 16 sails about 10 years ago.

I think the only sails they still make out of that material are for the 17 and maybe the 18SX. Color selection is extremely limited - but you never know.