Hobie Cat Forums

While sailing the other day I noticed a small split in my sail - the split was about 30mm, vertical in the clear panel towards the luff. On close inspection I saw there were lots of small cracks right through the sail. The splits are all vertical and in lines about 150mm apart in vertical lines. My guess is the batten pressure when furled has caused this. The sail is over 2years old and in good shape in the sail cloth areas and has been washed and looked after.

Has anyone else had this problem and how do you prevent it? I will see a local sailmaker and seek his advise - stay tuned.

Yep, common after 2 years here in Hawaii with our bright sun. We've gotten it to last a while longer using just clear shipping tape but others have used tape made for sails.

We are lucky here, to have many wind-surf sail makers so we have had all the clear panels replaced in a few AI sails for only $100us each.

We now use either 303 or Hobie UV Protectant to coat the sail, 3-4 times a year here in Hawaii, probably only once a year most other places.

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http://KayakingBob.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2007, 2009 & 2010 Hobie AIs and a 2010 TI

Thanks Bob good advice

Ok but the rest of the sail that is not clear - is that cracking too? Or just the window area?

Pete

Pete:
Actually it's usually just the clear Mylar that cracks over time and use. The colored part is I think Dacron which will hold up much longer. I have a 3 yr old Hobie sail that has about a half a roll of packing tape on it, pretty much all the clear part is cracked and missing pieces, but it still works.
One thing that will kill the sail very quickly is when on a tack, if you let the sail flap violently, it kills the sail rather quickly.
I would get packing tape on both sides of that tear right away if it were me.
Hope this helps
Bob

+1!

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Matt Miller
Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Hobie Cat USA