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 Post subject: AI sail cracking up
PostPosted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 10:32 pm 
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Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2010 10:07 pm
Posts: 169
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.


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 Post subject: Re: AI sail cracking up
PostPosted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 11:06 pm 
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Joined: Fri Jan 05, 2007 9:21 pm
Posts: 2498
Location: Central Florida
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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 Post subject: Re: AI sail cracking up
PostPosted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 11:12 pm 
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Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2010 10:07 pm
Posts: 169
Thanks Bob good advice


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 Post subject: Re: AI sail cracking up
PostPosted: Sun Apr 28, 2013 4:45 pm 
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Joined: Sun Apr 28, 2013 4:26 pm
Posts: 36
Ok but the rest of the sail that is not clear - is that cracking too? Or just the window area?

Pete


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 Post subject: Re: AI sail cracking up
PostPosted: Sun Apr 28, 2013 8:59 pm 
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Joined: Sun Apr 20, 2008 6:18 am
Posts: 3058
Location: Sarasota,Key West FL
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


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 Post subject: Re: AI sail cracking up
PostPosted: Tue Apr 30, 2013 4:44 pm 
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Joined: Tue May 27, 2003 12:44 pm
Posts: 15026
Location: Oceanside, California
Quote:
if you let the sail flap violently, it kills the sail rather quickly
+1!

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Hobie Cat USA
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