So I was out playing today, its been so long. So long imn fact that I hadn't used this sail. When I did I liked. But I think I liked it too hard :s Do you think there's a way to fix this? My heart says Gaff tape, but my mind says water....
Thanks so much guys!
New panel is the best way, but that's an old sail, may just have had too much UV.
How much force caused that damage? If it wasn't very much, the rest of the sail is probably ready to disintegrate, not worth paying a sail repairer, go with gaffa tape.
If it was a full body plant at high speed, could be worth spending $50 or so on a new panel.
Put the $$ you would spend on repairing it to a newer sail. The mono looks a bit milky and brittle so it is probably getting up to it's used by date.
For the cost of a repair, you could probably get a much better sail for a few more quid off the buy and sell.
Maybe treat yourself to a new boom and some harness lines aswell
With gear of that vintage you wont lose any performance with your modified sail.
Dont waste your money fixing it, do yourself a favour a buy a modern used rig.
If he only sails once in a blue moon, you guys are being a bit pessimistic.
Some quality gaffa on that and it could last another few sessions easy. No falling on it, could be years.
Norton All-Weather tape works for me, you can find it at the windsurfing section at bunnings.
Fixable...yes, but why would you bother fixing it? You could get a sail similar to that one for around 50 if not free.
Repair it but also reinforce the other panels as it does look brittle and old. Get some heavy duty duct tape (there is a clear variety that has thin string along its length, well there is here in the UK so I guess you will have something like it, even insulation tape would work) and put it in triangles across the other panels, then if one goes at least you will get back to shore.
Like others say best put the money to a newer sail rather than repair at a sail loft.
Thanks so much for all the help guys!
yeah I do have a newer sail (a naish stealth 7.6) and I usually use this. I just happened to pick this up (along with a topsails 5.7 wave wing) for really cheap at the junkyard and was curious. Turns out I have enought (very old) gear to make 2 surfers so a mate and I were out playing. I was just surprised by the cheap junky sail not being too bad.
And yes it was a full speed body plant ;) into mud
Its great to hear that the good ole gaff will hold (for a bit) in the water! there's nothing it can't do!
But ye I wont go any long distnces with it
Thanks again all for the info
At my early stages my sails had more ducting tape that anything else...
Even with rips like that or even bigger I was able to stick black duct tape, transparent vinyl on both sides and sail a long time till next rip in different location.
So If you don't like to spent more then $5 duct tape or sticker should do the job till you learn to avoid doing this anymore..
So getting newer sail will not solve the problem because soon will looks very similar to that one...
