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What sort of life should sails have ..shelf life

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Created by sboardcrazy > 9 months ago, 21 Apr 2009
sboardcrazy
NSW, 8359 posts
21 Apr 2009 2:04PM
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My gear is about 1993 era & didnt have a lot of use.I moved an hour from the water in 96 so only sailed a few times a year for a few years then the last 5 they have been in storage as I was too sick to sail.I finally pulled them out & Im using them but Im finding that the mylar(?..clear film) is crazed and cracked and separating from the other fabric. My 5m died - the clear film came off totally leaving stretchy fabric underneath that won't hold its shape..e.g ..you cant tighten battens as it wrinkles..
Do I try & get it fixed ( stickback film over the area ) or toss it? I dont have many funds to upgrade..Also if I buy 2nd hand sails that havent been used much will they still die from old age too?

FlickySpinny
WA, 657 posts
21 Apr 2009 3:19PM
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First time I've heard of sails dying of old age if they haven't been exposed to UV/salt.
I've never had a problem. Personally, if money's an issue, then I'd patch them (Duct Tape, sail repair tape, etc) until they're totally useless, and keep an eye out for any bargains in the meantime.

Leech
WA, 1933 posts
21 Apr 2009 3:51PM
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If you find some old Ezzy sails they should be cheap but still have life left in them.

hoop
1979 posts
21 Apr 2009 4:55PM
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But make sure you bend your knees when you lift them or you'll put your back out.

evlPanda
NSW, 9207 posts
21 Apr 2009 7:04PM
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Can someone please stand on some scales with an Ezzy and another brand sail of same size and tell us the weight difference? Once and for all?

Wet Willy
TAS, 2317 posts
21 Apr 2009 7:44PM
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The heavier the better -- coz Ezzys are worth their weight in gold!

Little Jon
NSW, 2115 posts
21 Apr 2009 8:01PM
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My epoxy Windaction board sat in the garage for 17 years while I was out of windsurfing. It went a bit yellow but still works fine.

mkseven
QLD, 2315 posts
21 Apr 2009 9:26PM
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the problems is the glues in the laminates dying. Mylar is always the 1st to fail & is one of the reasons it is no longer used. Xply laminates are unproven but should last for a long time. This is the one time a monofiilm sail should outlast the other materials provided it is stored in cool dry place. Replace your sail with a recent 2nd hand sail, ensure there is no mylar- luff panel should be xply & minimal differing material lamination ie sticky back & xply together. Best method iv seen for storing sails is pvc pipe & endcaps.

P.C_simpson
WA, 1492 posts
21 Apr 2009 8:51PM
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Hey Sboardcrazy.

If you are still on sailworks drop into boardcrazy, they have a stack of good nick used sailworks wave sails.

landyacht
WA, 5921 posts
21 Apr 2009 9:17PM
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here in Kalgoorlie , we recycle windsurfer sailsfor our landyachts. alot of the sails of the same age and material as you describe have lasted an extra season , but then deteriorate very fast, they become a supply of battens , webbing and replacement mast pockets. I began playing with monofilm sails 2 1/2 years ago and the first monofilm sail we recycled has just gone to the grave. it literaly snapped. Its not looking to good for sails made with the reinforcing inside film either.Ive got one, A Stuart Bell, that is showing signs of cracking up after extended use on our salt lake.

decrepit
WA, 12889 posts
21 Apr 2009 9:26PM
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How does salt reflect UV? I suspect well, in that case the sail is getting a lot of exposure to monofilm's biggest enemy.

WINDY MILLER
WA, 3183 posts
21 Apr 2009 10:04PM
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evlPanda said...

Can someone please stand on some scales with an Ezzy and another brand sail of same size and tell us the weight difference? Once and for all?



tried, no good, my bathroom scales only goto 190KG

Mark _australia
WA, 23729 posts
21 Apr 2009 10:22PM
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If your sails are cloth with clear stuff (mylar) laminated to them, and the mylar is damaged in the slightest, they are not worth keeping or repairing.

An awesome condition 2002-5 sail will be $150 - $200 but you'll most likely need a new mast too as they just won't set on an old mast of 93 vintage (which assume you have?).

You are up for $200 - $500 but it will really be worth it, the extra wind range and better handling will be huge.

greenleader
QLD, 5283 posts
22 Apr 2009 12:57AM
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10 year old sails like 10 year old condoms explode with pressure.


e.g. the thing that used it was larger than it used to be!

except in the case of the condom!

Wet Willy
TAS, 2317 posts
22 Apr 2009 1:35AM
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greenleader said...

10 year old sails like 10 year old condoms explode with pressure.


e.g. the thing that used it was larger than it used to be!

except in the case of the condom!



Just slap on some duct tape and they're good to go again!

"Ribbed for her pleasure", heh heh

mkseven
QLD, 2315 posts
22 Apr 2009 10:15AM
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Great call Windy Miller

Maybe sboardcrazy should get ezzy's though, afterall they will feel IDENTICAL to his 1993 vintage sails

Richiefish
QLD, 5612 posts
22 Apr 2009 10:31AM
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Wet Willy said...

greenleader said...

10 year old sails like 10 year old condoms explode with pressure.


e.g. the thing that used it was larger than it used to be!

except in the case of the condom!



Just slap on some duct tape and they're good to go again!

"Ribbed for her pleasure", heh heh


(or wear them inside out for your own pleasure)

Leech
WA, 1933 posts
22 Apr 2009 2:42PM
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Leech said...

If you find some old Ezzy sails they should be cheap but still have life left in them.


Just to provide some evidence: i have a 2001 Ezzy 5.8 in the shed that is in excellent condition (and i'm the 4th owner of it). One of my mates only uses one sail, a 2001 Ezzy 5.0 - it's still in very good condition and he has no plans/need to replace it.

I sold a 2006 4.7 this year in as new condition. It had three epic seasons and a trip to G. Compare that to just about any other brand...

Fact is, Ezzys last. Sure, they don't have the same performance for wave riding as others, but if you're after a good value-for-money bump 'n' jump sail, you can't go wrong. They are very forgiving (which is why you lose pure performance imho) and have a consistent feel throughout the sizes. They're one of the cheapest sails on the market, yet aren't made in sweat shops. David Ezzy has a passion for windsurfing, sails and his customers. He will personally reply to email requests!

I've moved to another brand, but I think the bashing Ezzy gets on these forums is a bit unfair and generally unfounded.

sboardcrazy
NSW, 8359 posts
22 Apr 2009 5:01PM
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I have a " new' ( 2nd hand mast) .I got one to go with the 5m so I think I might just try for a 5/6 year old 4m..Ezzy's sound good but Im only a weakling so weight is an issue. What bliss it was to go from a heavy pink fibreglass 2 piece mast to a new 55% carbon one! Wow waterstarts are so much easier!

mkseven
QLD, 2315 posts
22 Apr 2009 7:01PM
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they get a hiding on the forum because they have their fanatics just like ka & np. Or maybe its because they arent ka or pryde...

gazza
WA, 647 posts
22 Apr 2009 7:08PM
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Leech said...

Leech said...

If you find some old Ezzy sails they should be cheap but still have life left in them.


Just to provide some evidence: i have a 2001 Ezzy 5.8 in the shed that is in excellent condition (and i'm the 4th owner of it). One of my mates only uses one sail, a 2001 Ezzy 5.0 - it's still in very good condition and he has no plans/need to replace it.

I sold a 2006 4.7 this year in as new condition. It had three epic seasons and a trip to G. Compare that to just about any other brand...

Fact is, Ezzys last. Sure, they don't have the same performance for wave riding as others, but if you're after a good value-for-money bump 'n' jump sail, you can't go wrong. They are very forgiving (which is why you lose pure performance imho) and have a consistent feel throughout the sizes. They're one of the cheapest sails on the market, yet aren't made in sweat shops. David Ezzy has a passion for windsurfing, sails and his customers. He will personally reply to email requests!

I've moved to another brand, but I think the bashing Ezzy gets on these forums is a bit unfair and generally unfounded.


Why did you change to another brand? please tell us im dying to know

Leech
WA, 1933 posts
23 Apr 2009 10:41AM
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cos i wasn't spending enough $ on sail repairs

Wet Willy
TAS, 2317 posts
23 Apr 2009 1:48PM
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If Ezzys didn't rule, I wouldn't use them. And I certainly wouldn't own 4 of them! Case closed!


(Superfreaks last even longer than Ezzys, if longevity is your main concern.)

sboardcrazy
NSW, 8359 posts
23 Apr 2009 4:31PM
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Looks like I might get another Sailworks 4m .Mainly because Im used to them & know it will suit my mast etc so I wont be up for extra $. Will keep Ezzy in mind for when the rest of my sails die..I havent been game to open up my 3.3m sail thats only been used about 4 times in case its dead too!..

mkseven
QLD, 2315 posts
23 Apr 2009 5:57PM
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Wet Willy said...



(Superfreaks last even longer than Ezzys, if longevity is your main concern.)


Superfreaks will take more abuse than xply sails but last longer they will not- this whole thread is about mylar sails that didn't last... you saw nothing

Wet Willy
TAS, 2317 posts
23 Apr 2009 7:46PM
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mkseven said...

Wet Willy said...



(Superfreaks last even longer than Ezzys, if longevity is your main concern.)


Superfreaks will take more abuse than xply sails but last longer they will not- this whole thread is about mylar sails that didn't last... you saw nothing


Mylar, Shmylar -- Superfreaks are made of Dacron, with a PVC window. They claim the PVC will last 10 years (or is it Ezzy who says that?), and although the Dacron will eventually die, it won't go brittle like monofilm, obviously. Freaks will last longer in the sun, for sure, and they will also withstand more rigging and derigging, unlike your brittle old monofilm sails.

Leman
VIC, 672 posts
23 Apr 2009 7:52PM
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evlPanda said...

Can someone please stand on some scales with an Ezzy and another brand sail of same size and tell us the weight difference? Once and for all?


Ok just went outside, grabbed my old house scales.
Note: scales are quite old and not digital but should be enough to give a fairly accurate comparison.

Held sails while standing on scales then minused my weight.
Both sails completely dry.

2005 8.5 metre Neil Pryde V8 (cams taken out due to breakage) = 5.5kg
2007 8.5 metre Ezzy Freeride (has no cams but an extra batten)=6.5kg

Conclusion Ezzy 1kg heavier compared to NP V8 with cams taken out. I find the Ezzy much much stronger. Well worth a slight increase in weight in my opinion at least for a non-racer who may care about 1kg.

sboardcrazy: I have a very old tyronsea sail that has done the same thing as yours where the clear plastic has flaked off the material. I cannot see how it can be repaired for less than the price of the sail. It's like having a sail made out of cotton, where the wind just filters through it. It works but it has no power.

Wet Willy
TAS, 2317 posts
24 Apr 2009 12:55AM
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Leman said...
sboardcrazy: I have a very old tyronsea sail that has done the same thing as yours where the clear plastic has flaked off the material. I cannot see how it can be repaired for less than the price of the sail. It's like having a sail made out of cotton, where the wind just filters through it. It works but it has no power.




How about that sealing stuff? Like they put on canvas before the days of waterproof plastics? Or some kind of modern spray-on waterproofing agent froma camping store?

Wet Willy
TAS, 2317 posts
24 Apr 2009 12:56AM
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Richiefish said...

Wet Willy said...

greenleader said...

10 year old sails like 10 year old condoms explode with pressure.


e.g. the thing that used it was larger than it used to be!

except in the case of the condom!



Just slap on some duct tape and they're good to go again!

"Ribbed for her pleasure", heh heh


(or wear them inside out for your own pleasure)



I always turn condoms inside out - I'm great believer in recycling!

hardpole
WA, 609 posts
24 Apr 2009 11:29AM
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I have an ezzy 4.2 that I use a few times (on those epic days) every year. It is still excellent but has one problem - they put the year on the bag and its embarressing to see its a 1998 sail !

mkseven
QLD, 2315 posts
24 Apr 2009 3:08PM
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willy i think you might find that dacron is laminated with shymlar



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"What sort of life should sails have ..shelf life" started by sboardcrazy