Hi guys I would like to know what you do after a sail session with your rig.
The guy that sold me a NP last month he gave me a 3 years old sail like brand new. He washes everything after every session with clear water, dry them and put into a sort of room where the moisture stays away.
I de-rig everything, when it's dry, on the beach and store everything in a rack in my backyard.
I heard different stories about that:
"Do not wash sails and masts from salted water so that they won't get mould"
"Salted water may corrode your stuff ..."
What do you do?

I've always wash everything down after a sail and hang up to dry (out of the sun) before putting away in garage/under house/hallway or room. Something we all learnt to do from the mid 80's. Maybe because we didnt want to deal with stuck booms and bases, etc. I also remember when I first started everyone telling us to rinse out your wetsuits so they would last longer so maybe the same goes for sails.

Mate you are posting this in the wrong forum.

Anyway I try but don't always rinse my sails in fresh water.

I try but not always try to dry my sails before derigging. I have yet to experience mould on the sails. If mould did appear some bleach would kill it.

I think it's more of a personal preference thing and how anal you are about keeping your gear in A-1 nick. Personally I sail mostly in the waves etc so my gear gets solidly worked throughout a season, rinsing it under a tap isn't going to help it stay looking fresh, plus I have better things to do with my time.

I think if you sail regularly you'd be unlikely to have issues with mould, particularly if you sail in salt water. The only time I ever wash my sail before rolling it up is if it covered with a heap of sand (or alternatively go dunk it in the ocean before walking to the car, more common option). If you have a fair drive ahead and roll your sail up with a shirtload of sand on it...the results aren't good.

Pull the mast out, roll it up, chuck it in the rack when I get home...it's how I roll ^_^

The reason I am asking is only because I noticed that the mono-film gets ****ed pretty quickly, I do not want to be anal and personally as soon as I am done with the day I leave the sail rigged on the beach for almost an hour (just the time to drink a beer and have a chat with the other wind/kite/surfers and then I pack everything and go home.
Here the "senior" do not wash their rig because we have almost 100% of humidity and if you wash with clear water the rig they get mould pretty quickly while if you leave the salt of the sea water the mould doesn't grow on top of it.

It looks like you have a choice between salty or mildewy sails unless you get a room like the one the bloke you bought your sails off. I'd go the salt.

What I meant is you have posted this question in the Gear Review section when its not a review of gear.

who gives a stuff what it looks like. just keep riding it to the best of your ability and have fun with it

My sails live in my car - rolled up & still wet next time I sail. But I'm a lazy bugger...

Thanks guys I'll try to be less anal.
Here the motto is "take it easy" ...

Select to expand quote

raffaeu said...

Thanks guys I'll try to be less anal.
Here the motto is "take it easy" ...

Hi Mate it's a fair question and it's not anal. I wouldn't worry too much, I also live in the tropics, always rinse with fresh water (no shortage here) and let it dry a little depending on if in a hurry or have someone to talk to. Then it gets chucked into the trailer (open) and forgotten till next time and never have mildew. If I sail somewhere with no fresh water to rinse with, and the sail doesn't get used for awhile, stuck zips becomes a problem and that can be a hassle. The biggest thing I'd think is don't roll up sandy if it can be avoided. And as said just use it and have fun, that's the best way to get your moneys worth

I wash down and hang up my sails in my shed to dry, every now and then will sponge over with a car wash and wax which gets the monofilm nice and clean.

I wash only my mast extentions...sails and board only after a windsurfing day on a sandy beach...so I keep the sand out.

A lot of times I derig my sail in water, so I don't get tweegs or tiny sharp stones on sticking on the monofilm + its easier to roll up the sail...

Always get rid of sand from monofilm, if washing with fresh water let sail dry before rolling, if washing with salt wash and roll and pack away. Worked for me and if u want to be anal then the sponge or chamios job like choco suggested will never go astray

****, it's super sandy here and the grains are almost invisible ... I had some issues in the past without removing the sand from the masts ..
I will consider that especially for the new Ezzy on its way!

Select to expand quote

sideskirt said...

I wash only my mast extentions...sails and board only after a windsurfing day on a sandy beach...so I keep the sand out.

A lot of times I derig my sail in water, so I don't get tweegs or tiny sharp stones on sticking on the monofilm + its easier to roll up the sail...

You must have limited rigging areas etc? Because from my experience de-rigging your sail in the water is a pain in the A.

Select to expand quote

shear tip said...

My sails live in my car - rolled up & still wet next time I sail. But I'm a lazy bugger...

yep im the same in the car waitin for the next session downside is the downhaul pulley gets a spot of rust on it...