Service and Repair

Service is more than just fixing sails; it is how we keep sailors’ loyalty. Service for existing sails is our primary interaction with our customers and potential customers. We offer repairs, recuts, rigging and rating consultations, cleaning, storage, evaluations, and more. Since sailing is our passion, we are happy to spend time helping our customers with all aspects of the sport. 

Sails are a big investment, and if you take care of them, they will give you years of service. Every UK Sailmakers’ loft can help you to get the most from your sails, no matter what brand they are. Our sailmakers specialize in prompt, expert repairs and modifications at a reasonable price.

Annual inspection and service are key to protecting the major investment you have in your sails. Just as you bring your car in for scheduled maintenance, you should do the same with your sails. When you bring in your sail for repair, even if it is minor, your sail gets the careful attention of our service team. We not only fix the matter at hand, but we look over the sail for wear spots indicating future problems, such as not covering your sail properly or chafing marks from poorly covered cotter pins. Attention like this can save you serious money and keep you from losing precious time on the water.

Wear & Tear

Regular sail evaluations are an important aspect of sail maintenance. As sails age, wear and tear is a normal occurrence. Bringing your sail into the loft for an evaluation can catch the early signs of preventable major repairs. Making a habit of doing this each year in the autumn or winter will ensure your sails are looking and performing their best. Things like chafe, worn webbings, and aging UV covers are key spots for assessment. Chafed areas are often caused by sails rubbing against rigging, spreaders, or stanchions, and these areas on the sail can be reinforced to prevent future weak points and tears. Replacing webbings when they become chafed or UV damaged will prevent a future failure when you are relying on their strength. UV damage is a real sail killer. These are just a few examples of how we can discover small issues before they become big problems that could interrupt sailing season.

Rips Happen

When rips happen, bring your sail to your nearest UK Sailmakers loft for repairs done right. Many times we can take a spinnaker that looks like a frayed jig-saw puzzle to make it look new again. Whether the tear is large or small, our UK lofts will do repairs promptly to get you back sailing as soon as possible. The sailing season is short enough and you shouldn’t be waiting for your torn batten pocket or replaced leech line. In many lofts, repairs are seen as a nuisance that cuts into production time, but at UK Sailmakers lofts, repairs are always a top priority.

Sail Conversions and Recuts

While fixing rips and tears is the most obvious form of service, UK Sailmakers’ lofts do much more. We can retrofit mainsails with extra reefs or convert them from standard battens to full battens. If you are having problems raising or lowering your main, we can convert the existing slides to lower-friction ones. Genoas can be converted from racing sails to roller-furling cruising sails. Recutting sails can bring older sails back to life, restoring their ideal shape or otherwise modifying an existing sail for the perfect fit. All these changes require an experienced sailmaker who can do the job right and, in the first place, determine if conversions are a cost-effective option. Many sailors don’t realize that recuts can bring their sails back to 90 percent of their original shape and extend their life.

UV Sail Cover Repairs

One of the most requested service jobs is to replace UV covers on roller furling genoas. This process is labor intensive. Sunbrella covers are attached with a lot of stitching that needs to be sliced apart with a seam ripper. Lightweight UV adhesive dacron covers get peeled off in pieces. Many lofts will just apply a new layer of sticky back UV dacron over the old cover to save the sail owner money. While overlaying a new sticky back cover over the worn-out cover saves money, it does add extra weight, which goes against the idea of a lightweight cover. Remember that UV covers are meant to be sacrificial, just like shaft zincs. Both are designed as protective shields that slowly deteriorate while protecting the underlying structure. Light-weight sticky back covers wear out after 3-5 years, depending on the length of your season and how close to the equator you keep your boat. Sunbrella or WeatherMax UV covers last 6-10 years depending on the length of your season and how close to the equator you keep your boat. Two common indicators of UV damage are faded draft stripes and weakened thread.

Sail Cleaning

If you sail in salt water, having your sails washed will extend their livelihood. Salt crystals absorb moisture and prevent sails from fully drying. Damp sails are an incubator for mildew. Having your sails cleaned not only removes salt, but other benefits are:

• removes most stains
• removes most mildews
• removes unpleasant odors
• brightens sails

Advice

Service also includes advice on everything having to do with your sails and your sailboat. Our service team can help with:

• How to reconfigure your sail plan for how you use the boat.
• How to modify your running rigging for easier sail handling
• Tips on how to extend the life of your sails
• Tips on sail trim
• General information on sails and sailboats

Take your sail to the nearest UK Sailmakers loft for a comprehensive evaluation. Our team is equipped to offer you an estimate for any necessary repairs or to provide the cost of replacing your sail entirely.