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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

sail storage, off season

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jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/29/2007 : 12:16:57

The recent discussion on New Sails Purchase Update, was tremendously informative, many thanks to all! It really brought home another of the many nuances to be considered.

One of the comments suggested rolling the main sail and that started me thinking about storing sails in the off season.

I accordion fold both my main and genny, in about 24" folds, then bring the ends to center. I avoid wrinkling and crushing. Any thoughts?

Jerry

Edited by - jerlim on 11/29/2007 12:17:36

Ericson33
Admiral

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USA
892 Posts

Response Posted - 11/29/2007 : 12:26:06

I fold once, then roll all of our sails, I start at the middle point of the sail and fold the head over the tack keeping the luff of the sail in-line, then I roll the sail up loose, then store in a long sausage bag. The one fold geeps the tack and head at a easy connection point, and allows me to attach the tack to the boat, the halyard to the head and raise the sail when needed, With it rolled it stays in a neat line on the fordeck.

Winter time everything comes off the boat, the sails are stored rolled up and hanging out of the way in the garage, cushions are put into my attic space and covered up for dust, the motor is stored in the garage, and all of the halyards are taken off the boat with any sheets or lines, and messenger lines are run to keep the spring project of putting together the boat simple.

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 11/29/2007 : 12:44:22

We have plenty of storage spece in the basement so we roll our sails and do no folding. We lay them out on a flat surface once rolled.

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bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 11/29/2007 : 13:33:24

This year I took the boom off with the main still attached and folded in on top of the boom, put sail cover on and tightley wrapped and put down in cabin.. Genny is folded in sailbag and down in warm cellar..

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 11/29/2007 : 13:42:10

Fold all headsail accordian style then roll tack to clew for easy deployement except for the number 3 which has battens and a deck launch bag. It is folded and left long.

stuff all spinnakers

All sails go into the loft I built in my garage but previously were stored at the sail loft.

Roll the Pentax main, fold the dacron mains

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 11/29/2007 : 16:35:28

I do the same as Capri25 above with our racing sails. Cruising sails are s-folded and bagged.

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 11/29/2007 : 19:42:19

Get some 4" PVC drainage pipe and use that as a core to roll 'em up... then hang 'em up. (pipe keeps 'em straight).

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 11/29/2007 : 19:48:32

If you get a 12" diameter piece of PVC you can put screw on endcaps on the ends. Roll your sails and store inside the tube. Hang the tube from the ceiling. Just be sure to put a few holes with some window screening in the PVC so air will circulate. The screen will keep out the critters.

GaryB
'89 SR/WK #5862
Kemah, TX

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 11/30/2007 : 10:33:36

My loose footed main is a snap. While on the boom I flake and tie off and then just lower it into the cabin where it stays til spring. I wish the furled headsail were as simple. The problem with this one is finding the time when its dry( lots of rain this fall). I almost thought that I'd have to leave it up this time, (some do) but patience prevailed and in between sun/clouds found the time/courage to drop it. Unfortunately it stayed in my CRV for another period of time til all was dry and then in a burst of energy laid it out and folded and then rolled it and put it into it's sail bag where it stays til spring. CIAO !

Val on the hard DAGNABIT, # 3936, Patchogue, N.Y.

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 11/30/2007 : 14:06:10

An embarassing perdicament.

How do you keep mice away from your sails/cusions? We just discovered we had critters in the house.

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 11/30/2007 : 16:12:50

For mice, set several traps using peanut butter. Keep resetting until no more hits. I'm fairly certain that they like peanut butter more than sailcloth.

Edited by - dmpilc on 11/30/2007 16:13:07

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 11/30/2007 : 16:55:25

We've been catching 2 a night for a few weeks. They passed on the peanut butter - seems ours prefer cheez whiz.

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 11/30/2007 : 18:39:30

I'd suggest getting a can of that expanding foam insulation and walk around the perimeter of your house. They can get through the tiniest of cracks. They came through the wall between my garage and my basement. We tried traps but the baited poison seemed to work the best. I think "D-Con" was the brand we used. They eat it, leave and die.

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frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 11/30/2007 : 22:42:55

D-con works extremely well, but if you use it make sure you don't leave any containers out with water in them, such as dog or cat water bowls. D-con makes the rat extremely thirsty so it will look for water to drink were it is and then elsewhere. The water activates the poison and makes it's stomach explode thus one dead rat. Hence you would prefer it happen outside the house.

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 12/01/2007 : 10:10:04

The peanut butter laden traps work well with the little critters but under the shed used to live a opposum who fell to a small teabag like luncheon offered at his excavated entrance. Left it partially exposed to the outside and when it disappeared the next day, c'est la vie. Hateful animals on my side of the fence, though articals on the internet paint a beneficial picture of them. My experience with them was when one of them ate its way into my greenhouse and killed a dozen newly hatched chics...didn't eat them just slaughtered them; the bas#@&d.

Val on the hard DAGNABIT, # 3936, Patchogue, N.Y.

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Trust Me
1st Mate

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USA
71 Posts

Response Posted - 12/02/2007 : 08:06:10

I bring all sails into the basement and roll the Ulman main and hang it in a hammock. To prevent mice damage I have set the ultimate mouse trap (drowning bucket).
I use an old white dry wall bucket with holes drilled near the top (diameter) so a loose fitting doweling can be set in the holes across the top of the bucket. Fill with water approximately six inches below doweling.
On the doweling a can (preferably Labatts Blue) is placed with a hole through its side so it can slide over the doweling and spin freely. Dab peanut butter on top and bottom of can as bait (Jiffy will do nicely). Assemble and place ramp from floor to top of bucket near doweling.
Those who invade the basement (without permission or authorization) will be attracted to the peanut butter and not your main and will walk up the ramp (pirate like) to the doweling (the log rolling act starts here) and try for the can. This is usually followed by a fall off the doweling (like desperately jumping for dock at the wrong time).
Once in the water the survival water treading starts with no boarding ladder or anyone to toss a line ..... and well you know what happens.
Periodic monitoring and emptying and refilling of the bucket resets
the trap. Voila .....main sail is preserved!

Edited by - on

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 12/02/2007 : 09:20:02

WOW - sounds fascinating - glad to learn 'ol Rube Gorldberg is alive and well!

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 12/02/2007 : 11:17:26

Ron, you may well have invented the better mousetrap. at least the more interesting one. Think I'll give it a try, with your permission of course.

Val on The hard DAGNABIT, #3936,PATCHOGUE, N.Y.

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Trust Me
1st Mate

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USA
71 Posts

Response Posted - 12/02/2007 : 15:45:19

Val: Feel free to use <u>my</u>

mousetrap and if successful please advise.

PS As any good pirate

.....I stole the idea from a Cheese head(sister-in-law's husband) in North Western Wisconsin (go Packers). Winters are long up there and they have time to master the art of indoor animal control.

Edited by - on

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