Hey all:
I found a local sailmaker to take my old sails to for inspection. Not easy when you live in the northeast corner of Washington State up by Canada and Idaho!
Don Yager seemed really straightforward and upfront, telling me that although most of the resin was gone from my original main and old jib they were still quite usable for several more years, especially with some modifications - bronze snaps instead of fabric snaps for the jib, beefing up the tack grommet, things like that. My main, apparently, has changed shape enough that the bulge of the sail, when filled, is too far aft, and it holds too much air. He does a lot of work for the local mountain lake sail folks. He quoted me a killer price for a new set, and I think I'll at least get a new main.
He also gave me some great tips for getting this old sail up the mast easier until I have time to get some slides put on:
1) using a small handheld fire-starter lighter, gently singe off the furry bits from the old bolt rope;
2) clean out the mast slot with Simple Green cleaner using a section of line as thick as you can, maybe for my mast 3/8";
3) check for any abrasions or dings on the edge of the mast slot and gently sand them off;
4) use beeswax or paraffin to really coat the upper couple of feet of the bolt rope on the sail;
5) use Sailkote as needed after the above steps.
Don has been making sails for many years, and is featured in an article in Good Old Boat (May 2004.) It was a real treat to see his loft, which was incredibly organized and neat. He was in the midst of working on a very large sail, and I got to check out his work.
Anyone have any experience with Yager Sails?
Thanks,
Carlos