Ah, it’s springtime! When every young sailor’s fancies turn to …

Yeah, that, too. But we were angling for ‘inspecting the sails for the season.’

Every boat owner knows that getting a boat ready for another season of use means inspections and investigations. You check out the engine, all on-board electronics and other systems, the hull and bottom, the centerboard and tiller … maybe even the trailer. Make sure all that stuff is working properly and in good order.

But it makes sense for sailors to spend a few minutes examining the condition of the sails … for that’s what gives the boat its giddy-up.

Hopefully you took a few minutes last fall to close down your sails for the winter. That means a proper fresh water wash-down, especially important if you sail in salt water, and a thorough drying in the sun (to prevent mold and mildew). Then you rolled – not folded – your sails and put them in UV protective sail bags and stored them someplace dry.

Here are some tips for checking out your sails before the season starts.

1.  Stitching

The first thing to check in your sails is the condition of the stitching. Exposed to sun and weather, stitching slowly breaks down over time. If caught early enough, your local sailmaker can make corrective repairs before things get bad.

On the genoa, check the leech areas, the spreader patch and the area where the sail rubs against the bow pulpit … all areas that tend to get heavy wear and rubbing.

On the mainsail, look for chafing on the batten pockets, and if your battens are held in place with Velcro, check to make sure the hooks and loops still seal firmly.

Check where the sail comes into contact with the shrouds for any signs of wearing through.

Check the leech lines to make sure they can be pulled tight and if the line is holding at the jam cleat. Check the Velcro fittings that hold the cover over the cleat and keeps excess leech line from flying about.

2. Sheets

Check out all your sheet lines, looking for chafing and wear.

Wash your sheet lines in mild detergent or Woolite and rinse well in fresh water (a kiddie pool comes in handy).

3. Blocks and bearings

Using fresh water, rinse out all the turning blocks and bearing races in the furler mechanism. This will remove old salt and any grime that’s collected there. Then, lubricate according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. 

Service the halyard and sheet winches to make sure they are fully lubricated and running well.

Taking a few minutes to examine the sails and lube up the blocks and winches will help extend the sails’ life, get your boat’s mechanisms running smoothly and contribute to your peace of mind during the sailing season to come.

Questions? Call Fay’s or stop in to our ship’s store and we’ll help you get your boat ready for this season, and many more to come.