How To Do Windsurf Sail Repair

Windsurfing sail repair skills are sometimes necessary in emergency situations. It is best to take your sail to a repair shop to get major repairs done right, for usually a reasonable fee. But let's face, when you are on the water and having a great day you don't want to end it because of minor equipment failure.

The same theory holds true for minor repairs. You should always have a emergency repair kit nearby to fix the problem. If you are traveling to more isolated areas for extended stays your repair kit should expand to include necessities to handle more major sail repair jobs.

Sail Repair

For windsurfing sail repair you should never use duct tape. Duct tape is very handy but it will not hold a tear in your sail very long and the sticky residue left behind will cause a bigger problem. Sail repair shops won't touch a sail with that residue on it. You should always carry a roll of 2mm sail repair tape in your repair kit. For larger problems you can carry a 2mm monofilm sail repair panel. Both of these products are self-adhesive and will keep you out on the water indefinitely.

For sail rip repair you will need to first dry your sail and find a flat, sturdy surface to work on. Lay your sail on the flat area. Check to make sure that the rip is only on a monofilm area of your sail. If it is, you should cut two pieces of monofilm tape that are a little longer than the tear. You need to cover a little past the tear to isolate the torn ends. Both pieces of tape should be the same length.

Get both sides of the tear as close together as possible. Peel back one end of a piece of the repair tape and place it just past the tear on the sail. Remember to center the tear under the tape. Now you should slowly peel-back the tape as you press the tape to the torn area. Now turn-over the sail and match the tape up on the other side. More tape and the same procedure can be continued to do other repairs, as needed.

Board Repair

For minor windsurf board repair you should always carry an epoxy ding stick. Ding sticks work in 30 minutes under wet or dry conditions and are easy to use. When you get a ding on your board, you should find a clean place to work to avoid sand or dirt contaminating the repair. Open the tube and break off a small piece of epoxy material. You should immediately re-wrap the remainder and put it back in the tube.

Make sure to clean the ding on your board to remove loose or foreign materials. Knead the ding material in your fingers until it is the same color overall and pliable. Now push and work the material into the ding. Keep pushing and working it until you are sure that there are no air bubble. Now smooth the surface with a water dampened finger so that it is flush with the rest of your board. Now wait a half hour and get back on the water.

Reference:

http://www.windance.com http://www.windfinder.com/directory/Sail%20repair/index.htm http://www.isthmussailboards.com/products.asp?dept=50 http://answers.yahoo.com
http://www.surfsailaustralia.com.au http://www.boards.co.uk/articles/index.asp?ID_A=176&article_type=50