What do you with old sails?

[George_SD]

I'm contemplating getting a new sail and wondering - what do most people do with old sails? The sail is still usable, but instead of doing some patch work I'm contemplating replacing it.

Trash it ?
Sell it ?
Donate/Give away?

[Sofa King Fishy]

Locally we have a chandlery that consigns them, but it's a long shot. I ended up donating mine to Sea Bags- they'll make a custom tote for you with your original sail, or give you store credit.

[AKA-None]

Or turn it into a sunshade for a bit until it dies
Create art with it

[MicHughV]

yep....I'm with the sunshade idea...presuming off course, you are handy with a sewing machine, though you could always get a loft to make it for you...

[BillKny]

Originally Posted by Sofa King Fishy

Locally we have a chandlery that consigns them, but it's a long shot. I ended up donating mine to Sea Bags- they'll make a custom tote for you with your original sail, or give you store credit.

^^^^ +1 ^^^^

If you are throwing the sail away, it is very unlikely that it is in condition suitable for someone else to make good use of. There are a couple of places who make things out of old sails. If you find one locally, so much the better.

[JPA Cate]

Our sailmaker often takes used sails, for use on deliveries for lower level race boats.

There's also somewhere on the East Coast of the US that collects them and donates them as a charity. There's a thread hiding somewhere about it, with contact details. iirc, they send them to the Caribbean, but I don't know what happens to them there.

Ann

[LittleWing77]

George,

Here's an old thread with a couple of cool suggestions as well as the link to the charitable org that Ann mentions above:

Sewing Project: Old Sails
https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ls-177037.html

Fair winds,
LittleWing77

[Pete7]

Indeed, our old main sail is due collection by a charity that teaches boat and sewing skills to young people. The sail is very stretched, but being in-mast actually quite clean having spent most of its life curled up inside the mast, so should make nice bags etc for the charity to sell and pay for more teaching.

Pete

[Mahayana]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Our sailmaker often takes used sails, for use on deliveries for lower level race boats.

There's also somewhere on the East Coast of the US that collects them and donates them as a charity. There's a thread hiding somewhere about it, with contact details. iirc, they send them to the Caribbean, but I don't know what happens to them there.

Ann

We sent ours to a missionary in Haiti via Missionary Flights International in Ft Pierce, FL. Just Mercy gets them to Haitian fishermen who then cut them to work on the wooden boats they build with only a few basic hand tools. It was funny to see Catalina and Tartan sails logos prominently displayed on these open wooden boats.

Contact Just Mercy in Missouri to get the ball rolling. (Look for their website and/or on fb.). There is a fee for the flight so I suggest you make it worth your while and get as many sails on one or more pallets. Ask around your marina or racing club for others who have old sails lying around. Split the transportation cost. It’s worth it. These guys are, by necessity, some of the best sailors in the world. They sail far offshore subsistence fishing to feed their families and community. They do a lot with a very little.

[WhiteHill]

Another option:
https://www.labonnevoile.com/en/

[George_SD]

thanks everyone - great ideas!

[Tsuru]

Shopping bags...

[thomm225]

Used Catalina Sail recut for a Bristol 27.

[ArmyDaveNY]

Sometimes old sails can be cut down and made into storm sails.

[Clivevon]

Find a charity who will send then to Africa. Local subsistence fishermen would love to get their hands on them. Currently they make inefficient saiks from any old crap they can find.