Any tips on getting some clarity back into monofilm panels
found it hard to see through while sailing a couple of small waves yesterday and got snotted by a little section that looked through a clouded panel to be nice for a top turn - but was half broken and smacked me instead - resulting in a 100 metre swim to my gear.
Any solutions that don't cause more problems
Think I will just have to look around the mast
I found that just hosing salt off wasn't quite good enough, so once a year I've got mine a lot better by hanging up and scrubbing with warm water with a TINY drop of detergent and a broom. Then rinse with rainwater (water is a bit hard here so perhaps where you are it may rinse clear if using tap water)
If you mean lots of small scratches on it, I don't think there is anything much you can do
I have heard good things about this product:
www.goldeagle.com/brands/303-products/
Don't Rub panels liberally with battered savs, dimmies and anything else from Stewies uncles Bain Marie
Have done this and it works
water and vinegar - half and half.
Wash it down, then rinse off.
Brings em back like new.
I will divide the panel in four and do a randomn blind controlled trial with all of the above (except 303 as this may involve money).
How do I get stewies bay marie savs and dimmies?
DO NOT YOU RAINDEX ON PLASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cleaned my sail on Thursday with Plexus $22 a can from BCF
Designed to clean all kinds of plastics was originally designed for aviation to clean the window but great on boat clears and sails.
my sail is 6 months old and it came up like new, could see through the main panel as good as the day i bought it
the water beads off the sail as well so no water marks after i had finished
will probably have to repeat the clean every couple of sails but its well worth the 2 minutes of work so you can see the lip miles before you hit it
you dont need water, just spray and wipe it off
so can be done after you have rigged up anywhere
best thing since sliced bread
www.plexusplasticcleaner.com/plexus.html
Don't use acetone or solvents. When monofilm sails are made, the panels are initially joined by double sided sticky stuff, and then sewn afterwards.
Solvent like Acetone will attack the sticky stuff, and will end up weakening the seams. Besides which, Acetone would only clean off any residue on the sail, and do nothing to help the very small scratches which are generally where the problem is.
303 Protectant is meant to work, and possibly turtle wax 'ice' as well.
turtle wax as in car wax???
After cleaning, a guy informed me that treating them with Amorall
www.armorall.com/
will protect them.
Jesalt pointed out '303' to me like 8 years ago, works pretty well. Can source it from any Autobarn or if they dont have it in stock, they can order it in for you.
Plexus is good if the sail is just dirty but if it is scratched you will need to use a cutting compund. There are fibreglass and (plastic) polishes you can use. Plexus is not that good at getting scratches out.
havent used it myself but many say "Meguiars clear plastic cleaner" and "Meguiars clear plastic polish" are very good.( on boat clears )
I have used car shampoo on several occasions applied with a sponge same as you wash your car (if you do). Rinse and chamois off and next time you take it out of the bag you'll think you've got a new sail! But i am going to try some of the ideas suggested here
