7.4 CONTINUED
3.
While the teak still has its original color and texture,
smooth with medium grit sandpaper (#120), dust the
surface carefully and seal with a good sealer. Make sure
you select a dry, warm day and Do not seal or varnish
much after noon as after noon dampness will prevent
proper drying and cause your varnish job to look
discolored and uneven. Allow the sealer to dry at least
overnight, then smooth the raised grain with #120 paper,
dust carefully and apply the first coat of a good quality
spar varnish. Apply second and third coats allowing at
least one day drying and sanding with #120 or #180 paper
between coats. This will provide a minimum varnish
covering while four or five coats will produce a more
durable finish. Several thin coats will provide a
superior finish to a lesser number of thicker coats. A
good rub with a chamois after hosing down will keep the
gloss and also lengthen varnish life
7.5
SAILS
Sails should be folded for storage whenever possible. If you
leave the mainsail on the boom, always remove the battens and
then flake it down carefully with one person at each end of the
sail so that the flakes are smooth and wrinkle free. Protect
the sail with a cover. Proper folding will help keep wrinkles
out of sails and will prolong the life of the chemical fillers
in the cloth which hold stretch to a minimum. Windows, if
present, should always lie entirely within one fold to eliminate
creases.
In a long race it is sometimes difficult to fold large
headsails, so just stuff them loosely into their sail bags.
After the race, one of the first jobs is to wash off any salt
water dry and then fold the headsails by flaking them down in
alternate folds, starting with the foot, with creases running
parallel to the foot. If you remove the mainsail from the boom,
fold the first flake so that the bolt rope is on the outside.
The sail can then be put back on the boom more easily next time
you sail.
Hosing down-sails with fresh water to remove salt is a good
idea. Also, perhaps once each year, spread the sail on a soft
surface, such as a good lawn, and go over it lightly with a very
mild detergent and a very soft brush. Alternately, you may wish
to have your sailmaker clean and service your sails. Both
practices comprise good maintenance. Pay attention to your
sails, and if any tears, rips or worn spots appear on the
corners, slides or
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