Covers & Accessories

Why covers matter

UV degrades Dacron at 1 % tensile loss per 100 hours of direct sun.

A fitted mainsail cover blocks 98 % of UVA/UVB.

Salt crystals left on furling headsails act like sandpaper; a UV strip prevents chafe.

Helm and winch covers stop fade, corrosion and frozen bearings.

Covers & accessories categories

Mainsail cover (stack pack or traditional)

Stack Pack

– Integrated lazy-jacks + zip-top cover

– Drops the sail into a tidy bag; no flaking required

– Sunbrella, Weathermax or recycled sailcloth outer; Tenara thread

– Sizing: P + 0.6 m length × boom E + 0.4 m width

Traditional flap cover

– Wraps the furled or flaked main, secures with twists or common-sense fasteners

– Cheaper, lighter, but needs crew on boom to fit

Headsail UV strip (sacrificial sun cover)

7–9 oz acrylic (Sunbrella) or polyester (Odyssey) sewn to leech and foot of furling genoas/jibs

Width: 10–12 % of LP (e.g. 1.4 m on a 140 % genoa)

Reversible port/starboard colours for even wear

Replace every 4–6 years before stitches fail

Helm & winch covers

Wheel / pedestal cover

– Elastic or draw-cord; 60–120 cm diameter

– Fleece-lined options stop leather wheels cracking

Winch covers

– 150–300 mm height; numbered for quick ID

– Drain eyelets prevent ponding

Rail & deck accessories

Tiller cover – tapered tube, 1.2–2 m

Companionway spray dodger – roll-up or fixed

Sail ties – 6 mm Dyneema webbing, 0.8–1.5 m lengths

Mesh hatch covers – stop bugs, allow airflow

Sizing & measurement checklist

Mainsail cover

– P (black band to boom) + 60 cm

– E (boom length) + 40 cm

UV strip

– Measure foot and leech of furled sail; add 5ake 10 cm turn-under

Winch covers

– Drum diameter + 20 mm; height to top of self-tailer

Wheel cover

– Outside rim diameter ÷ π = fabric width

Care protocol

• Hose weekly; mild soap quarterly.
• Re-proof with 303 Fabric Guard every spring.
• Store dry; never pack damp.
• Inspect seams and zip teeth before each season.

End-of-life upcycling

Faded covers still hold 70 % of their strength. Resail harvests them for:

• 30 L dockside tote with original grommets
• Padded winch-handle holders
• UV-proof phone sleeves (8,000 mm HH)
• Reversible beer cooler sleeves

Each cover diverted = 2–4 m² of marine acrylic kept in service.

Order or recycle

Send photos + measurements to info@resail.org.

• Quote for new recycled covers in 24 h.
• Free postage label to send us your old covers.
• Every swap saves 3 kg of marine textile from landfill.