It is possible, wherabouts is the hole in the sleeve? Question being how do you think you would go about the repair, and is it worth attempting yourself when it should be no more than a $20-30 job by a sail repairer.

Shuee, if you can get some sticky sail material it holds pretty good but if it is one of those canvas luff tushies you'd be out of luck.

I've just tried repairing/strengthening my luff sleeve with a combination of adhesive sail repair tape, and a flexible adhesive glue designed for wetsuit repairs. I smeared the glue around the weak point (in this case, the line of stitching that the mast was threatening to punch through when threading the mast), applied the tape, then smeared more glue around the perimeter of the tape, in the hope that it will improve the adhesion to the underlying luff material. Will advise how this goes.

Most sailmakers (yachts) sell 'sticky back' Kevlar in rolls or sheets. It's the same stuff they use to make the sail numbers and is ideal for emergency repairs at sea. I always keep a couple of meters handy when travelling to remote spots. The repair is actually stronger than the monofilm and I often put small pieces over cracks and weak spots on my windsurfing sails. Like all 'stick on material' it doesn't go well over seams etc. but would be fine on a luff pocket hole. Put a piece on each side of the hole if you can get inside the pocket.

Cheers,

Bob Dunlop

Stuart Bell sails had time to repair my Severne's luff sleeve - 2 x 2 foot tears that turned into 1 x 4 foot tear one day - for $40. Nice job! STOKED!!!

I think so Mike. He's placed a patch strip down the outside of the luff sleeve, starting about 30-40mm down from the "cuff" the mast tip goes into.
The weaved material seems light and strong - much better than the original fabric it covers. It looks like it might have even been glued before being stiched.
I reckon if it tears again, it would go at the edge of the repair.
Repaired on time too. They have got me from now on for all sail repairs!!!! Professional performance!!

Any idea how you gain the seam skills?? What a hobby! I can't imagine how much satisfaction would it give to sail what you have designed & stitched??? Are materials like x-ply expensive/accessible? I may need to cut a hole in the shed's concrete floor. Hmmmmmm...

kecksoff, local sailmaker here (Andrew) was making sails. I think it cost around $400-450 to make a sail, xply etc is cheap (provided you dont use hi tech ones) but the battens and batten ends are hellishly expensive driving the cost of the sail up. If you are keen it would probably be cheaper to buy a trashed sail and use all the useful bits out of that.

He has now defected to WA and is the ideal person to talk to about this if you can ever track him down. He was trying to get similar work over there somewhere last I heard.