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Concerns for UV exposure to FCL jib

Printed From: myHanse.com
Category: Hints & Tips
Forum Name: 311 / 312 / 315
Forum Description: 311 / 312 / 315 Hints and Tips
URL: https://www.myhanse.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15117
Printed Date: 27 March 2026 at 03:41
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Topic: Concerns for UV exposure to FCL jib

Posted By: JZ&Dancing Lady
Subject: Concerns for UV exposure to FCL jib
Date Posted: 18 May 2025 at 21:44

Recently bought a 315 and while I have been sailing for many years these boats have many features I am not familiar with.

My previous boat had a roller furling sail and like many... it had a UV resistant panel that prevented UV damage to the jib when it was furled. My Hanse has Elvstrom FCL sails and as far as I can tell the jib does not have any UV protection. Is it ok to leave the jib hoisted and furled or this a concern?

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Love 2 Sail
JZ

Replies:

Posted By: Black Diamond
Date Posted: 19 May 2025 at 02:59

If it does not have UV protection I would definitely be concerned. I would be surprised if Hanse did not provide it, but this should be easy to check. I would not leave it up without UV protection.

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Rick
S/V Black Diamond
Hanse 575 Build #192, Hull# 161
Newport, RI

Posted By: Wayne's World
Date Posted: 19 May 2025 at 03:05

When we picked up our boat in 2014 the FCL headsail did not have a UV strip. We questioned this and were told Elvstrom were not fitting a UV strip to these headsails. We had our dealer get a UV strip added.

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Wayne W
Cruising, currently in the Pacific until the end of 2026.

Posted By: marsella
Date Posted: 19 May 2025 at 14:31

I had to replace a practically new FCL jib because a local shop handling my rig set the furler in a wrong direction, causing UV strip to be furled in and exposing the unprotected side. Too many things I was learning in my new boat and unfortunately did not notice this mistake. The result was an unrepairable UV damage. Elvstrom was indeed very helpful and sent me the new sail with a discount.

Posted By: JZ&Dancing Lady
Date Posted: 20 May 2025 at 01:49

Thanks to all for your feedback and for sharing your experience. Looks like I need to get a UV strip for Dancing Lady's jib.

Cheers

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Love 2 Sail
JZ

Posted By: S&J
Date Posted: 20 May 2025 at 13:47

I also questioned lack of UV strip on Elvstrom FCL and was advised by dealer it wasn't needed. I had no issues in my 6 years of ownership but I was based in Baltic and UK.

On my 458 I have Quantum sails and this does have UV strip on jib. Probably needed more now eam on the Med.

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H458 #159 Primal Mediterranean cruising

Posted By: 415 Singapore
Date Posted: 21 May 2025 at 04:48

Hi, from our experience UV is certainly an issue but so is heat, especially in the tropics. We always used a jib sock to protect the jib when not sailing and zipped up the mainsail lazy bag.

Even so our original FCL sails delaminated completely within 4 years. Our sailmaker recommended Hydranet for the new sails as he had seen multiple cases of delamination due to heat effecting the glue between the laminations

All the best

Paul

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Paul - Night Train - 415 #136

Posted By: JZ&Dancing Lady
Date Posted: 05 June 2025 at 01:42

After further review, I do have a UV strip on my jib. I did not notice it until I hoisted the jib for the first time last weekend. I am having difficulty posting the pics but will do so ASAP.

Cheers JZ

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Love 2 Sail
JZ

Posted By: Black Diamond
Date Posted: 05 June 2025 at 10:55

The problem I see all the time is NOT that the UV strip is missing, but that the jib is rolled up in the wrong direction. When this happens, the strip isn't doing its job and the sail will incur UV damage.

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Rick
S/V Black Diamond
Hanse 575 Build #192, Hull# 161
Newport, RI