Long zippers are hard to find and expensive. If you know someone with a commercial sewing machine you can make one easily by using velcro to hold it together instead of a zipper. Just about any upolstery shop could make it for you from UV resistant material. As for having to buy a new jib that depends on what kind of a Cat Sailing Fanatic you are. Some guys barely get one season done and it's time for new sails. Then there are the flying dutchman types that have more patches than actual sail material. Gladly most of us fall between these extremes but it is still personal preference that is the final word.<br><br>