BoatBanter.com - View Single Post - Sewing Machine ,, Sailing,,, Repair ,, cloth,, etc question

In article _4gUf.1563$kB1.278@trndny07, says...

I have been reading Don Casey's book about repair, and upkeep of sailing
yachts. He recommends getting a sewing machine so that sails, covers,
dodgers, etc can be repaired, made etc by the boat owner.

I don't know anything about sewing machines.

Where would I get one? How much should one cost? What brands are good? Is
this something I can get on ebay?

Any help ?

Try an outfit called Harbor Freight Tools. We just bought an industrial
strength sewing machine and table for about $500. Some assembly required. If
this thing can't sew it, it can't be sewn. The all up gadget weighs about 250
pounds. The motor is enormous.

We made a sail cover from a Sailright kit a couple of years ago. It's a
beautiful job but it killed the domestic sewing machine we had then. And some
years before that we rebuilt our dodger with a rented industrial strength
tabletop machine. It wasn't easy. The new machine should make fast work of
any job. And yes, it can run at 5,500 stitches per minute but the speed is
inifinitely controllable. Just needs a little practice.