Glenn Ashmore wrote:
SWMBO will not let me close to her sewing machine so I am pretty
ignorant on the subject. I need a machine for making cockpit
cushions, canvas items around the boat and minor sail repairs. I
know I need zigzag, enough power to make it through 5 or 6 layers of
Sunbrella and maybe a walking foot but that's about it. Looked at
the Sailrite zigzag machines but they start at $600.

Packed up some Sunbrella scraps and stopped by the Singer store today
and pleaded ignorance. Asked about used machines but they didn't
have any that would do what I wanted but showed me a new CG-550. It
is an all metal "commercial" model which means they sell them to
schools and dry cleaners. It is not glamorous or fancy but it is
pretty heavily made. The lady put in a #18 needle (what ever that
is) loaded it with #92 thread and let me run 8 layers of Sunbrella
through it. Worked great. I could even get it slow enough for a
first timer to keep up with it pretty accurately. It also does 2
point and 4 point zigzag. (See I did learn something!)

I know this thing doesn't have that big honkin' power wheel like the
$800 Sailrite but it did what it was supposed to do, has a 25 year
warranty and only costs $250 plus another $30 for a walking foot .
Am I missing something?

Spent my whole working life in the rag trade. You need an industrial
machine. Heavy, built like a battleship, and usually with 3-phase motor.
Surely some manufacturer who is going bust must advertise in the trade press
as they usually auction off all the equipment. If you're in the States, New
York City is the place to look, the garment jungle area. Best zig-zags are
by Pfaff. Don't buy it unless a hefty supply of needles comes with it.
Ball-point for knitted fabric, diamond-point for wovens. Size 18 or 20 to do
really heavy work, 12-14 for spinnaker repairs. The people who make webbing
articles will have the right machine. Parachute factories, seatbelt
manufacturers, even sailmakers!


Dennis.