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Sewing Machine ,, Sailing,,, Repair ,, cloth,, etc question
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 ? Thanks, |
Sewing Machine ,, Sailing,,, Repair ,, cloth,, etc question
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Sewing Machine ,, Sailing,,, Repair ,, cloth,, etc question
Thomas Wentworth wrote:
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 ? Thanks, The machines he's talking about cost approx $1500.00 Fot the amount of sail repair you will encounter, I'd think getting friendy with a good sailmaker may be more practical. |
Sewing Machine ,, Sailing,,, Repair ,, cloth,, etc question
Don White wrote:
The machines he's talking about cost approx $1500.00 Fot the amount of sail repair you will encounter, I'd think getting friendy with a good sailmaker may be more practical. ooops... I must have been dreaming in Canadian dollars.......... |
Sewing Machine ,, Sailing,,, Repair ,, cloth,, etc question
Thomas Wentworth wrote:
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 ? Thanks, Sailrite sells a very nice zig-zag, walking foot (the cloth is pulled from both the top and bottom) machine for $600 to $950, depending on options. This is sufficient for most basic canvas work, I've made a storm sail, a riding sail, and various bits of canvas, plus assorted repairs. This is not a true heavy duty machine that a canvas shop would have, but its a good alternative thats a lot better than most home machines for canvas work. Its sort of portable, and can be hand cranked. Several EBAY vendors sell the same machine for less - you might be able to get one for $350, but then you don't get the various fixes by Sailrite, and you miss out on great support. I went the EBAY route, then got accessories (such as the big flywheel) from Sailrite. However, if you've never used a sewing machine, you're probably better off saving your money to pay the sail loft. Or at least you should get a friend to help you with a small project to see if you have the knack. |
Sewing Machine ,, Sailing,,, Repair ,, cloth,, etc question
On Wed, 22 Mar 2006 14:39:58 -0500, Jeff wrote:
However, if you've never used a sewing machine, you're probably better off saving your money to pay the sail loft. Or at least you should get a friend to help you with a small project to see if you have the knack. The advantage for a low budget cruiser is that you can not only learn how to make and repair your own canvas work, but there may be opportunities to pick up extra cash here and there by doing the same for others. Supposedly canvas work is one of the skills in high demand in cruising ports, the other two being refrigeration and diesel repair. Around here in south Florida it can take months to get work scheduled. It takes time and experience to get really good at it, and there is more than just sewing skill involved. I've been told by those in the business that pattern making and fitting are the most difficult skills to learn (and hire). |
Sewing Machine ,, Sailing,,, Repair ,, cloth,, etc question
Thomas Wentworth wrote:
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 ? Thanks, i haven't tried to sew sails yet but i do have some experience sewing other things. i learned a lot about sewing just by reading the instruction manual for a cheap sewing machine i bought. then i learned even more by taking some sewing lessons with the recreational department of the city i live near. women at the fabric store know a hell of a lot about this too and can help out. you do need special machines to sew heavier things, and also special needles sometimes ... for instance, if you want to sew leather you need a heavy duty machine, and i suspect the same is true for canvas since it's pretty thick and can be multiple layers near the edges of the sails. if it were me i'd think twice before buying something that was sold specifically as a sewing machine for sail making. there are plenty of heavy duty "normal" sewing machines out there that you could use to sew canvas and they would have a lot of extra features above and beyond a simple zigzag sewing machine, i think it would be a better value than a "sail makers" sewing machine. |
Sewing Machine ,, Sailing,,, Repair ,, cloth,, etc question
Most repairs can be affected with a special grade (tubes) of "fast
Cure" 3M 5200 adhesive caulk. All you need is the dacron sail tape in either 3" or 4" widths, a yard or two of Sunbrella in the typical common colors, etc. etc. and some masking tape. I dont bother to carry a sewing machine anymore, just a few tubes of Fast Cure 3M 5200 and some 'remnants' of sail, etc. cloth, heavy waxed sail twine, sailmakers hand needles and a 'sewing palm'. If you have no experience in using such a machine, its best to 'start out small' with a 'home zig zag machine' and make smalll repairs on light weight cloth, etc. before investing in a 'good' sailmakers type of machine .... no matter what the cost from ebay, etc. g In article _4gUf.1563$kB1.278@trndny07, Thomas Wentworth wrote: 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 ? Thanks, |
Sewing Machine ,, Sailing,,, Repair ,, cloth,, etc question
Don White wrote:
Thomas Wentworth wrote: 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 ? Thanks, The machines he's talking about cost approx $1500.00 Fot the amount of sail repair you will encounter, I'd think getting friendy with a good sailmaker may be more practical. As an ex-sewing factory manager/director, I heartilly endorse that! The domestic machines might sew spinnaker nylon with reasonable care, but to punch through 4 thicknesses of 15-oz Dacron you need a heavy industrial machine. Heavy machines need a BIG motor, usually 3/4 Horsepower, and very special thread. Most of the boats on round-the-world races carry such equipment, but as you know, they are sponsored, and money is no object. BTW, these industrial machines run at 80 to 100 stiitches per second. Think you could control a machine at that speed? I had such a machine in my garage for years, and I still used a sailmaker! Dennis. |
Sewing Machine ,, Sailing,,, Repair ,, cloth,, etc question
On Wed, 22 Mar 2006 17:47:38 GMT, "Thomas Wentworth"
wrote: 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? Becoming independant and self sustaining, thats what cruising is about IMO and a sewing machine helps a lot. I talked to a retired sewing machine mechanic/distributor and he advised me to look for a Pfaff 360. A few months later I bought a Pfaff 360 in very good shape for 150 euro's. In the old days sewing machines were manufactered like they had to last for decades and guess what, they do. Needle pressure and zizag stitches are a must for sailcloth and that can easily be tested. I bought sailcloth and thread at the local sailmaker. The only thing is that the arm off the Pfaff or any other heavy duty "family-machine" is a bit short for big sails. When the damage is located in the centre of my 55m2 main I probably can't reach the spot and I will have to make the repair manually and look for a sailmaker lateron. IMO chances are you will have more damage and wear at the edges/eyes/top, etc. Fair winds, Len. |
Sewing Machine ,, Sailing,,, Repair ,, cloth,, etc question
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Sewing Machine ,, Sailing,,, Repair ,, cloth,, etc question
I would start with an old singer or similar. You can always
upgrade, if necessary. You can get one in good working condition for about $50. Mine easily sews through a double layer of Sunbrella and two layers of sail cloth on a furling jib's edge. More layers towards the eye were difficult. Get a model with zigzag and reverse, ~1940s or 50s. Older ones only do straight stitches, newer ones are flimsy. Mod. 99, 66, 201, pretty much every old black and gold machine will do. |
Sewing Machine ,, Sailing,,, Repair ,, cloth,, etc question
Hi Thomas,
My wife and I bought a new chinese industrial machine off of EBAY for ~$300. We were doing a couple of covers out of Sunbrella, and her hi-end Pfaff machine was not cutting it. Fifteen years ago we completely reupholstered our old boat using her Singer machine, and it was not as good as the Pfaff. The industrial machine will sew practically anything you can feed through it. When we got it we experimented and were up to over 8 layers of heavy Sunbrella without even making it breathe hard. BTW, we are using Tenara thread which is a heavy Teflon thread (impervious to UV). We could never get the Pfaff tension set right for this thread, and finally gave up and bought the industrial machine. Believe me, it was not for lack of trying. Also, the Pfaff motor was really working hard punching through four layers of Sunbrella, and pulling the heavy thread. The chinese machine is not nearly as nice as the Pfaff in terms of fit and finish, but it sure can sew. YMMV Don W. Thomas Wentworth wrote: 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 ? Thanks, |
Sewing Machine ,, Sailing,,, Repair ,, cloth,, etc question
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Sewing Machine ,, Sailing,,, Repair ,, cloth,, etc question
Hi Gogarty,
Gogarty wrote: says... My wife and I bought a new chinese industrial machine off of EBAY for ~$300. We were doing a couple of covers out of snip The chinese machine is not nearly as nice as the Pfaff in terms of fit and finish, but it sure can sew. Is that a Yamata? We bought a new Yamata industrial machine from Harbor Freight Tools. Despite the name it is a Chinese machine. With the table, which is essential. it all cost some $500. 'Tis indeed a mighty brute. The motor alone weighs 75 pounds. It is rated at 5,500 stitches a minute. Scares the hell out of us and we have yet to use it. Can't find a user's manual. But we look forward to doing a lot of uphosltery, biminis, dodgers, etc. No, the name on the maching is "Innovation". You can see one he http://cgi.ebay.com/Industrial-Heavy...cmdZV iewItem Note that with shipping and everything you're looking at ~$280 for a brand new machine. Don W. |
Sewing Machine ,, Sailing,,, Repair ,, cloth,, etc question
Don W wrote:
Hi Gogarty, Gogarty wrote: says... My wife and I bought a new chinese industrial machine off of EBAY for ~$300. We were doing a couple of covers out of snip The chinese machine is not nearly as nice as the Pfaff in terms of fit and finish, but it sure can sew. Is that a Yamata? We bought a new Yamata industrial machine from Harbor Freight Tools. Despite the name it is a Chinese machine. With the table, which is essential. it all cost some $500. 'Tis indeed a mighty brute. The motor alone weighs 75 pounds. It is rated at 5,500 stitches a minute. Scares the hell out of us and we have yet to use it. Can't find a user's manual. But we look forward to doing a lot of uphosltery, biminis, dodgers, etc. No, the name on the maching is "Innovation". You can see one he http://cgi.ebay.com/Industrial-Heavy...cmdZV iewItem Note that with shipping and everything you're looking at ~$280 for a brand new machine. Don W. This machine is the same as the Sailrite.com "LS" (non-zigzag) except that it has the long arm, and doesn't have the Sailrite spiffs added on, and I don't think there is a case available for it. I looked on Ebay for the zigzag version I got last year, but no one was offering it right now. |
Sewing Machine ,, Sailing,,, Repair ,, cloth,, etc question
Gogarty wrote: Oh, that's a dinky little baby machine compared to the monster we just bought. Can't put binaries here or I would post a photo. Go to the Yamata web site and have a look at the 8500. But that's only part of it. Look also at the Accessories, which shows the motor and table (K-leg). I did see that they are also being sold on eBay. Harbor Freight, interestingly, has a flat $9 delivery charge. On more than 200 pounds of stuff. Unless it has to go by truck. Well, the 8500 doesn't look much bigger, but its got a nifty attachment for an external motor that looks like it might come in handy for industrial use. The reason we bought the machine we did was that we talked to the importer and got a "guarantee" that it would work well with Tenara (teflon) thread. They were so sure that they were willing to take the machine back if we couldn't get it work. Sure enough, that thing sews Tenara like nobodys business. It would be nice to have a machine with a little more room under the arm, but my sister-in-law does king size quilts with a machine about the same size. The trick is in how you roll the material before (and after) sewing. Good luck, Don W. |
Sewing Machine ,, Sailing,,, Repair ,, cloth,, etc question
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