Molesworth wrote:

I noticed a small rip in the dodger, so, rather than give it to a
company to repair, thought 'Hey, I can do that'.

Nothing is as simple as it seems, however.

First, the sewing machine had to be mastered, oiled, prepared.

Then the rudiments of sewing learnt.

Early in our marriage, Bob was restoring a 1932 Plymouth. He wanted
to reupholster it. So he rented a sewing machine because we didn't
have one. The rental place had a fit when they learned that he was
taking it aboard a ship, but I guess he talked them into it, and on
that cruise he taught himself to sew and did the upholstery.

He's bought himself a machine like the SailRite, and just lately he's
been repairing the side curtains for the bimini. If he wants the
sails repaired though, he goes up to the Amish guy who makes truck
tarps, and pays for a half hour or so on his industrial machine which
is pneumatic (they don't have electricity). Now THAT'S a machine.

The Dodger was an easy repair (straight line stitching), but then I saw
the winch covers are wind/sun worn and needed replacing.

Those are not so easy as they are 'round'!

But I love a challenge, specially one that requires accuracy and an
element of engineering.

Took two days but I now have a matched pair of winch covers.

Now to try sail bags!

--
Molesworth

Small rips is sails, dodgers, etc. can easily be taken care of by a
small patch on the 'inside' and both 'mating' surfaces applied with
'fast cure' 3M 5200 (sold in small tubes). Just be sure to use
masking tape on the precise edges of the patch to prevent any 5200
that squeezes out from contacting 'other' than the patch when you
apply pressure to the repair.

I dont cart around my heavy sewing machine anymore when traveling.
Just some sailcloth & sunbrella scraps, etc. and a few tubes of fast
cure 5200. Its flexible enough for a 'very permanent' sail repair.
Ive done a full seam panel repair on a 9.8 oz. dacron sail ... still
good to go and doesnt lpok 'repaired' after 5 years.

On 2008-06-06 23:40:40 -0400, RichH said:

Small rips is sails, dodgers, etc. can easily be taken care of by a
small patch on the 'inside' and both 'mating' surfaces applied with
'fast cure' 3M 5200 (sold in small tubes).

Cool idea! I've got sail tape that I've used for chutes and burgees,
but hadn't thought to use 5200 as that sort of glue. We have a tube
aboard for other jobs. It's now got a new purpose, and I'll likely
bring some of an old sail onboard for such patches.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-à-Deux -- Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI trips & tips: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/