Do you guys know of good sewing machines for sailwork, canvas work?
I'm thinking of getting one to make my own sails and canvas work. I would
love to hear from people who have done this and are happy or not with thier

purchase.


I have a PFAFF 130. It works well but not for everyone. It was made in the mid
1940s. You can still get parts except for the tensioner. In the past, I have
seen them for as much as $650, but you can get them for a lot less. I have not
had any trouble with mine in the seven years that I have had it. It can sew 6
to 8 layers of sumbrella with a 110 needle. It can also use the heavy thread
that some machines have trouble with.


Dick

"Dick" wrote in message
...

I have a PFAFF 130. It works well but not for everyone. It was made in the
mid
1940s. You can still get parts except for the tensioner. In the past, I
have
seen them for as much as $650, but you can get them for a lot less. I have
not
had any trouble with mine in the seven years that I have had it. It can
sew 6
to 8 layers of sumbrella with a 110 needle. It can also use the heavy
thread
that some machines have trouble with.


I agree, the Pfaff 130 is a cruisers favorite. In addition to the reason you
state, this machine is still common in small tailor shops in the 3rd world.

I had a 130 before my Sailrite. I did both sail repair and canvas work with
it.. I paid $350 for it in a showing machine repair shop and sold it, after
8 yrs, for $400 and spent about $30 for a tuneup and inspection before I
sold it.

The nice thing about the Pfaff or the Sailrite machines, is the ease of
adjustment and repair in the field (on the boat). In fact Sailrite doesn't
want you to send your machine in for repair and adjustment. Their manual is
a 'field service manual' and encourages the owner to learn how make
adjustments and repair. When I needed feed dog replacement, they sent it to
me and I had it replace in 20 mins. While I was doing this I discovered the
cause for the broken part.


--
My opinion and experience. FWIW

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

We picked up an old Necci at a yard sale for $35. Tough machine!
Absolutely no plastic parts and very tight. Retrofitted it with a Sailrite
Monster Wheel and used it to build a couple of sails. Got the LSZ-1
later so retired the Necci.

Doug
s/v Callista

"Steve" wrote in message
...

"Dick" wrote in message
...

I have a PFAFF 130. It works well but not for everyone. It was made in
the
mid
1940s. You can still get parts except for the tensioner. In the past, I
have
seen them for as much as $650, but you can get them for a lot less. I
have
not
had any trouble with mine in the seven years that I have had it. It can
sew 6
to 8 layers of sumbrella with a 110 needle. It can also use the heavy
thread
that some machines have trouble with.


I agree, the Pfaff 130 is a cruisers favorite. In addition to the reason
you
state, this machine is still common in small tailor shops in the 3rd
world.

I had a 130 before my Sailrite. I did both sail repair and canvas work
with
it.. I paid $350 for it in a showing machine repair shop and sold it,
after
8 yrs, for $400 and spent about $30 for a tuneup and inspection before I
sold it.

The nice thing about the Pfaff or the Sailrite machines, is the ease of
adjustment and repair in the field (on the boat). In fact Sailrite doesn't
want you to send your machine in for repair and adjustment. Their manual
is
a 'field service manual' and encourages the owner to learn how make
adjustments and repair. When I needed feed dog replacement, they sent it
to
me and I had it replace in 20 mins. While I was doing this I discovered
the
cause for the broken part.


--
My opinion and experience. FWIW

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

We picked up an old Necci at a yard sale for $35. Tough machine!
Absolutely no plastic parts and very tight. Retrofitted it with a Sailrite
Monster Wheel and used it to build a couple of sails. Got the LSZ-1
later so retired the Necci.

Doug
s/v Callista

"Steve" wrote in message
...

"Dick" wrote in message
...

I have a PFAFF 130. It works well but not for everyone. It was made in
the
mid
1940s. You can still get parts except for the tensioner. In the past, I
have
seen them for as much as $650, but you can get them for a lot less. I
have
not
had any trouble with mine in the seven years that I have had it. It can
sew 6
to 8 layers of sumbrella with a 110 needle. It can also use the heavy
thread
that some machines have trouble with.


I agree, the Pfaff 130 is a cruisers favorite. In addition to the reason
you
state, this machine is still common in small tailor shops in the 3rd
world.

I had a 130 before my Sailrite. I did both sail repair and canvas work
with
it.. I paid $350 for it in a showing machine repair shop and sold it,
after
8 yrs, for $400 and spent about $30 for a tuneup and inspection before I
sold it.

The nice thing about the Pfaff or the Sailrite machines, is the ease of
adjustment and repair in the field (on the boat). In fact Sailrite doesn't
want you to send your machine in for repair and adjustment. Their manual
is
a 'field service manual' and encourages the owner to learn how make
adjustments and repair. When I needed feed dog replacement, they sent it
to
me and I had it replace in 20 mins. While I was doing this I discovered
the
cause for the broken part.


--
My opinion and experience. FWIW

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

"Dick" wrote in message
...

I have a PFAFF 130. It works well but not for everyone. It was made in the
mid
1940s. You can still get parts except for the tensioner. In the past, I
have
seen them for as much as $650, but you can get them for a lot less. I have
not
had any trouble with mine in the seven years that I have had it. It can
sew 6
to 8 layers of sumbrella with a 110 needle. It can also use the heavy
thread
that some machines have trouble with.


I agree, the Pfaff 130 is a cruisers favorite. In addition to the reason you
state, this machine is still common in small tailor shops in the 3rd world.

I had a 130 before my Sailrite. I did both sail repair and canvas work with
it.. I paid $350 for it in a showing machine repair shop and sold it, after
8 yrs, for $400 and spent about $30 for a tuneup and inspection before I
sold it.

The nice thing about the Pfaff or the Sailrite machines, is the ease of
adjustment and repair in the field (on the boat). In fact Sailrite doesn't
want you to send your machine in for repair and adjustment. Their manual is
a 'field service manual' and encourages the owner to learn how make
adjustments and repair. When I needed feed dog replacement, they sent it to
me and I had it replace in 20 mins. While I was doing this I discovered the
cause for the broken part.


--
My opinion and experience. FWIW

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

the pfaff 130 will also do zigzag. regret the day i sold mine. have
sailrite now and like it but pfaff was a better machine
bruce
"Dick" wrote in message
...
Do you guys know of good sewing machines for sailwork, canvas work?
I'm thinking of getting one to make my own sails and canvas work. I
would
love to hear from people who have done this and are happy or not with
thier

purchase.


I have a PFAFF 130. It works well but not for everyone. It was made in the
mid
1940s. You can still get parts except for the tensioner. In the past, I
have
seen them for as much as $650, but you can get them for a lot less. I have
not
had any trouble with mine in the seven years that I have had it. It can
sew 6
to 8 layers of sumbrella with a 110 needle. It can also use the heavy
thread
that some machines have trouble with.


Dick

the pfaff 130 will also do zigzag. regret the day i sold mine. have
sailrite now and like it but pfaff was a better machine
bruce
"Dick" wrote in message
...
Do you guys know of good sewing machines for sailwork, canvas work?
I'm thinking of getting one to make my own sails and canvas work. I
would
love to hear from people who have done this and are happy or not with
thier

purchase.


I have a PFAFF 130. It works well but not for everyone. It was made in the
mid
1940s. You can still get parts except for the tensioner. In the past, I
have
seen them for as much as $650, but you can get them for a lot less. I have
not
had any trouble with mine in the seven years that I have had it. It can
sew 6
to 8 layers of sumbrella with a 110 needle. It can also use the heavy
thread
that some machines have trouble with.


Dick