can you repair boat canvas on the boat

Seastoke

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hi can you repair we have a few rips on the fly cover can you glue or sew by hand please heip
 
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Yes, just make sure you have a suitable needle and use a thread that will not rot away.

Needle size will depend on the thickness of the fabric but most sowing shops should be able to supply.
 
On our last boat I used Linen thread for repairs - the stitching was decaying. I bought it in small quantities from a market stall but it is used for canvas and leather work.
The repairs held up okay but in the end I gave up and had a new canopy.
 
Decent strong thread is suprisingly expensive from your local sewing shop....£6 or 7 pounds for very small reel.Buy a ginormous spool off ebay for similar money.
You can do half decent seam repairs with a domestic machine.Just need a new needle and warm up the canvas/vynile first.
It may not be the straightest seam ever seen but it will stop the zip or whatever totally coming adrift until you either get it done properly or in my case put off that evil day until you replace the lot.
 
Probably better to see if you can get the right sailmakers needle, a sailmakers palm and the sort of thread used by manufacturers (your local chandlery may be able to help) The needles come in various sizes but you will need one down the lower end of the scale. The reason I say this is that canopies are made of substantial stuff and getting an ordinary needle through can be difficult and the needle may not be up to the job. You also want a repair that will last as opposed to a temporary fix.
 
We just took ours off and took it to the local canopy makers for some restitching.

It took him half an hour tops with the right equipment to hand and from memory he charged us about £25.

Wasn't worth messing around ourselves.
 
All of Amanzi's stiching rotted through. Stephen restitched the entire canopy within a day for a very competitive price. I'd be happy to recommend him.

Stephen

The Boatshed Sailmakers Ltd

loft 01248 679939

mob 07788854795
 
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We just took ours off and took it to the local canopy makers for some restitching.

It took him half an hour tops with the right equipment to hand and from memory he charged us about £25.

Wasn't worth messing around ourselves.
+1. Had new window panels put in as well. Made a big difference.
 

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