Leather covers for wheel

[Bosun Higgs]

My leather wheel cover has started to unravel i.e the stitching has obviously rotted, i am not sure about the integrity of the leather,it looks ok perhaps a bit green in places, but has anyone just restitched theirs? and if so, what thread is best and would you leave the cover on and stitch over the rotton stitches removing after or take them out first.
Advice please.

Yes. Re-stitched mine. Got the thread from a shoe repairer. Stitched it whilst on the wheel and with the leather wet so that it would stretch. Needed two needles and two threads so they crossed over.

 

[sailorman]

Why not cover the wheel with a nice-coloured cord whipping instead, with a contrasting turk's head to mark the top dead centre position?

Cost out the cord

 

[wklein]

Should not be too much if you buy a reel of mouse line. Did this on a boat before with two alternating caterpillar knots which made diamonds on the wheel. Bit rough on the old hands once it had been on a while. Leather would have better longevity.

 

[Kurrawong_Kid]

I got a kit from them as well- highly reccomended. I took the wheel home and stiched it on one winters evening. I didn't need to use any double sided tape - just kept checking it was lined up OK every few stitches.

Also used this kit. Recommendeed.

 

[rob2]

For DIY, in general leather is stitched through punched holes (or it tears) using two needles. Finer work seems to be a thing of the past, but shoemakers used to wax boars' whiskers to the thread instead of needles - maybe that's why its bye-gone, we ate all the boars!

I used to make holsters for Italian made Colts, etc. (Spaghetti Western) at our gun club. It's quite simple to do and when moulded and boned to shape they really looked the part.

Can anyone tell me where to get heavy hides nowadays? All the supplies I've found are thin soft stuff only suited to glove making. I'd like to sew covers on some lines for the boat...

Rob.

 

[Tranona]

Try a sailmaker - that is where I got mine.