Mainsail Cover

sgr143

sgr143

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Having had one on those cheap&cheerful pale blue PU-backed sail covers for about 3 years, it's now showing why it was cheap! the fabric now tears at the slightest not-utterly-gentle handling.
Any recommendations / avoid-like-the plagues as to where I might go to have a proper job done? It's just a simple cover for a flaked sail, navy blue, 4.25m long, for a Westerly Merlin.
Thanks, Steve
 
My advice would be to seek out a local sailmaker/cover-maker so that you can talk to them and get what you want. I don't know what you will find in Oxford but maybe your port would be better. My main cover is original equipment and the canvas is still perfect but the fastenings will need more attention at the end of this season.
 
OP does not say if it is a sail cover cum cockpit cover in that it pulls down towards gunwhale or if it is a tight fit around the mainsail. Certainly the former is much more susceptible to wind damage. The tight fit around the main sail cover is much more resilient to strong winds. So is much preferred. Cover is more complicated if you have mainsail on slugs that stay in the mast. You need an enlarged section at the mast and usually a zipper up the front. If like me you just use the sail bolt rope then all sail comes out of the mast so just needs a cut out to go around the mastand fastenings at the front.
In any case you need the proper material for the job. Yes expensive but you don't need much cloth if you feel like tackling the job with a sewing machine and proper thread for the job. If not then go to sail maker. ol'will
 
Wicor ... I used a Company on Hayling Island to repair my ancient Sprayhood ... they do all the sail covers / hoods etc. Prices to smile at ...

Sorry I cannot link you to them ... but "Yellow Pages" (!) should bring them up ...

Interested about the 'cheap' cover ... was it a Chinese one on eBay ? Example link ?
 
I have made a few over the years as per awol's suggestion. It's a pretty easy project, just a little trickier than making rectangular dodgers.

I see Plastimo do pre made jobs for about £200 (as do some sailmakers) which should be reasonable quality. The key is to ensure they are Acrylic canvas which is superb stuff and can live outdoors for 10 years and much more, with minimal fading or loss of strength.
You don't need top spec American stuff but it's not wise to go for the cheap stuff that comes up on Ebay unless it is for pattern making. £15 + per metre is about right.

.
 
sgr143 said:
Having had one on those cheap&cheerful pale blue PU-backed sail covers for about 3 years, it's now showing why it was cheap! the fabric now tears at the slightest not-utterly-gentle handling.
Any recommendations / avoid-like-the plagues as to where I might go to have a proper job done? It's just a simple cover for a flaked sail, navy blue, 4.25m long, for a Westerly Merlin.
Thanks, Steve
Click to expand...

... I have one too - it's my second in about 11 years... they are cheap and cheerful, but I just take the view that at £30, if I get 5 years use out of it it's costing me about a pint a year.... from about year 4 or 5 the velcro ties go I replace with bungee... once it starts to split, gaffer tape on the inside helps to eke it out...
 
Fantasie 19 said:
... I have one too - it's my second in about 11 years... they are cheap and cheerful, but I just take the view that at £30, if I get 5 years use out of it it's costing me about a pint a year.... from about year 4 or 5 the velcro ties go I replace with bungee... once it starts to split, gaffer tape on the inside helps to eke it out...
Click to expand...


This is what I came to think ... the hood and sail cover I have were relatively new when I bought the boat ~20+ yrs ago - probably about 5yrs old then ... and for last 15yrs at least - the sprayhood and sail cover - I have been patching / stitching myself to eek out a bit more life ...
They are not cheap versions - but were good quality UK made .....

The sprayhood has had two sets of 'windows' during my ownership.

So if I can get 5yrs from a cheap chinese sail cover - even if replaced at 5yrs .... comparison costs IMHO favour the Chinese route.
 
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