Ordering a Sailrite machine from the USA

[sarabande]

It seems that Solent Sew no longer sell Sailrites, and at present I cannot find another UK stockist.

The option therefore is to bring or order one from the USA.

Has anyone done this, please, or have other suggestions ?


TIA

 

[fredrussell]

There have been a few threads (apols!) on here of late re the Chinese equivalent of the Sailrite machines. If you search “walking foot zigzag sewing machine on eBay or AliExpress you’ll see them, for way cheaper than a sailrite machine.

The chap on here with one is happy with his I believe.

 

[ean_p]

My understanding is that the original Sailright is /was a re badged Toshiba machine. If you drill down and find the model then a good used unit may be far cheaper.

 

[fredrussell]

The Chinese machines are suspiciously similar to the Sailrite machines, but Sailrite say on their website that the internals are completely different. One might assume the Chinese have adhered once again to their strict-as-hell code on intellectual property rights…

 

[savageseadog]

My understanding is that the original Sailright is /was a re badged Toshiba machine. If you drill down and find the model then a good used unit may be far cheaper.

Thompson (make)

 

[Graham376]

I've had a Sailrite for 10+ years and it's performed well but I've considered selling it and replacing with either Chinese import or Solent's Leisure Pro, both of which have more room under the arm for bulky items such as sprayhoods. Wouldn't consider replacing with another Sailrite, especially a machine from US with carriage, duty, VAT etc. to be added to price.

 

[doug748]

The direct imported machines are on Ebay now, you would want the 9in model:

Walking Foot Zigzag Stitch 9'' inch Arm Sewing Machine Leather Sewing Machine | eBay

About half the price of the Solent kit:

SOLENT LEISURE PRO | Solent Sewing Machines

However when you look at the bits that come with the Solent, the base handwheel and some other stuff, then the margin is maybe about £400. For that you get to deal with a company in the UK and a two year guarantee. Unless you are on a tight budget I think many people might find that worth thinking about.




Forgot to add, on one of the earlier threads someone bought a machine from the USA, I think he may have been EU based, can't recall exactly. Could have been Hurricane in Motor Boats.

.

 

[Poignard]

 

[KompetentKrew]

Reliable Barracuda might be worth a look: Barracuda 200ZW v. Sailrite LSZ1

 

[Graham376]

Reliable Barracuda might be worth a look: Barracuda 200ZW v. Sailrite LSZ1

That has the same restricted space as the Sailrite, only 7"" wide under the arm but, for non bulky jobs, a better buy.

 

[KompetentKrew]

I've considered selling it and replacing with either Chinese import or Solent's Leisure Pro, both of which have more room under the arm for bulky items such as sprayhoods.

Thanks, Graham - I didn't see that before.

Is the difference significant? It looks like the arm is an inch or two longer?

 

[lustyd]

I'm about to order a Sailrite so hopefully will let you know in a few months. If you take into account the extra cost of the (excellent) case then it's not much more than the Solent Sew machine, even when you add in the VAT etc. I've no interest in playing Ebay lottery with that much money, I only plan to buy one once.

 

[doug748]

.....
Is the difference significant? It looks like the arm is an inch or two longer?

If you want to tackle an horizontal seam towards the middle of the fabric, all of the excess material has to go through that hole so it's another factor that limits the capacity of the machine. The Americans call it the harp size and, generally speaking, the bigger the better.

I like that the Leisure Pro videos appear to demonstrate the machine in action with V92 thread and also supply this as part of the deal. They make a point of showing a sound lower thread tension/pattern as well, which can be a problem with heavy threads. It shows a confidence in the machine. Arguing the toss with a company in China (or America for that matter) would no doubt be an added aggravation, just depends if you can justify the extra 400 quid or so.

.

 

[fredrussell]

Having just been working on my sprayhood, I can heartily agree with Doug that you need all the room under the arm you can get. It’s bloody hard work and if I was buying a new sewing machine for sail duties, I would go for the biggest armed machine I could find.

 

[seumask]

Bonkers buying a sailright. I have done loads of canvas work, including making a spray hood on an old but robust domestic sewing machine ( Janome). Most of them do zigzag stitching, some triple stich zigzag. Look at ebay and FB market place. Something lie a Janome, Toyota. Look for a metal body and read the dials in the pictures. Walking feet can be added as an extra which I use on mine occasionaly .
I reckon around £100 for a good one.
This is an example on fleabay Toyota 9980 electric Sewing Machine | eBay

 

[Poignard]

I bought a Singer 401G cheaply on eBay and have done some major alterations to a canvas winter cover with it.

 

[Graham376]

Thanks, Graham - I didn't see that before.

Is the difference significant? It looks like the arm is an inch or two longer?

From the previous thread, it appears there's about 2" difference between the models which makes a big difference. If you're still in Bruce's, you can have a look at my Sailrite.

 

[Blueboatman]

Bought my sailrite 12 years ago when Solent Sewing were doing a ‘Load it’ package with some very fancy scissors and bits n bobs,

On the basis that I would not know what I was missing if I didn’t buy the bits, I bought all the bits ?
One or two of which I still have not used but essentially it was the right decision.

Whatever machine you choose ,a heavier flywheel/hand crank and a really good lamp are jolly useful in a boat cabin setting .

I removed the fixed handle on the box and replaced it with a loop of jackstay fabric, the machine would then stow unobtrusively under the saloon table .

 

[ean_p]

Thompson (make)

????

 

[lustyd]

I have done loads of canvas work, including making a spray hood on an old but robust domestic sewing machine

As have I, and as such can explain in detail all of the ways in which domestic machines fall short. They're fine, but they're not in the same league if you want tight stitching with good thread and stout needles.

The Americans call it the harp size and, generally speaking, the bigger the better.

Well yes, if your only criteria is what you can get through the machine then sure, but a huge machine that lives in the floor of a sail loft. If you want it to live on a boat though, there are other criteria such as the ability to stow the thing without breaking it. The Sailrite is the only machine I've seen that addresses this in a half sensible way with their flight case, which also seems to have room for a few spools of thread. Perfect for a boat! If Solent Sew did a similar case for theirs I'd have already bought one, they don't though, they sell a bag so I'm going with Sailrite despite the cost and shipping.