sail cover material

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... although I ordered a 4.2m zip for a sailcover from PointNorth/Profabrics at 11am on 16th of this month.

Received an email at 5pm the same day confirming dispatch.

Zipper received first post the following morning.

I did however call before making the online order to make sure they had that length zip in stock and that it was right for the job. A very helpful person confirmed answers to both of my questions.
 
Use the heavy polyester fabric so often in blue. This is tough stuff but very expensive. it will resist sun light damage well.
I have tried in the past doing a tent style over the main sail and cabin top which protects halyards but the large area just flaps around in the wind too much and was destroyed in short time. I now use a main sail cover that is fairly tight around the sail. (so less cloth) It has snap connectors about 6 for your sized boat under neath and around the front of the mast.
I use a bolt rope on sail so sail is fully removed from the mast making design much easier. If you use slugs then you have to design the rising part of the cover to accommodate the bulk of sail above the boom. keep it tight.
Yes it is quite easy to sew with a domestic sewing machine. Just avoid having too many layers at hems. Any scrap cloth or cotton will fall to bits rather rapidly. good luck olewill
 
PointNorth/Profabrics used to be part of Mouse Sails but has now changed hands and moved premises. I've never had a problem with them in several years of trading at both addresses. Cheaper postage charges than Kayospruce as well. Friend has just had some sacrificial strip delivered from them to Portugal without problems.

I made my sail cover with uncoated fabric to allow it to breathe but, cut edges tend to fray whilst working unless hot knife used or flame sealed. Back coated easier to work with but waterproof so, sail may not dry out properly. Opinions differ as to which is best.
 
Mine is made of pvc fabric of the type that's used on lorries.It's been in constant use for 10 years and there's no sign of deterioration.And it was very cheap.
 
Dylan

Just spent a lot of time repairing my 14 year old sail cover should have binned it but couldn't bring myself to.

Its not the material that is the weakness but the stitching this is the 3rd time the seams have bean restitched UV just rots the stitching but apart from a few chafe holes, easily patched, the acrylic canvas is still good.

There is a lot of work in making a new one of traditional design, hence I repaired the old.

plank
 
thanks chaps

PlankWalker said:
Dylan

Just spent a lot of time repairing my 14 year old sail cover should have binned it but couldn't bring myself to.

Its not the material that is the weakness but the stitching this is the 3rd time the seams have bean restitched UV just rots the stitching but apart from a few chafe holes, easily patched, the acrylic canvas is still good.

There is a lot of work in making a new one of traditional design, hence I repaired the old.

plank
Click to expand...


some good advice here

Jill has agreed to make a copy of the old one

but perhaps you are right

maybe we should patch up the old one

I shall have another look at it and see if repairing would be better than replacing

Dylan
 
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I made a new sail cover using acrylic canvas from Point North. Used a domestic sewing machine to do it. I posted details about here when I did it, but the new forum's search is so pants I can't find it any more.

Replace with a new, otherwise you will be forever repairing it. It only takes a day.
 
I'm sure you'll get loads of satisfaction from making your own on a sewing machine, but in the past we rushed one up from PVC. Using wide overlaps between panels, hammered in eyelets held the seams together. Agter a couple of months of lacing it laboriously in place we attached loops to each eyelet so that it laced up like a marquee, each loop slipping through the one before.

Rob.
 
size matters

dylanwinter said:
some good advice here

Jill has agreed to make a copy of the old one

but perhaps you are right

maybe we should patch up the old one

I shall have another look at it and see if repairing would be better than replacing

Dylan
Click to expand...
If you do go for new I would not be tempted to have a heavy lorry curtain type material but a fairly light acrylic canvas will still be longlasting. Don't forget that when you take the cover off you want it to fold easily and compactly. Boats get enough stuff without the bulk of overweight materials
 
johnphilip said:
If you do go for new I would not be tempted to have a heavy lorry curtain type material but a fairly light acrylic canvas will still be longlasting. Don't forget that when you take the cover off you want it to fold easily and compactly. Boats get enough stuff without the bulk of overweight materials
Click to expand...

That's what I made mine from, on recommendation from Point North. They are good to talk to and will send samples.
 
Point North get my vote. I have been ordering from them since 2005 and they have always delivered top service. Good advice too, over the phone.
 
If you go down the restitching route

My tip of the day !!
Use the same colour thread as the canvas,
You cant then see sewing imperfections.

Plank
 
johnphilip said:
If you do go for new I would not be tempted to have a heavy lorry curtain type material but a fairly light acrylic canvas will still be longlasting. Don't forget that when you take the cover off you want it to fold easily and compactly. Boats get enough stuff without the bulk of overweight materials
Click to expand...
You have a point however I can always find some space in the locker.Money on the other hand is a different kettle of fish.
The PVC fabric I used cost next to nothing,UV proof acrylic stuff was much more expensive.
 
Another vote for acrylic. We leave the mainsail on, under our homemade acrylic sail cover (mooring - Scottish West Coast). I just checked it after thrre months - I had not lashed it securely enought to stop part flapping. It had flapped for three months, and was still fine. It's strong stuff.
 
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