SAILRITE CLONE

fearmhuir said:
So far it has been an excellent buy.
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Happy to read about someone that's happy with their clone... in almost every older fora I read, the conclusion is to save up for the real Sailrite...
I need a zig zag heavy duty machine for my many boat-related projects, this winter and in the future. If I have to go the real-Sailrite-route I need to cut back on other important projects, not a desired solution... Older machines are considered, but the walking foot and Zig Zag combo is very tempting!

Q: Still a Thumbs-up for this machine?
Q: Is the big-wheel a must-have?

And for now I'm considering not to buy the wooden box because it will increase the total witht 150 USD (shipping will increase about 100 USD) I'll probably mount it in a table on my "sail loft" anyway.

gregcope said:
Anyone interested in a bulk buy/sharing shipping?
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If I wasn't located in Norway...
andypag said:
really put me off sailrite is the $5000 rolex the guy wears in the instructional videos
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Sure :-D (And the 280 USD shipping-cost to Norway)
 
Hi Guys,
This is the original poster here. I hadn't realised that there were further posts here until Steve PMd me asking me how I was faring now with my 'clone'.
The short answer is perfectly satisfied with it.
By now I had hoped to have done a lot more work with it, but I am stuck abroad and the boat and machine are back in Ireland.
What I have done is: completely resewn my stackpack and replaced the zip. This means sewing up to four layers of old (tough) material plus one or two layers of webbing. Renewed the windows in my old cockpit cover for use as a winter cover. Replacing the zip in a Musto HPX jacket.
Previously I had used a vintage Singer 201K and it could sew some jobs, but wouldn't have coped with parts of the sail cover. I used it to renew windows in a sprayhood, but it struggled and jammed occasionally making for an unprofessional finish.
To summarise answers to some of the earlier posts:
1. When my machine arrived, I opened it up, and there was oil everywhere. It had been run before, and not just for a quick test, there was residue in the oil from plain bearings running in.
2. I searched everywhere for an alternative to a Sailrite alternative, but they don't exist. Sailrite itself is a clone, as is Barracuda, Rex and several other suppliers using the same base Machine. The original machine I believe was a Consew, and they discontinued it. Here is a good post The Type Of Sewing Machine You Need To Sew Leather
3. Yes, commercial machines are available for less money, but they are tabletop machines, and don't pack away into a case that can fit on a boat.
4. I have seen examples online of bad castings, pressed steel presser feet etc, but I have examined my machine, and it has proper castings and the presser foot is indistinguishable from the SailRite version.
5. The machine I bought has a 9 inch space between the needle and the body. Sailrite and a lot of others are 7 inch. That extra space is invaluable when you have to roll up the work under the arm to stitch. It helped a lot when I did the windows on my cockpit tent.
6. The big wheel question: This does two things. Firstly it gives a momentum which is useful when sewing uneven layers. It helps the machine get over sudden increases in material thickness. Most importantly it slows down the speed of the machine. As it is a bigger wheel, the speed of the machine is decreased, providing more torque, which allows amateurs - like me - to product good sewing.
7. Voltage - 220 or 110? I ordered a 220 machine, and that is what I got.
8. Case. I bought a case for two reasons: Firstly, It would be a little bulkier, but would hopefully keep the machine away from salty air on board. Secondly, all sewing machines need to be oiled liberally, and all that oil will drop down on your table eventually making a mess.
9. Stitch length adjustment: Sailrite have a very neat modification, and I was going to buy one. Sailrite's version makes forward and reverse stiches the same length, which looks very neat. I have marked my adjustment, and it takes a little longer to get the same effect. If I was making high end wallets I would definitely buy the Sailrite attachment.
10. Sailrite's awesome service: I believe Sailrite have done an awesome marketing and support job. If I need parts or attachments for my machine I have a choice - a lot are available online from China, or I can get them from Sailrite at a price. Some people may view this as cheapskating, but it's not. Sailrite machines and parts are much more expensive than they should be. The earlier comments about Rolex watches comes to mind?
I hope this answers any queries raised in these postings, but if anyone has any further queries, please feel free to ask or PM me directly?
I repeat that I have no connection whatsoever with the Chinese supplier, I am just sharing information, which is what this forum does so well.
Happy sewing guys and girls!
 
As long as you don't want to keep it aboard your boat then I reckon an industrial zig-zag /straight stitch machine is fantastic - I have a Singer 20U - very fast so I fitted a small drive pulley to slow it down. Available on ebay second hand or new for about £750. No walking foot but I've not found that a problem.
 
PetiteFleur said:
There is a READS SAILMAKER sewing machine going on ebay at the moment - could be a bargain, starting at 0.99p and been little used.
See:- Read's Sailmaker Sewing Machine | eBay
Click to expand...

Having a look at the Reads machine - I have no experience of it, but it doesn't appear to have a walking foot, and also doesn't have a toothed belt drive?
It may be a very good machine, but a walking foot is essential when sewing multiple layers of material, for an even feed.
 
fearmhuir said:
Having a look at the Reads machine - I have no experience of it, but it doesn't appear to have a walking foot, and also doesn't have a toothed belt drive?
It may be a very good machine, but a walking foot is essential when sewing multiple layers of material, for an even feed.
Click to expand...
Wouldn't a standard walking foot attachment (costs a few pounds) work? Like this: WALKING FOOT WITH GUIDE
 
I had wondered about going for a sail makers machine as I've just burst a seam on my genoa but i just cant imagine how it would be possibly to feed such a monster through the machine no matter how well it sews. My current machine is my wifes standard domestic New Home. I added lead weights to the flywheel and modified the clutch. It's quite capable of sewing 4 or 5 layers of acrylic canvas and handles webbing and even solid nylon hooks no problem. It was defeated trying to sew the very thick webbing jackstays. It worked but wasn't pretty so I resorted to a sailmaker. But how would you go about sewing a sail on a small sailmakers machine.
 
fearmhuir said:
Hi Guys,
This is the original poster here. I hadn't realised that there were further posts here until Steve PMd me asking me how I was faring now with my 'clone'.
The short answer is perfectly satisfied with it.
By now I had hoped to have done a lot more work with it, but I am stuck abroad and the boat and machine are back in Ireland.
What I have done is: completely resewn my stackpack and replaced the zip. This means sewing up to four layers of old (tough) material plus one or two layers of webbing. Renewed the windows in my old cockpit cover for use as a winter cover. Replacing the zip in a Musto HPX jacket.
Previously I had used a vintage Singer 201K and it could sew some jobs, but wouldn't have coped with parts of the sail cover. I used it to renew windows in a sprayhood, but it struggled and jammed occasionally making for an unprofessional finish.
To summarise answers to some of the earlier posts:
1. When my machine arrived, I opened it up, and there was oil everywhere. It had been run before, and not just for a quick test, there was residue in the oil from plain bearings running in.
2. I searched everywhere for an alternative to a Sailrite alternative, but they don't exist. Sailrite itself is a clone, as is Barracuda, Rex and several other suppliers using the same base Machine. The original machine I believe was a Consew, and they discontinued it. Here is a good post The Type Of Sewing Machine You Need To Sew Leather
3. Yes, commercial machines are available for less money, but they are tabletop machines, and don't pack away into a case that can fit on a boat.
4. I have seen examples online of bad castings, pressed steel presser feet etc, but I have examined my machine, and it has proper castings and the presser foot is indistinguishable from the SailRite version.
5. The machine I bought has a 9 inch space between the needle and the body. Sailrite and a lot of others are 7 inch. That extra space is invaluable when you have to roll up the work under the arm to stitch. It helped a lot when I did the windows on my cockpit tent.
6. The big wheel question: This does two things. Firstly it gives a momentum which is useful when sewing uneven layers. It helps the machine get over sudden increases in material thickness. Most importantly it slows down the speed of the machine. As it is a bigger wheel, the speed of the machine is decreased, providing more torque, which allows amateurs - like me - to product good sewing.
7. Voltage - 220 or 110? I ordered a 220 machine, and that is what I got.
8. Case. I bought a case for two reasons: Firstly, It would be a little bulkier, but would hopefully keep the machine away from salty air on board. Secondly, all sewing machines need to be oiled liberally, and all that oil will drop down on your table eventually making a mess.
9. Stitch length adjustment: Sailrite have a very neat modification, and I was going to buy one. Sailrite's version makes forward and reverse stiches the same length, which looks very neat. I have marked my adjustment, and it takes a little longer to get the same effect. If I was making high end wallets I would definitely buy the Sailrite attachment.
10. Sailrite's awesome service: I believe Sailrite have done an awesome marketing and support job. If I need parts or attachments for my machine I have a choice - a lot are available online from China, or I can get them from Sailrite at a price. Some people may view this as cheapskating, but it's not. Sailrite machines and parts are much more expensive than they should be. The earlier comments about Rolex watches comes to mind?
I hope this answers any queries raised in these postings, but if anyone has any further queries, please feel free to ask or PM me directly?
I repeat that I have no connection whatsoever with the Chinese supplier, I am just sharing information, which is what this forum does so well.
Happy sewing guys and girls!
Click to expand...
hi thanks for the review, we are looking to buy a machine to do cockpit cushions and general repairs. looking at the videos of this machine it looks super fast. Does it have speed control?
 
jules_bike said:
hi thanks for the review, we are looking to buy a machine to do cockpit cushions and general repairs. looking at the videos of this machine it looks super fast. Does it have speed control?
Click to expand...
It comes with an electronic foot control. If you get the large balance wheel which has a larger diameter, the different ratio also slows down the speed. Not being an expert, I have to be slow and patient and it does that.
The new Solent machine is a different colour, but looks pretty identical to mine. It does have the stitch length control, but they are available from SailRite if you need it.
 
For anyone wanting a machine for home use (unless you have a VERY big boat!) may I recommend one of these? Jack 6380BC-Z Walking Foot Industrial Sewing Machine

The only drawback is that it doesn’t do zig-zag but for covers and canvaswork, SWMBO rarely uses that anyway. It’s fantastically controllable, immensely strong and just purrs. A knee operated lift means that you don’t have to take hands of the workpiece to lift the foot either. It also has a 10” gap for material as opposed to 8.5” for the Solent Sew Leisure Pro and only about 6” on the Sailrite. For everything but sail repairs (there is a portable zig-zag machine on the boat for that) this really is the dog’s danglies and for a lot less money than the Leisure Pro or Sailrite - £645 -soon paid for itself! No connection etc etc.
 
Goldie said:
For anyone wanting a machine for home use (unless you have a VERY big boat!) may I recommend one of these? Jack 6380BC-Z Walking Foot Industrial Sewing Machine

The only drawback is that it doesn’t do zig-zag but for covers and canvaswork, SWMBO rarely uses that anyway. It’s fantastically controllable, immensely strong and just purrs. A knee operated lift means that you don’t have to take hands of the workpiece to lift the foot either. It also has a 10” gap for material as opposed to 8.5” for the Solent Sew Leisure Pro and only about 6” on the Sailrite. For everything but sail repairs (there is a portable zig-zag machine on the boat for that) this really is the dog’s danglies and for a lot less money than the Leisure Pro or Sailrite - £645 -soon paid for itself! No connection etc etc.
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Nice one Goldie.

I see they also have this straight stitch machine:

Portable Walking Foot Straight Stitch Heavy Duty Sewing Machine

£600 is tempting. I might pay them a visit when things loosen up.

.
 
doug748 said:
Nice one Goldie.

I see they also have this straight stitch machine:

Portable Walking Foot Straight Stitch Heavy Duty Sewing Machine

£600 is tempting. I might pay them a visit when things loosen up.
Click to expand...

You’ll find them very helpful but I suggest phoning ahead to ensure that they’re not off site on maintenance or delivery jobs. it’s a small family run outfit and really know what they’re talking about. The machine arrives (at least, our model did) with a dvd or emailed video which they’ve produced in house - makes up for any shortcomings in the manufacturers manual.
 
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