Sailrite Sewing Machine

Bouba

Bouba

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Hi everyone!
I’ve been threatening for a while to buy a sewing machine, learn how to use it and then sew perfect covers for the boat.
My logic is that if I’m successful it will pay for itself (man maths). I’ve had terrific inspiration and advice from Hurricane (who is an amazing tailor).
Anyhow, my news is that I have just ordered the machine. It’s a Sailrite LSZ-1, with a walking foot and zig zag stitch. It doesn’t include the table but does include the Premium pack with the heavy duty flywheel. I also added a few supplies for my first proposed job.
I will keep resurrecting this thread (he he) when I take delivery, do my testing, make my first job (dinghy chaps). Could be years!
 
Last edited:
Bouba said:
Hi everyone!
I’ve been threatening for a while to buy a sewing machine, learn how to use it and then sew perfect covers for the boat.
My logic is that if I’m successful it will pay for itself (man maths). I’ve had terrific inspiration and advice from Hurricane (who is an amazing taylor).
Anyhow, my news is that I have just ordered the machine. It’s a Sailrite LSZ-1, with a walking foot and zig zag stitch. It doesn’t include the table but does include the Premium pack with the heavy duty flywheel. I also added a few supplies for my first proposed job.
I will keep resurrecting this thread (he he) when I take delivery, do my testing, make my first job (dinghy chaps). Could be years!
Click to expand...
Great choice.
Mine has paid for itself several times over and I only bought it a couple of years ago.
The LSZ-1 was the one to pick.
I've never used the zig zag but I'm always using the needle offset which the cheaper (non zig zag) model doesn't have.
For example, when sewing a zip I use the standard foot and offset the needle towards the zip teeth - gives about the right amount of clearance for the slider.
Offset Needle.resized.jpg
I might be wrong but it works for me.
After watching lots of Sailrite videos, I developed my own method for sewing zips in - quick and easy.

The other time that I use the offset is when sewing binding on - using the 1" binding guide that came with my machine.
Again, I have my own method.
I don't use binding tape - I use webbing.
I used to use normal webbing but I've found this light weight herringbone webbing.
25mm Polyester Webbing Herringbone Weave 50m
It takes a little time to master it but yesterday, I knocked up a quick "tool roll" for some cheap chisels that I bought on Ebay.
The tool roll needed an edge so I used the herringbone webbing.
The fabric is some left over white PVC.
This is a pic of the outside of the tool roll - the tape ties the tool roll up.
20210303_232059.resized.jpg
 
Bouba said:
Hi everyone!
I’ve been threatening for a while to buy a sewing machine, learn how to use it and then sew perfect covers for the boat.
My logic is that if I’m successful it will pay for itself (man maths). I’ve had terrific inspiration and advice from Hurricane (who is an amazing tailor).
Anyhow, my news is that I have just ordered the machine. It’s a Sailrite LSZ-1, with a walking foot and zig zag stitch. It doesn’t include the table but does include the Premium pack with the heavy duty flywheel. I also added a few supplies for my first proposed job.
I will keep resurrecting this thread (he he) when I take delivery, do my testing, make my first job (dinghy chaps). Could be years!
Click to expand...

Hi B
How much is the machine, with all the parts, by the time it’s delivered to you? I’ve also been thinking about getting one, you see plenty of, mainly sailors, with them.
 
AndieMac said:
Hi B
How much is the machine, with all the parts, by the time it’s delivered to you? I’ve also been thinking about getting one, you see plenty of, mainly sailors, with them.
Click to expand...
I forked out $1830 that included some poppers and the popper press pliers and shipping. (Don’t forget to ask for 220/240 v and appropriate plug). However I won’t know the true cost until French customs have had their say. If it came from China I wouldn’t expect any additional bill but from the US could mean anything. It’s just fingers crossed time.
 
Hurricane said:
Great choice.
Mine has paid for itself several times over and I only bought it a couple of years ago.
The LSZ-1 was the one to pick.
I've never used the zig zag but I'm always using the needle offset which the cheaper (non zig zag) model doesn't have.
For example, when sewing a zip I use the standard foot and offset the needle towards the zip teeth - gives about the right amount of clearance for the slider.
View attachment 110499
I might be wrong but it works for me.
After watching lots of Sailrite videos, I developed my own method for sewing zips in - quick and easy.

The other time that I use the offset is when sewing binding on - using the 1" binding guide that came with my machine.
Again, I have my own method.
I don't use binding tape - I use webbing.
I used to use normal webbing but I've found this light weight herringbone webbing.
25mm Polyester Webbing Herringbone Weave 50m
It takes a little time to master it but yesterday, I knocked up a quick "tool roll" for some cheap chisels that I bought on Ebay.
The tool roll needed an edge so I used the herringbone webbing.
The fabric is some left over white PVC.
This is a pic of the outside of the tool roll - the tape ties the tool roll up.
View attachment 110498
Click to expand...
Ok, I didn’t realize the significance of the zig zag! I just assumed you stitch it all in zig zag. Does that mean you don’t use the zip feet (left and right)?
 
Bouba said:
Ok, I didn’t realize the significance of the zig zag! I just assumed you stitch it all in zig zag. Does that mean you don’t use the zip feet (left and right)?
Click to expand...
I don't use the zip feet but it was good to try them.
You will find that you will have your own ideas how to do things.
So having all the bits at your disposal is a good thing.
If you want to know my ways of doing things, just ask.
Sometimes it is the same as Sailrite - other times, I do it my way.
 
Hurricane said:
I don't use the zip feet but it was good to try them.
You will find that you will have your own ideas how to do things.
So having all the bits at your disposal is a good thing.
If you want to know my ways of doing things, just ask.
Sometimes it is the same as Sailrite - other times, I do it my way.
Click to expand...
Thanks Hurricane
 
You're brave Bouba, well done. Hurricane has all the credencials needed for DIY tasks like this. He's a marvel. I'd follow in your footsteps but I've had my fill of canvas looking like baggy assed old man's trousers from pirates masquerading as professionals. After watching real pro's go about it I realised it's an art form like drawing. You either can or you cant "see" it. Those that saw it were reputable sail makers. Those that couldnt were of the cushion cover variety. Loads of heartache mate. Buckets of it.
 
As Hurricane says - Having the needle set to the left setting makes binding possible with the zig-zag foot. Quick and easy..

It's not the swing-away binding attachment that Sailrite sell (and since this photo I have replaced the two right hand screws with thumb screws) but using this type of attachment does make putting binding on easy and consistent.

binding attachment.JPG
 
Sailrite have just shipped my machine, one week after I placed my order. Not bad.
Anyhow it’s not earth shattering news but I did promise regular updates and it keeps the thread bumped up. The next notification I’m expecting will probably be from the Douane
 
Hurricane said:
Any thoughts on what materials you are going to start with and what your first project will be?
Click to expand...
Yes, dinghy chaps. There is a good Sailrite video on how to make them, plus I have already ordered the stick on poppers that you attach the canvas to. I haven’t decided on the materials. It has to be very resistant to abrasions and not slippery, especially in the mornings when everything is slimy. I’m very interested in Stamoid at the moment.
41B4D9FB-D194-4EBC-BA68-88C867B23F51.jpeg
 
OK. I'm hooked. I reckon there will be mileage to be had from this thread. Either funny or inspiring. Following ?
 
Bouba said:
Hi everyone!
I’ve been threatening for a while to buy a sewing machine, learn how to use it and then sew perfect covers for the boat.
My logic is that if I’m successful it will pay for itself (man maths). I’ve had terrific inspiration and advice from Hurricane (who is an amazing tailor).
Anyhow, my news is that I have just ordered the machine. It’s a Sailrite LSZ-1, with a walking foot and zig zag stitch. It doesn’t include the table but does include the Premium pack with the heavy duty flywheel. I also added a few supplies for my first proposed job.
I will keep resurrecting this thread (he he) when I take delivery, do my testing, make my first job (dinghy chaps). Could be years!
Click to expand...

I did the same calculation years ago.., but bought the cheap machine that saulrite sell. It's a Chinese heavy duty machine, but does not do the zigzag stitch.

My daughters (young at the time) thought it was funny that their father had his own sewing machine.., mom doesn't have one and as far as I know couldn't use one if her life depended on it.

I made a cover for a 33 ft one design boat that's kind of like a Dragon. It was a boom tent about 16ft long that went to the deck at either side, Up front, in front of the mast was a tented area that went diagonally to a spot a meter or so in front of the mast with a zipper. I used Sunbrella.

I learned as I went, so the stitching wasn't necessarily pretty, but the cover lasted for at least 10 seasons, with the occasional minor repair. One of the main things I did was to go back and add some sort of plastic film as reinforcements on the back side of areas that were showing wear from winches and so on.

I was clueless, and one thing I didn't know about was the sticky tape that you can use to hold long seams together while they are fed into the machine.

I enjoyed learning how to use it, and after the cover, I found many other things to make or repair,

My friends borrow it regularly - another source of amusement for my daughters.

I always wished I had bought the LSZ-1 instead.
 
Laser_310 said:
I did the same calculation years ago.., but bought the cheap machine that saulrite sell. It's a Chinese heavy duty machine, but does not do the zigzag stitch.

My daughters (young at the time) thought it was funny that their father had his own sewing machine.., mom doesn't have one and as far as I know couldn't use one if her life depended on it.

I made a cover for a 33 ft one design boat that's kind of like a Dragon. It was a boom tent about 16ft long that went to the deck at either side, Up front, in front of the mast was a tented area that went diagonally to a spot a meter or so in front of the mast with a zipper. I used Sunbrella.

I learned as I went, so the stitching wasn't necessarily pretty, but the cover lasted for at least 10 seasons, with the occasional minor repair. One of the main things I did was to go back and add some sort of plastic film as reinforcements on the back side of areas that were showing wear from winches and so on.

I was clueless, and one thing I didn't know about was the sticky tape that you can use to hold long seams together while they are fed into the machine.

I enjoyed learning how to use it, and after the cover, I found many other things to make or repair,

My friends borrow it regularly - another source of amusement for my daughters.

I always wished I had bought the LSZ-1 instead.
Click to expand...
Thanks Laser that was inspiring ??
 
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