Sailrite

djefabs said:
Of course I did NOT do this, a very useful guy in Sarisbury Green did it for me. :cool::cool:
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Yea - we know him well!!!
A single row of zig zag is easier to get it looking right - for a DIYer like me anyway.

These were my winter covers last month
Definitely on their last legs!!!

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Hurricane said:
It us usually the window fabric that fails first - probably due to UV.
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Absolutely. So much so, that imho it's better not to have any windows.
Of course, this is an each to their own matter to a great extent, but even in the summer, I prefer to have the lighter perforated fabric, rather than plastic windows (see pic). The only drawback is that it's not fully waterproof, but that ain't so important in summer.
Otoh, when in winter I just want to protect the cockpit (or windscreen, whatever), I don't mind trading some external view for a better and more long lasting protection... Just a thought!
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Hurricane said:
Could you post the name of the fabric and where you get it from.
I will probably stick to Sunbrella but it would be good to have alternatives in my armoury.
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I have had good stuff from Kayospruce and it has lasted well but notice their coated Sauleda has now crept up in price to over £20, so that's out.

Also used Hawke House but their prices for coated stuff has also risen.....

https://www.hawkehouse.co.uk/product/acrylic-canvas-polyurethane-coated/

Not worth saving pennies so I will be going with Sunbrella next!
 
doug748 said:
I have had good stuff from Kayospruce and it has lasted well but notice their coated Sauleda has now crept up in price to over £20, so that's out.

Also used Hawke House but their prices for coated stuff has also risen.....

https://www.hawkehouse.co.uk/product/acrylic-canvas-polyurethane-coated/

Not worth saving pennies so I will be going with Sunbrella next!
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Yep that was my logic
I can find stuff at £15 ish per linear metre but the extra for Sunbrella Plus must be worthwhile.
 
burgundyben said:
Last time I was in there, a few years back, there was a huge stash of ends of rolls they were selling off at very reasonable prices.
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I've used Kaospruce for years.
Since they were in their previous warehouse.
They always have bits and pieces that they are prepared to let go at reduced prices.
The problem, is that you don't really know what you are buying.
Some of the stuff that I've picked up over the years has been good but some is rubbish.
I remember making a set of windscreen covers for our old Sealine T51.
The project worked well but the fabric turned to something resembling paper over an 18 month period.
 
What an interesting thread and not one I would ever have expected to read on the mobo forum.

Many moons ago I did some training as a sailamaker in the RN but apart from hand sewn running repairs using the right kit (sailmakers palm, needles and the right thread) it has never crossed my mind to do any DIY canopy or covers work. I have always taken the view that despite a bit of training I am an amateur and prefer the fit and finish from a professional for something such as a canopy. We have a variety of providers locally so always a good choice and perhaps that has influenced my thinking.

I am now wondering whether to get myself a machine and have a bash at renovating our current canopy, which will soon become our winter canopy as we are having a replacement made.
 
Just an update

I made a cover for our flybridge helm seat with the cheap material.
It was really just to see how the machine worked.
I think the cover will work but it is clear that I need more skill.

So this new skill is a work in progress.
Over the last few weeks, I have been playing with different ideas - mostly using the cheap fabric.
I now like this cheap fabric so much that I am considering using it more.
I've got some Sunbrella off cuts from previous jobs that I did with the domestic machine and I actually find the cheap fabric easier to work.

The Sailrite website has been really worth every visit.
Just have a look at this page.
https://www.sailrite.com/How-To-Projects-Guides/Projects-and-Tips/Marine-Projects
and click the list on the left and then on the various projects that they explain.
There are loads of examples and different techniques.

So, my process of jumping in and making a cover probably isn't the way to do it.
During the last few weeks, I've watched lots of these videos and then done some practical examples.
The more I use the machine, the better the results are.

The next big job that I have for the machine is a new console cover for our flybridge.
The old one blew off last winter and I've only got a make-shift PVC cover covering the instruments at the moment.
So, imagine my joy when I found that Sailrite have an example of how to make a console cover.
See here
https://www.sailrite.com/How-to-Make-a-Boat-Helm-Cover-Video

We are going out tomorrow and I'm taking some prototyping material with me.

So watch this space.
When I've got some work that I think is worth photographing, I will post the results.

Finally, to make the machine pay for itself, I want to make some cockpit covers.
I've got my old winter covers that have now completely had it so I'm going to use them as a template but use some of the techniques that I've learned from Sailrite.
 
Hurricane said:
Here's a pic of the test to fix a window.
JW's cockpit covers have a large window in the back panel (2.4m x 1.2m) and similar but smaller ones in each side panel.
It us usually the window fabric that fails first - probably due to UV.
I know some people who have created covers for the windows that they put on when they leave the boat.
I thought about this but my old ones lasted 10 years so I have decided not to protect the windows from UV - maybe replace them instead after they fail.

So, I was looking for the best way to connect the plastic window material to canvas,
The professionally made covers that I am replacing have welded connections to a white heavy PVC fabric.
I'm not going to invest in a welding machine and it probably wouldn't weld to Sunbrella Plus anyway.

So, this is the solution that I'm working to:-

WindowInCanvas.jpg


The inside of the canvas was "basted" with double sided tape which you can't see after it is sewn.
Then stitched.
I tried two rows of straight stitch and a longer pitch zig zag but I chose this one because it was easy and simple.
It shouldn't be that difficult to un-pick and replace the window material after 8/10 years.
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Change of plan on the window now that I've done some more experimenting.
Still probably use the zig zag but the way that the panels for the cockpit covers are coming out means that it might be better to make the sides, top and bottom from separate pieces. It also looks nicer if there is a proper edge seam around the window frame.

I've also done a lot of experimenting on zips and learning different techniques.
Lots of scrap in the bin but I'm enjoying the experience.
 
I've got a nice simple job for you if you wish to practice,a sock for my fully repaired passerelle???
Crew are even on board now to pass you measurements when you arrive :-) :-)
 
So, reviving this thread - here are some pics of the results from the Sailrite machine.
This is a post with several pics so you may see duplicate photos because these images are hosted on my own server using my own software to resize the original resolution images "on the fly".
And my code isn't that robust - refreshing your page should reload the images.
Sorry if you get duplicates - I will have another go at the software sometime - but it does work most of the time.

Obviously, there is a skill in sewing.
I am just an enthusiastic DIYer but the results are not too bad and everything that I make gets better than the last time.
And, of course the jobs I chose to undertake so far are covers that are usually fitted whist away from the boat.

Firstly a plug for the Sailrite.
Earlier this year, I walked on the pontoon past a yachtie friend who was making some Dinghy Chaps (covers for his dinghy tubes).
He is a precise person who knows how to sew but he was having trouble with the domestic sewing machine.
"How are you doing?" I asked - his reply was "There is going to be a big splash in a minute!"
So, I offer to lend him the Sailrite - the answer was an immediate "Yes Please".
A few hours later after dropping the machine off, I passed by to find that he was unpicking EVERYTHING that he had sewn with his domestic machine and restitching it using my Sailrite.
A day later, he had his own Sailrite on order!!!

So, here is a pic of the Sailrite on JW's Cockpit table.

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So, now pics of my results - all my own work!! (with a little help from Sailrite and their Youtube videos)

First the Cockpit:-
This year, we had all our external cushions recovered by Martin at MJ (another story)
So this is a loose fitting cover that I made for the cockpit cushions.

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The great thing with the Sailrite is that every stitch is the same - something very difficult to achieve when using a domestic machine on canvas.

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Flybridge
All these covers were done as single "projects".
The first one was a cover for the helm seat/BBQ
Here is the result

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Then I made a new hatch cover

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And then a cover for our console. The old one blew off in the winter winds so we really did need a new one.

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And covers for our new flybridge cushions

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Unlike the original Princess covers, this time I added zips to split the cushion covers.
So that we can access the coolbox

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And sections can be removed for times when we don't want to remove the whole cover.

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Finally
I had some time available at home this year so I made a complete set of cockpit covers (curtains).
I made them at home using an old set of covers as a template.
Unfortunately they didn't fit very well and needed quite a bit of alteration later when I got to the boat.
SWMBO popped home for a couple of weeks during the summer so I used that time to fit the covers.

Here are the cockpit covers.

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You will notice that all the fabric is Grey.
This is because it seems to me that "Grey is the New Blue"
The actual fabric that I used is very cheap and I don't expect it to last very long.
That said, I have been learning and even if I had used expensive material, I would have wanted to remake some of these covers again.
I have learned a lot.
The biggest lesson though is not to copy the original covers exactly - and use my own ideas as I have become more experienced.
For example, the cockpit covers include a rain flap like the original ones supplied by Princess.
I now think it is better to create a conventional zip slot with an overlap (like the ones I made for the flybridge cushions) - easier to "zip up and down" and easier to make.

I hope you find this post interesting.
I have enjoyed making them - a kind of new hobby.
There are already new sewing projects lined up for next year!!!
 
Excellent work there, the machine has already paid for itself. :encouragement:

Despite what I had to say in post 23 about fabrics, I have just bought some Sauleda. I have used it before, available here at a good price, in fact it has just been reduced further:

https://www.profabrics.co.uk/products/sauleda-acrylic-canvas-pu-coated?variant=6809916931

Worth a chat with them, they claim it to be as good as most things and I certainly had no problems with the previous lot I used.
 
doug748 said:
Excellent work there, the machine has already paid for itself. :encouragement:

Despite what I had to say in post 23 about fabrics, I have just bought some Sauleda. I have used it before, available here at a good price, in fact it has just been reduced further:

https://www.profabrics.co.uk/products/sauleda-acrylic-canvas-pu-coated?variant=6809916931

Worth a chat with them, they claim it to be as good as most things and I certainly had no problems with the previous lot I used.
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Yes - I was looking at that fabric on the internet this morning.
I want to start looking at different fabrics and I like ProFabrics/Point North - I ended up buying most of my materials from them and fully intend using them in the future.
I didn't see that reduction in price though.
So, thanks for posting that comment.
 
Hurricane said:
I hope you find this post interesting.
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You bet. I'd call it shocking, rather than just interesting... :rolleyes:
I would have gone nuts before finishing the simplest of the covers you made - congrats for your commitment and patience!

One question about external cushions covers: are you leaving cushions outside all year round, just covering them whenever the boat is not used?
I am asking because in my boats I always had a light cover for summer usage, quick and easy to fit and remove.
But in the winter, we always brought all the cushions inside, filling one of the guest cabins with them.
In fact, swmbo always assumed that by leaving them outside, even if covered, humidity and salty air would have prematurely stained/ruined them.
Should you confirm that you didn't experience any problems leaving them outside, we might reconsider that...
 
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