Sailrite?

[Kukri]

I just bought one of their sewing machines.

I foolishly thought that it would be something like the battered old Pfaff that I could ignorantly persuade into zigzag stitches.

I seem to be peering into a rabbit hole of considerable dimensions.

Help! Where does one start?

 

[Blueboatman]

You did buy the blue ( zigzag) one of course …

The manual is good, their vids are good, you tube is excellent
I ‘suppose’ a half hour paid tuition with a local sailmaker will see your boat sporting the finest fabrics on the East(?) coast ?

Getting the thread fed correctly top and bottom, putting the right size/type needle in with the flat side and hole on the correct side and then setting just enough tension ( thread should consistently pull through with two fingers lightly pulling) and you are 2/3there

Maybe use standard thread for a while before you get into slippery uv proof stuff

I use a highlighter on the threading diagrams ?

 

[Kukri]

Yes I did.

phone call to Wilkinson Sails coming shortly…

 

[Blueboatman]

Yes I did.

phone call to Wilkinson Sails coming shortly…

You are a smart scholar
One on one tuition, excellent

My machine must be 12 yes old now from new so things may have been tweaked

 

[Graham376]

Download and print out the (very comprehensive) instructions and watch the videos listed on Sailrite site or youtube. Make sure needles are correct for the thread and tension adjusted correctly.

 

[DownWest]

Hate to say this, but there are identical copies, just as good, off the chinglese websites and quite a bit cheaper. Since Sailrites's are made there, one is naturally a bit suspicious..
Friend bought a couple of their sail kits. Very happy (he did borrow my machine tho..)

 

[DownWest]

To add: With big sails (like yours..) The prob is feeding them into the machine. I used a couple of doors as ramps to make quite small sails. The idea of ones for your boat is daunting.
Sailmakers Apprentice is a good read. I used it to make my little ones and was very pleased. It can scale up...

 

[Kukri]

My ambitions do not extend to sailmaking… covers are what I want to achieve!

Thanks everyone

 

[Blueboatman]

Someone on here ( Nigel, Bavaria owners group , passed away ??) bought a discount Sailrite

Iirc things were not straightforward

Just a heads up

 

[DownWest]

Someone on here ( Nigel, Bavaria owners group , passed away ??) bought a discount Sailrite

Iirc things were not straightforward

Just a heads up

I read an evaluation from some US cruisers (last year?) They bought a copy and had difficulty seeing where it was different from the original. There was a difference in the optional heavy addition to the flywheel to help with penetrating multiple layers, but in general operation, the same.

 

[Blueboatman]

I read an evaluation from some US cruisers (last year?) They bought a copy and had difficulty seeing where it was different from the original. There was a difference in the optional heavy addition to the flywheel to help with penetrating multiple layers, but in general operation, the same.

Good
I would like a really long arm, just because !

But I realise the thing is heavy enough already and stowage becomes more of an issue

 

[lustyd]

Has anyone found a copy with the nice case? Or found the nice case separately? Even the Solent Sew ones don’t seem to have this

 

[DownWest]

Has anyone found a copy with the nice case? Or found the nice case separately? Even the Solent Sew ones don’t seem to have this

I'd forgotten about the case, think the copy didn't have it and it was mentioned. Maybe an extra?

 

[lustyd]

I couldn’t find anywhere selling them as an extra, and to me a lot of the value of sailrite is in a case suitable for boat lockers

 

[Kukri]

I’m a new boy but I think the boat locker proof case came in with the latest model?

 

[lustyd]

It comes with the sailrite but I’ve never seen any others with one

 

[Kukri]

Jolly good thread. ( pun unavoidable!)

 

[Blueboatman]

If you decide to practise by making nothing more than deck hatch covers to save the acryllic from uv degradation , it will pay for itself . Both in UV protection and against a store bought hatch cover made in cheapo plasticy stuff..

( actually they are quite fiddly to sew , but don’t use too much acrylic canvas , shock cord or er thread ?)
It’s one great proficiency learning exercise and even if they’re a bit rough ( at first , obv), the savings are still working for you against UV degradation

 

[Martin_J]

I think the hard case would be hard to stow on board. I have the long arm version and as Blueboatman says, it's a fair bit heavier but I do find the soft case I made makes it easy to put into an underseat locker in the saloon. The machine just sits in a standard base (hinge spacing is standard) and the handle webbing of the bag goes all the way underneath for strength.







Photos taken ashore because although I do most of the sewing on board, making a full set of cockpit cushions was easier on land.

Handle also sewn closer to one end for correct balance.

 

[Kukri]

Long ago I hand stitched a cockpit cover in No. 1 Admiralty flax. It was OK but I think there are better ways of doing it…