Spray hood DIY

Yes. I made a template using that black stuff you get from the builders merchant, used for going under concrete floors I think. Bent the tube in stages until the frame looked right. Saved a fortune I think.

sprayhood6.jpg
 
I have rejigged a discarded dodger frame to fit a smaller boat and wrapped new acrylic round it and it was fine. Not professional but fine.Windows too, now that's posh for you!

Allow quite a lot of time for all the sewing if you don't want wrinkles and creases.
!
The Sailrite site has some more clues (and dodger kits and bits)

www.sailrite.com
 
Has anyone made their own pattern for a sprayhood? If so how?
It's been covered on here many times:

Don't use the old sprayhood as a pattern
Make something easier first before tackling a sprayhood
and Don't use the old sprayhood as a pattern.

Did I mention that you shouldn't use the old sprayhood as a pattern?

All of which I ignored at my cost.

Google Kayospruce for stuff. You'll find other suppliers by searching this forum.
 
I made one last winter and it wasn't too difficult. DON'T use the original as pattern! First fix the stainless frame firmly in position using rope/duct tape/webbing. Using lightweight translucent polyethylene(the very lightweight tarpaulin type - from Kayospruce), cut a piece about 6" bigger all round for each 'panel'(you can use the original as a pattern), then tape it to the frame nice and taut. With a felt tip pen mark the centre of each piece of tubing. Add the remaining panels and mark in a similar manner. Make 'marks' on each piece so the line up when you sew. Mark the panels as required - Top, Front, LH side, RH side etc. Make sure you have 'marked' each panel so they line up. Also mark the position of any windows. Cut each pattern panel so it's about 2" larger all round.
On a large table lay each pattern on the canvas and again cut with about 1" clearance all round. Mark all the 'marks' so they will line up when sewing together.
You will use a FELL seam when sewing material together - practice on a scrap piece so you get good at it. Use 6mm double sided adhesive tape on the seams, which makes it easy. Make sure you use the adhesive tape all the way along each seam to make sure the 'marks' line up correctly. Don't try and sew the base yet, do this after the first fitting when you will get it more accurate.
For the windows, position a piece of window material which is about 2" larger all round, again using double sided tape on the canvas BEFORE cutting the hole. once the window is positioned make a small slit in the canvas in the centre(so you can get scissors in to cut it out after sewing). Sew one line of stitching around the window. Cut out the spare window canvas, leaving about 2" all round. Fold the canvas under and sew a second row of stitches(cutting darts if necessary to go round corners).
Inspect the original hood carefully so you can copy the construction. Sew on any webbing for tightening - Don't use cheap polypropilene webbing it's not strong, UV degradeable and will only last a couple of seasons - use Polyester webbing. After the first test fitting you can mark any holes for fasteners and the finish off.
All materials can be bought from Kayospruce( http://www.sailcloth.co.uk/ ) Good Luck!
PS I used an old industrial sewing set to sew slowly - you can use a good domestic machine - make sure you use bonded polyester thread.
 
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I have made various covers etc for our boats in the past. I do have an industrial sewing machine though, which makes a difference. You can save yourself a lot of money making one yourself. Probably best if you have had some sewing experience before attempting to make anything yourself, as it could be very costly if you make a mistake.

You can get quality Canopy Fittings from www.boatpartsandspares.co.uk at very good prices and postage is Free.

Leona
 
I have made a couple of new sprayhoods using the originals as base patterns. Do not make the final hems on to the deck until you have done a fitting and then mark them.

One of the Spray hoods I remade was so good that the local sailmaker/canvas guy commented on how good it was and asked who made it as no makers label. He was surprised when I said was myself and done on a very old singer sewing machine.

Sew in any windows before cutting away the excess canvas. There is a knack in sewing in the windows to get a professional finish. Stick the windows in place using double sided tape. Sew round the outer edge of the window. Then cut away the canvas to about 15mm from the outer stitching. Now turn in the raw canvas edge and crease flat with metal edge. Sew round the inner of the window. This way you will get a good finished edge round window.
 
I may have the chance of second hand one for next to nowt. It's off a larger boat so should have some spare cloth to allow adaption.
Failing that I'll make the frame and pattern and get the rest done by either Arun canvas and rigging. They are good guys and never charge as much as other companies. Or there's a Lady who advertises deck bags on Ebay who I spoke to earlier in the year. She makes good stuff at a fraction of the price normaly charged.
I've never used a sowing machine in my life and wouldn't know how to begin.
 
I watched a guy do a lot of work recently.
For Sprayhoods, he set up the steel hoops using string to position them.
He then used brown wrapping paper and sticky tape to suss out the panels.
If you're starting from scratch, make sure you've got safe access into and out of the cockpit/foredeck by putting up the frames and clambering around before you cut any cloth.
You may want to add grab rails to the design after this excercise. Waggle the boom and mainsheet full travel to check clearance.
Next design the panels so they can be stitched using your machine - the bulk of cloth that can be fed through the 'arch' of the machine is the stopper....(especially once you're onto the windows , they can be ruined before they see the boat)
Schedule the seams to never have a large mass of material to the right hand side of the needle!
Some clubs in your area may own a professional machine for members use (ours does).
Get a lube spray for the needle when using sticky tape.
If you are successful, and can't stop sewing, add pockets inside the sprayhood, and the dodgers, and the anchorwinch cover (for gloves) - soon they'll be talking about you like they do me.
 
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spay hood

It's been covered on here many times:

Don't use the old sprayhood as a pattern
Make something easier first before tackling a sprayhood
and Don't use the old sprayhood as a pattern.

Did I mention that you shouldn't use the old sprayhood as a pattern?

All of which I ignored at my cost.

Google Kayospruce for stuff. You'll find other suppliers by searching this forum.

first tell them what you are going to tell them. then tell them,and then tell them what you,ve told them. old forces strategy
 
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