Sprayhood Reinforcement

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JimC

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The fabric of my sprayhood is in good condition apart from the part where it wraps round the rearmost tube. Here it is badly worn due to being gripped by people climbing out of the cockpit onto the side deck & vice versa. I have seen sprayhoods whih have been reinforced in this area with a strip of pvc leathercloth stitched to the fabric warapping round the tube. It can't be a straightforward job to do this as the tube is curved in two planes and the pvc presumably has to be pleated on the inside, i.e. it's a sailmaker's job. Can anyone recommend a firm who would fit a reinforcement of this type to my existing sprayhood? preferably in the North West. I don't know who made the sprayhood originally.
 
I uased Martex to make me a sprayhood a number of years ago and they did a first class job. The owner normally has a stall (mobile caravan/stall) at all the boatjumbles. I am sure he could do a suitable repair for you. There was a recent posting on one of these forums and he was recommended by a number of people. He is a first class bloke to deal with.
http://www.martexmarine.com/
 
MrCramp said:
I uased Martex to make me a sprayhood a number of years ago and they did a first class job. The owner normally has a stall (mobile caravan/stall) at all the boatjumbles. I am sure he could do a suitable repair for you. There was a recent posting on one of these forums and he was recommended by a number of people. He is a first class bloke to deal with.
http://www.martexmarine.com/
Click to expand...

+1
 
If you are having that material work done on your hood, how about getting a stainless grab welded on to the back hoop from side to side at the same time. It saves a lot of wear and safer too. The bar in the photo stops quite short of the corner. On my old Beneteau the bar was curved with the hood right to the turn of the hood and was excellent for stepping in and out of the cockpit to the side deck...

If you have one of course... disregard :)

http://www.tecsew.com/gallery/sprayhood-grab-bars/sprayhood-grab-bar-769

image
 
The frame might be a 3 dimensional curve, but the canvas was 2 dimensional when it was cut and stitched, so I don't think it would be that difficult.
Having said that, any sailmaker / boat cover maker could do it easily.
sam :-)
 
Do you usually do your own canvaswork, and do you have a machine that is up to the job?
If yesyes, fit the material using sticky tape while the hood is up, if neccessary using basting stitches in critical areas (tucks).
You will already know about pinning across the sewing line to stop the tucks moving and gathering at the end.
The machine will do the rest. If it's a strong domestic machine rather than professional, remember to set it to a long stitch.
I make up a work table when sewing large bits.The machine is a heavy old Singer
SN851450.jpg
 
Hi JimC,
I got fed up with re-stitching the trailing edge of my sprayhoods - when well reefed down my boom can catch on the edge. So if you want a cheap and cheerful way to protect the edge against wear and tear - an effective solution is to cut some plastic hose lengthwise (be careful with the fingies when slicing) and clip it on over the trailing edge - like in pickie. (I have the added on grab rail but it does not stop the wear on the canvas.) Replace the pipe every few years when it gets grey with uv light - the sprayhood remains well protected.
dec26.jpg


Invest cash saved in appropriate liquid engineering. Cheers!
Robin
Pleiades of Birdham
MXWQ5
 
Sprayhood reinforcement

Hi Shamaya, - the grab rail shown by saxonpirate is one TecSew (Portsmouth) fit - it is welded on from new - saves cutting holes in the sides of the sprayhood. Other companies fit the grab rail by using spacers and purpose built tube clamps - as mine is in the pickie. Most of the sprayhood companies (such as C&J) will sell you the tube, spacers and clamps - the ends of the grab bar usually are fixed to the main tube through small cut outs down the side panels in the hood. (They may well bend the tube for you if asked nicely.)The advantage of having the grab rail fitted with clamps is that it extends much further down the sides of the sprayhood where you most need something to grab onto when going forward or aft.
dec13.jpg

Robin
Pleiades of Birdham
MXWQ5
 
There are two solutions to this. One is to get a new PVC finger stripe and bar pocket retrofitted by a competent sailmaker. Some are reluctant to do this a they cannot guarantee a fit as the cloth has stretched a bit, but with that slight provison, it can be done. It can also be done by post so if you can get the hood off its frames, the sailmaker should be able to do it.

In addition to the above, it is also possible to retrofit a grab rail to the aft bar of the hood, using standoffs (Kayospruce do these) but patterning the bar is best done by a professional in situ.
 
Pleiades said:
Hi Shamaya, - the grab rail shown by saxonpirate is one TecSew (Portsmouth) fit - it is welded on from new - saves cutting holes in the sides of the sprayhood. Other companies fit the grab rail by using spacers and purpose built tube clamps - as mine is in the pickie. Most of the sprayhood companies (such as C&J) will sell you the tube, spacers and clamps - the ends of the grab bar usually are fixed to the main tube through small cut outs down the side panels in the hood. (They may well bend the tube for you if asked nicely.)The advantage of having the grab rail fitted with clamps is that it extends much further down the sides of the sprayhood where you most need something to grab onto when going forward or aft.
dec13.jpg

Robin
Pleiades of Birdham
MXWQ5
Click to expand...
Thanks Robin,
I love that grabrail - the way it comes down outside of the canvas just where one wants to grab it. I've never seen one fitted like that before, could you tell me who made it please.
 
Grab-rail

Hi JimC, very easy retrofit - just another longer tube following the curve of the main one and attached via stand off spacers which clamp onto the original bar. South West Sails I think did my frame originally but since recovered by Tecsew. They just cut a hole in each side of their standard pattern to allow the spacers to clamp through. Any of the sprayhood/canopy firms will supply the little clamps or do it for you - bending the tube neatly is the tricky bit.
Cheers,
Robin
Pleiades of Birdham
MXWQ5
 
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