Who can make me a sprayhood by copying the old one?

RobinBirch said:
My old sprayhood shrunk over the years and ultimately pulled itself to bits. I think shrinkage or stretch will depend on the original fabric. I doubt very much that it would be a reliable template for a new hood.
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Mine shrunk slowly after new windows fitted but it's the windows, not the fabric which shrank over a year or two. As a temporary fix I'll sew a new skirt around the bottom of the sides. I'll eventually make a new one but not looking forward to it.

Prices seem horrific for new ones but it's very time consuming and so is the time travelling/pattern making which also has to be paid for.
 
Try Saturn Sails Limited
Largs Yacht Haven
LARGS
Ayrshire
KA30 8EZ.

Tel: +44 (0)1475 689 933
Fax: +44 (0)1475 689 944 They have done good work for me
 
We had TecSew in Gosport make a new sprayhood up from an old one as our yacht is in Greece. They did a pretty good job to be honest. Other sailmakers in the area refused pont blank - see comments above. You'd be better off getting the job done properly though.
 
PaulJS said:
I am in S W Scotland and also drastically in need of a new spray hood (and matching sail bags / boom covers). I would be interested in sharing costs if anybody from the southern half of the UK was interested in making a "measuring Scottish boats" tour during the winter months.
Any sailmakers interested, any Scots or Northeners interested?
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Obviously go where you want but there are excellent sailmakers in Scotland. I have used all of the three noted Scotland based companies below and have been pleased with the results (and price): -


http://www.saturnsails.co.uk
http://www.nh-sails.co.uk/home.htm
http://www.192.com/atoz/business/ta.../655d9244c7c37a81d2ac3f323a6662aac9e2436d/ml/

Note that this is not an anti anything post, it is just a post about supporting local businesses.
 
I had a new sprayhood made last year by Murray Caldwell at Nicholson Hughes Sails of Roseneath

www.nh-sails.co.uk

There were several hours in measuring up alone never mind actual sewing hence wherever you go is "expensive".

Think about how long it will last then divide the cost over the number of seasons ..... it doesnt seem so expensive that way :)

NH were great ...... definately recommended

JR
 
mikeinkwazi said:
Try Saturn Sails Limited
Largs Yacht Haven
LARGS
Ayrshire
KA30 8EZ.

Tel: +44 (0)1475 689 933
Fax: +44 (0)1475 689 944 They have done good work for me
Click to expand...

+1. I had mine done 7 years ago, and barring a "service" a couple of years back, to re-sew a couple of hems and add a reinforcing patch, it has been and continues to give good service. Saturn did the final positioning of the fasteners on-site.
 
Slight thread drift, but I'm interested that
1) Several posters have had good experiences with copying old hoods
2) Of those posting reasons why it's not a good idea, as many seem to mention stretching as shrinking.

My own experience is that every cover, spray hood or pram hood I have ever owned has eventually shrunk. About 7 various things at the last count. Materials have included Sunbrella, other acrylics and PVC coated products. All have ended their useful lives through shrinkage rather than wearing out.
 
PCUK said:
Any local upholsterer will do it for you at a fraction of the cost of sailmaker. Fit the studs yourself to suit the hood when it's on. Or mark them and get the upholsterer to fit them.
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Do you have any evidence to back up this statement. Can "any local uphoslterer" buy the material at a lower price? or run their business and live at a "fraction of the cost"?
 
Tranona said:
Do you have any evidence to back up this statement. Can "any local uphoslterer" buy the material at a lower price? or run their business and live at a "fraction of the cost"?
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Evidence? You know fine that anything yachty carries a premium.:D
 
Point North fabrics used to do a kit. I made mine for about 300 quid. Although its not easy and you need a good sewing machine. It is doable and a darn sight cheaper but as I say, not for the faint hearted
 
I had a boat cover made by Willie Leitch Sailmakers in Tarbert - excellent job but took a few months and cost £1500, but it was a big 2 part cover with zippered door and used the booms as ridge poles, with collars for the masts and an odd shaped bit to allow the wh hatch to be opened.

I was amazed how well it fitted with very few measurements taken and no adjustments needed: I suppose you get an 'eye' when you've been making them for years.

W B Leitch & Son
Garval Road, Tarbert, Argyll
PA29 6TR T: 01880 820 287
 
webcraft said:
.
Fairwinds desperately needs a new sprayhood but the only local option, Owen Sails, is prohibitively expensive.

The existing frame is good, what I want is to be able to post the old cover to someone who can make an exact copy of it.

Alternatively, if it is in Scotland I could take the frame and cover to someone.

- W
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we just made this one for our boat, fabric used was Sunbrella- purchased in Panama at $10 a metre, incidentals ie stiffening, tape, fixings etc came to £170. We reckon the overall cost was around £400 in materials. We bought a hand operated sewing machine from ebay for £25 and used a speedy-stitcher for really thick pieces. The quote we had was £1350 by a professional local company. The saving was worth the steep learning curve in advanced construction techniques!
 

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webcraft said:
.
Fairwinds desperately needs a new sprayhood but the only local option, Owen Sails, is prohibitively expensive.

The existing frame is good, what I want is to be able to post the old cover to someone who can make an exact copy of it.

Alternatively, if it is in Scotland I could take the frame and cover to someone
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Nicolson-Hughes at Rosneath (on the Gareloch) are very good and helpful, but might also count as prohibitively expensive ... they quoted me £400 for an over-boom rectangular sail cover. Saturn Sails at Largs are, in my experience, cheaper but a little grumpy. They fitted new windows to my sprayhood for a fairly modest hundred quid or so.
 
BlowingOldBoots said:
Obviously go where you want but there are excellent sailmakers in Scotland. I have used all of the three noted Scotland based companies below and have been pleased with the results (and price): -


http://www.saturnsails.co.uk
http://www.nh-sails.co.uk/home.htm
http://www.192.com/atoz/business/ta.../655d9244c7c37a81d2ac3f323a6662aac9e2436d/ml/

Note that this is not an anti anything post, it is just a post about supporting local businesses.
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Many apologies to all Scots on this thread... Just realised, after reading the above from 'Boots' that I seemed to be disparaging local sailmakers. This was completely accidental, just I had got the impression that the threads contributors were generally recommending companies from the deep south. I would much prefer to support local companies if possible.
Paul
 
PaulJS said:
I am in S W Scotland and also drastically in need of a new spray hood (and matching sail bags / boom covers). I would be interested in sharing costs if anybody from the southern half of the UK was interested in making a "measuring Scottish boats" tour during the winter months.
Any sailmakers interested, any Scots or Northeners interested?
Click to expand...

I'm in, for a couple of dinghy covers. Near you, of course.
 
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