Guys, I’m truly humbled by your comments. If there was one key message to take away from this video, this is it: anyone can do this. Anyone, really. And I don’t say this lightly. I’m a clumsy person with zero practical skills, who has trouble using the most basic tools! So anyone who wants (or needs) to make their canvas, can do it. Honestly. It’s not easy and sometimes it isn’t pleasant either, but it is definitely doable 😊 Elena
For not knowing how to sew, you've done an incredibly good job! Don't sell yourself short - you have excellent natural skills. Greetings from Indiana, USA.
Don't diminish what you are doing, both. I am so impressed with your gumption, patience and willingness to get a hold of a project and see it through. Your stitching looks pretty damned good to me. Let's face it, once the wind and sun get to the sprayhood, it gets baggy/tightens/sags/nips up constantly, even when done "professionally". You've done a great job, seriously. You are both the real deal; salty mariners making a euro go a long, long way ;-))
If no one else mentions it, you have now learned a very profitable skill. As you travel, you may be able to pick up canvas work . It will help to finance living your dream. Good luck!
You are an amazing woman to tackle all of that canvas work on your new boat. That is a huge project and something I would never have done. Good on you. I also commend you for your great dialog that is informative and efficient. I'm glad I found your channel.
An Impressive display of ingenuity and adaptive learning - well done. By adding an extra level of grief through recording the process for our benefit, you ably demonstrate your determination to succeed, nice to see, thanks
It's funny, I'm following a couple youtubers who started out on 30-39' boats and you guys "upgraded" to an imperfect 37' and you both are so happy. I'm happy for you!
@@SailingKittiwake Haha! Well, it said enough that you didn't film anything. We'll probably have the same situation next week. Anja, my wife, starts sewing the cushions in the cabin then :D
Hi Guys. Top Tip for sewing thicker materials or PVC is to use some silicone lubricant on an artists brush and wipe it on the needle every 3-4 inches of stiching. The needle slips through the material better. Great work. Sail safe. Ant & Cid xx
Well done Kiddo, I promise you will get better, that's from a guy who's been using a thumper of a machine, pattern cutting and upholstering leather suite's for years get your patterns correct , give yourself plenty of room to throw the material about let the machine do the work, in a few months time you will see the faults in other sailmakers and machinists work, oh and you will blame someone else for making your rain and sail cover, wink, wink, good on you for having the guts to do it, and of course you made the statement regarding the saving's, could be a nice little earner for you gotta be others with the same probs who won't even attempt it. Good Luck.
Once again, Impressed, admire your persistence and willingness to take things on, great work with the canvas, I am assuming that any sail repairs now will not seen so daunting due to the sheer volume of stitching you have done.
Look at you two your doing so well I'm so very proud of you look at you go your working overcoming hardships. How could anyone no be so proud of you two !! May God bless you and your boat I love you kids !
Brilliant ....again! I love the fact that you tell it as it is - warts and all. If it seems like a disaster you bite the bullet and tell us...its so refreshing....and so helpful to everyone else! Yes its frustrating when you feel you have wasted days of painful sowing - but remember that you haven’t - its part of your knowledge and experience and if you paid for that course it wouldn’t also cost you a couple of grand. So at the very least you still saved £2000! Regarding imperfect work - apart from you, who really cares! It all looks great 👍 and a few unplanned sowing zig zags or imperfect fits - well its for you to worry about but nobody else. You saved an absolute fortune - respect!!! I think you guys are totally great! The biggest scandal of the 20th century is the corporate demand for perfection in a far from perfect world. Far better to go with the flo, aim for the best you can but be happy with what you do and move on. Life is too short to constantly aim for an impossible perfect result. There are places to see! Go and see them!!!
I replaced my worn canvas and made a number of new canvas items for my boat using an $80. sewing machine and it worked well sewing easily through 4-5 layers of Sunbrella. It saved me a LOT of money and it was fun learning a new skill and being self sufficient. I used the same machine along with some hand sewing to do all my own sail repairs also. It is very important to be self sufficient if circumnavigating. Fair winds, far places!
I have never and probably won't but enjoyed watching you give it a go. I'm sure it will get easier with each piece. Enjoy watching the new boat come together!!
Yes a magnificent achievement to make all of that, you'll enjoy the boat all the more for doing all the work yourself. I made a sail stack myself on a much smaller boat and that was a bit of a battle, so I know how much effort you must have put in. Well done and it all looks professional too.
Well done. I'm a firm believer that doing your own canvas work is one of the best ways to save on a boat. There always seems to be something to repair or make. You will get better with practice and experience. Also this is a skill that you can use to make money by doing work for others.
Nice job on the canvas, it will look especially great while sailing in the Med.! My friend that got me into sewing my own canvas stressed that the most important tool was the seem ripper, and for me he wasn't kidding! BTW, hand sewing is not easy but you made it look so.
Thanks Daniel, that hand sewing was made easier as we were mostly tracing old stitches. Totally agree seam ripping is under-appreciated! Especially when you're templating from old bits.
Congratulations for persevering with your sailmaker skills, making errors when you are learning a new skill are apprenticeship badges of honour. As you get more skilled you will get less badges.😉👍⛵️
Have been enjoying following your story... Apologies if others have made the same comments about your excellent seamstressing - a couple of tips: 1. The zip on the bimini fore edge will be the weakest point as it is likely to fail first long before the stitching or material due to UV damage. Good idea to add a flap to sit over the zip teeth. 2. the aft edge of your 'horsey' could do with some elastic in a hem to hold it taught with extra length (elastic) underneath to allow tensioning to your kicker or other point under the boom. This will help it not to flap about which will shake poor horsey apart very quickly. Cheers
Thanks a lot Ian. I will try to add those, but it’ll be hard to find the elastic now that we’re cruising in tiny Greek islands 😁 (the videos aren’t in real time). I’ll have to keep an eye out for some.
@@SailingKittiwake Elastic is an ideal but some 3mm cord would do to hold the back edge taught close to the stackpack - anything to stop the flapping... but the zipper cover against UV would be a priority for me. Enjoy Greece while I enjoy the west highland coast of Scotland! Cheers
You proved you can do anything if the will is there and you do the necessary research of how to do it. Goo news you can decuct the cost of sewing machine because you calculated it in with upholstery work. God bless you and give you the necessary skills to do what you must. Amen
Good job with all the canvas work. I have been redoing mine slowly over the last couple years. Trying to sew those large panels in the restricted area of a boat cabin or cockpit really adds to the challenge.
Thank you for sharing! You’ve shown that any of us without any experience are capable of repairing anything you set your mind on. You made it seem so easy even if it is time consuming. You got grumpy? Nothing compared to myself! I probably would be a lot more grumpy. LOL. Keep up the amazing work, the boat is already beautiful! Fair Winds!
Skua looking fantastic down to the very hard work from both of you, you have a great deal of patience the sewing machine would have been in the drink if I had been doing it ! Really impressed with your work , look forward to more.Well Done.
Good video, well done! When I was quoted $7000 to replace all 10 salon cushions in my cat, I opted to buy a Sailrite and material, new foam...total cost about $1700...and learned how to sew. I did not know if the thread went into the needle left to right or right to left! learned quick! I think I ripped out as much seam as I sewed, and I know I found new ways to conjugate verbs and nouns when frustration mounted! But....now I have made awnings, winch covers, outside cushions, other cushions....dodgers....all for the initial investment of $900 for the machine (and a hotknife!). It will pay you back for sure! Thanks, Andrew
It's certainly a good way to learn how to string together a good selection of swear words. It sounds like you had a similar learning experience to us! We can understand why people charge so much for doing canvas work - it's hard and takes ages, but for us it was just not an option to pay a pro. How do you find the sailrite machine?
@@SailingKittiwake I really like the Sailrite, I have the LZ1. I know there are similar, not-Sailrite sewing machines out there. On my previous boat we had a Reads (1980's) which I never used, partner did all the canvas! But it is robust, can do anything I need it to do, tons of layers (9-11) of sunbrella and easy to maintain. Heavy...yes. A storage nightmare...yes. I have no experience on other machines....but I do like my hot knife (2)!! Service and their Chat line have been fantastic. Thanks!
I hope the canvas dodger and bimini work because you did a much better job than I could have tried to do. Just think when it needs to be done again and it will it will be a piece of cake for you. Trust my friend did this for well craft. :)peace
Fabulous result especially using a residential type sewing machine. Ebay is your friend. Try and get a hot knife and a Sailrite machine. Now that you have done it once you have a new side line. Just having the machine and thread will get some jobs.
Our boat neighbours do it to make some cash but every boat is different, so each piece is a new shape. They always run around with prototypes, measure them against the boats, come back and redo it all. I always tell them I could not do it.
Amazing job guys, huge amount of tricky work there. Looks brilliant, just keep reminding yourself how much you saved. I just had my sprayhood cleaned, reproofes and new windows and that was £290 so you saved a huge amount. Andy UK
Thanks a lot Andy, we didn't get a quote but would have guessed it would be in the thousands for all the bits we did, and at least we know we can repair it or replace it over time when a sailmaker can't be found. All the best and thanks for watching!
But I did go crazy 😜 😂 Hmmm summer isn’t here yet - the Med has been a bit tough so far (lots of wind storms, inaccurate forecasts, cold weather,...). Fingers crossed we’ll get to see summer soon! Thanks Dan.
Excellent work! The skills you’re learning now will help with living a self sufficient sailing life. Plus many of these skills are highly sought after in far flung ports around the world. Another feather in your cap. Have you considered incorporating a raincatcher into the Bimini. Useful when water is at a premium. Looking forward to the next instalment. 😎
Thanks a lot Chris. We were thinking of using a pool noodle to trap rain directly by the water tank inlet, so we don’t have to store it. Not sure what would be more effective though. Do you have any tips? 😊
That was brilliant! Well done. I made a canvas windscreen cover last week, nothing as complicated and impressive as your work, but always very satisfying to make something yourself. Adventures Adrift stand in the front hatch and work the sewing machine on the deck, like a sailing loft a real back saver i reckon!
You did great - a little bit of wobbly stitching kinda makes it yours! if you know what I mean :) I watched another sailing channel/couple a while back who actually paid for theres to be done (knowing what a difficult task it can be), but even after two attempts the Bimini Makers still could not get it right for their particular vessel! - in the end they refused to pay-up, & told 'em to stuff it (and rightly so).
I'm as interested in your repairs and maintenance as sailing. Pitched perfect to someone like myself ( average DIY guy ). You do great videos, really engaging and you are both really natural to listen to. Please keep them coming but some ppl run out of things to report on and still make videos which are then rather bland. Quality not quantity for me.
Get a pack of sharps or jeans needles so you always have sharp ones at hand, try using silicone spray over the material you will get better thickness penetration. What thread and bobbin thread are you using???
great work :) that sewing machine did a great job for a fantastic plastic machine my main boat sewing machine is a hand cranked singer model 28 circa 1898 the thing will stitch through anything but it would be great to have a zig zag machine that will sew sails onboard. also its good to see more proof that you don't need to bust out $1000 for a sailrite sewing machine. I run a sail loft so I have industrial machines at my disposal but I love the old hand crank machine you have so much more controll
@@SailingKittiwake oh I can afford a sailrite but I just dont like the machine it's a chinese clunker re-badeged with a price mark up I have sewn on a few of them they are not what all the hype claims they are.
Congratulations (belated) on doing such a fine job on your new stack pack, spray hood and bimini. As I watch your videos hand stitching my own rotten stack pack seams, I admire your fine sewing machine and your nice straight lines. Fair winds for your future ventures. Thank you for the videos.
Thanks guys great work, need to replace my spray hood, showing it age and the seams are starting to split 😱 after watching this and watching sailrite videos think i might try my luck having the old one to copy should help i hope🤔. Did you cut a bit shorter to accommodate for stretch over the years? Thinking trace out the old and cut inside 3mm?
Hi Al, we templated from the old canvas, then templates the windows (which provide a lot of the tension on our spray hood) really tight from templating plastic. But we'll see how it stretches over time. I think 3mm sounds sensible but I think it'll stretch for and aft more than side to side? Maybe email sailrite pretending you're going to buy a machine from them? :)
Elenor you are amazing! Such a huge task set but they look great. Sorry you seem to attract those wasps, but perhaps you are just too sweet for them to resist a taste!
That boat looks roomy and big inside. Being that you use a wide-angle lens for interior shots, does being there in person feel spacious? How old are your sails (the white part)? They look pristine new, and I'm sure expensive. Does the salt and sun really wear them out?
Hi Glenn, thanks for watching. To get a good idea of the space, watch the beginning of episode 38 (th-cam.com/video/CaMP--1uz-E/w-d-xo.html). We will release an episode with a full boat tour that shows it even better in a few weeks’ time (episode 46). The sails are old, probably 10 years old and aren’t pristine at all 😅 hence we had to repair one. Yes, sun is their enemy, however their condition depends a lot on how many miles you put on them - they preserve OK in their covers. Our previous owner hardly did any miles on these (maybe 1000nm), so they are still good.
Amazingly done! Love it :) I’d like to renew a few canvasses on our boat too. Can you tell me where you bought you’re sewing machine and what the brand is? We’re in Spain too at the moment :) happy sailing !
@@SailingKittiwake I've got to do the same as my spray hood is well past its use by date. I made a custom burgee and used the tape to create hems but it just wouldn't go through the glue. Perhaps need a heavier duty machine. Been following sailrite videos and they use it all the time.
![43] Off-grid Sailboat Life: Installing SOLAR, Batteries & Sails](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/VaRxTXztXQo/mqdefault.jpg)
![43] Off-grid Sailboat Life: Installing SOLAR, Batteries & Sails](/img/tr.png)
Guys, I’m truly humbled by your comments. If there was one key message to take away from this video, this is it: anyone can do this. Anyone, really. And I don’t say this lightly. I’m a clumsy person with zero practical skills, who has trouble using the most basic tools!
So anyone who wants (or needs) to make their canvas, can do it. Honestly. It’s not easy and sometimes it isn’t pleasant either, but it is definitely doable 😊
Elena
For not knowing how to sew, you've done an incredibly good job! Don't sell yourself short - you have excellent natural skills. Greetings from Indiana, USA.
You are an inspiration!!!! ♡♡
Don't diminish what you are doing, both. I am so impressed with your gumption, patience and willingness to get a hold of a project and see it through. Your stitching looks pretty damned good to me. Let's face it, once the wind and sun get to the sprayhood, it gets baggy/tightens/sags/nips up constantly, even when done "professionally". You've done a great job, seriously. You are both the real deal; salty mariners making a euro go a long, long way ;-))
Aw thanks Chris 😊 you’re too kind. It was a big challenge, but we do have our canvas in the end 🎉
All credit to your perseverance at making the bimini and sail sack. I'm mightily impressed with your work ethic.
If no one else mentions it, you have now learned a very profitable skill. As you travel, you may be able to pick up canvas work . It will help to finance living your dream. Good luck!
Following. Enjoying. Not a sailor .... complete landlubber. You have awesome skills, tenacity and drive. Admiration from MikeinMinnesota.
Thanks so much Mike! 😊
You are an amazing woman to tackle all of that canvas work on your new boat. That is a huge project and something I would never have done. Good on you. I also commend you for your great dialog that is informative and efficient. I'm glad I found your channel.
I’m humbled. Thanks John. I just did it because I had to 😊
Love your combined handiwork. Your overall restoration has made your old boat look like a million bucks! Well done.
Thanks a lot Bill, she's certainly improving :)
An Impressive display of ingenuity and adaptive learning - well done. By adding an extra level of grief through recording the process for our benefit, you ably demonstrate your determination to succeed, nice to see, thanks
Haha! Extra level of grief! Good choice of words 😁 Thanks Evano. Lovely to see you comment again 🤗
It's funny, I'm following a couple youtubers who started out on 30-39' boats and you guys "upgraded" to an imperfect 37' and you both are so happy. I'm happy for you!
Thanks so much :) Bear in mind our first boat was 26ft! Hehe. 37ft feels like a luxury hotel to us :D
@@SailingKittiwake Totally! That was my point. I'm happy for you guys! Sail on & fair winds mates!
At least you didn't throw the sewing machine overboard :D Looks good, that spray hood, guys!
Happy greetingz, Wim
To be fair, I’m surprised I didn’t too 😂
@@SailingKittiwake Haha! Well, it said enough that you didn't film anything. We'll probably have the same situation next week. Anja, my wife, starts sewing the cushions in the cabin then :D
The both of you seem to be quite handy at all the tasks that needed doing….bravo!
Hi Guys. Top Tip for sewing thicker materials or PVC is to use some silicone lubricant on an artists brush and wipe it on the needle every 3-4 inches of stiching. The needle slips through the material better. Great work. Sail safe. Ant & Cid xx
Thanks a lot guys! Great tip x
Anchoring on a lee shore is child's play compared to this project. You are brave and industrious folks. Congrats on a job well done.
Haha! Thank you! 😊
Great video you two. Amazing display of spirit. That was a lot of canvas work. Herculean in task! Great job.
Haha! Thanks Ric 💪
I think that that was a rough job completed with great determination, ending in success! Kudos too to the sewing machine!
Well done Kiddo, I promise you will get better, that's from a guy who's been using a thumper of a machine, pattern cutting and upholstering leather suite's for years get your patterns correct , give yourself plenty of room to throw the material about let the machine do the work, in a few months time you will see the faults in other sailmakers and machinists work, oh and you will blame someone else for making your rain and sail cover, wink, wink, good on you for having the guts to do it, and of course you made the statement regarding the saving's, could be a nice little earner for you gotta be others with the same probs who won't even attempt it.
Good Luck.
Thanks a lot Rollem! I wouldn’t feel confident doing it for other people, so for now I’ll stick with my trade (copywriting) 😊
You two are the hardest working couple around. Keep killing it.
Thanks Leslie 😊
Helluva accomplishment! I can't imagine, well done!
You’re making me blush!
Once again, Impressed, admire your persistence and willingness to take things on, great work with the canvas, I am assuming that any sail repairs now will not seen so daunting due to the sheer volume of stitching you have done.
Indeed! You can only get confidence if you keep trying 😀
Fantastic commitment, Seems like you’ve been sewing for weeks. Fair winds.
Aw thanks Daniel! Fair winds :)
Look at you two your doing so well I'm so very proud of you look at you go your working overcoming hardships. How could anyone no be so proud of you two !! May God bless you and your boat I love you kids !
Thanks a lot Carl, we've definitely been learning a lot and getting some new skills!
Brilliant ....again! I love the fact that you tell it as it is - warts and all. If it seems like a disaster you bite the bullet and tell us...its so refreshing....and so helpful to everyone else! Yes its frustrating when you feel you have wasted days of painful sowing - but remember that you haven’t - its part of your knowledge and experience and if you paid for that course it wouldn’t also cost you a couple of grand. So at the very least you still saved £2000! Regarding imperfect work - apart from you, who really cares! It all looks great 👍 and a few unplanned sowing zig zags or imperfect fits - well its for you to worry about but nobody else. You saved an absolute fortune - respect!!! I think you guys are totally great! The biggest scandal of the 20th century is the corporate demand for perfection in a far from perfect world. Far better to go with the flo, aim for the best you can but be happy with what you do and move on. Life is too short to constantly aim for an impossible perfect result. There are places to see! Go and see them!!!
Thanks ever so much, Andy. You’re so right: who cares if it looks perfect - living fully is more important! And the savings were huge 😊
I replaced my worn canvas and made a number of new canvas items for my boat using an $80. sewing machine and it worked well sewing easily through 4-5 layers of Sunbrella. It saved me a LOT of money and it was fun learning a new skill and being self sufficient. I used the same machine along with some hand sewing to do all my own sail repairs also. It is very important to be self sufficient if circumnavigating. Fair winds, far places!
That is some sewing machine for the price paid. Well done for getting all that sewing done.
I have never and probably won't but enjoyed watching you give it a go. I'm sure it will get easier with each piece. Enjoy watching the new boat come together!!
Thanks a lot Ron! 😊
What tenacity to take on such a project. I'm beyond impressed and inspired
Well done. You did a phenomenal job on the canvas work. Many seasoned sewers would not undertake a job like that and the end result is fantastic. Wow!
You’re too kind, Christine! Inexperience - having no idea what I was up against - and necessity made me do it 😊
@@SailingKittiwake Ha ha ha ... ignorance is bliss, isn't it!
You have taken on a mammoth task in such a small space.....your poor little fingers. Very well done.
Hihi thank you! They’re recovering 😊
Yes a magnificent achievement to make all of that, you'll enjoy the boat all the more for doing all the work yourself. I made a sail stack myself on a much smaller boat and that was a bit of a battle, so I know how much effort you must have put in. Well done and it all looks professional too.
Thanks so much! It looks professional from a safe 10m distance 😁
Well done.
I'm a firm believer that doing your own canvas work is one of the best ways to save on a boat. There always seems to be something to repair or make. You will get better with practice and experience. Also this is a skill that you can use to make money by doing work for others.
Very true! Although I wouldn’t charge people for my wobbly stitching 😂
@@SailingKittiwake Well in that case I may have a few projects for you to practice with then... :-D
😂😂😂
I prefer my day job (copywriting).
Nice job on the canvas, it will look especially great while sailing in the Med.! My friend that got me into sewing my own canvas stressed that the most important tool was the seem ripper, and for me he wasn't kidding! BTW, hand sewing is not easy but you made it look so.
Thanks Daniel, that hand sewing was made easier as we were mostly tracing old stitches. Totally agree seam ripping is under-appreciated! Especially when you're templating from old bits.
Colour me impressed by that canvas work
☺️ thank you
So very courageous Elena to take on the canvas work. I’ve seen the results, fantastic!😀
Good job you weren’t wearing glasses 😂 Thank you 😊
Congratulations for persevering with your sailmaker skills, making errors when you are learning a new skill are apprenticeship badges of honour. As you get more skilled you will get less badges.😉👍⛵️
Thank Norman, great way to look at it! 😊
@@SailingKittiwake lol its the only way to look at it,!! You Guy are great, Love the videos. Looks Great.!!
Have been enjoying following your story...
Apologies if others have made the same comments about your excellent seamstressing - a couple of tips: 1. The zip on the bimini fore edge will be the weakest point as it is likely to fail first long before the stitching or material due to UV damage. Good idea to add a flap to sit over the zip teeth. 2. the aft edge of your 'horsey' could do with some elastic in a hem to hold it taught with extra length (elastic) underneath to allow tensioning to your kicker or other point under the boom. This will help it not to flap about which will shake poor horsey apart very quickly. Cheers
Thanks a lot Ian. I will try to add those, but it’ll be hard to find the elastic now that we’re cruising in tiny Greek islands 😁 (the videos aren’t in real time). I’ll have to keep an eye out for some.
@@SailingKittiwake Elastic is an ideal but some 3mm cord would do to hold the back edge taught close to the stackpack - anything to stop the flapping... but the zipper cover against UV would be a priority for me. Enjoy Greece while I enjoy the west highland coast of Scotland! Cheers
Very well done!!! Striving is good for everyone!
Thanks Claris ☺️
@@SailingKittiwake i adore your tenacity, also very wise to have the correct tools. Fabulously done
What a brilliant team you both are, not many would have taken on that sail work. Wishing you all the best.
Thanks so much! ☺️
You proved you can do anything if the will is there and you do the necessary research of how to do it. Goo news you can decuct the cost of sewing machine because you calculated it in with upholstery work. God bless you and give you the necessary skills to do what you must. Amen
Way ta jump in and do,and ta keep with it,so so much
Work,just even moving canvas alone ,good going!!!
Thanks Keith, glad people realise what a job it was! Thanks for watching and commenting
great job on the canvas, looking good guys !!
Thanks so much Andrew!
Good job with all the canvas work. I have been redoing mine slowly over the last couple years. Trying to sew those large panels in the restricted area of a boat cabin or cockpit really adds to the challenge.
Very true, although we don’t know it any other way 😁 maybe for the best 😊 Thanks a lot!
Great effort and you got the result you wanted. Looks good.
Thanks Roy! 😊
Thank you for sharing! You’ve shown that any of us without any experience are capable of repairing anything you set your mind on. You made it seem so easy even if it is time consuming. You got grumpy? Nothing compared to myself! I probably would be a lot more grumpy. LOL. Keep up the amazing work, the boat is already beautiful! Fair Winds!
Thanks ever so much 😊 Ha! I was grumpy all right 😁😇
Cool.You two keep it so real!You just became DIY GODS!!!Thanks!there's hope for us all!!
Haha! Thanks Andrew. I’m the clumsiest person with terrible practical skills, so there really is hope for anyone 😊
Skua looking fantastic down to the very hard work from both of you, you have a great deal of patience the sewing machine would have been in the drink if I had been doing it ! Really impressed with your work , look forward to more.Well Done.
Thank you Howard ☺️ We loved seeing her transform under our eyes 😊
I absolutely love you guys! You make an amazing team and achieve so much, you should both be very proud of yourselves your both a great inspiration! X
Aaaw thank you. You’re too kind.
Good video, well done! When I was quoted $7000 to replace all 10 salon cushions in my cat, I opted to buy a Sailrite and material, new foam...total cost about $1700...and learned how to sew. I did not know if the thread went into the needle left to right or right to left! learned quick! I think I ripped out as much seam as I sewed, and I know I found new ways to conjugate verbs and nouns when frustration mounted! But....now I have made awnings, winch covers, outside cushions, other cushions....dodgers....all for the initial investment of $900 for the machine (and a hotknife!). It will pay you back for sure! Thanks, Andrew
It's certainly a good way to learn how to string together a good selection of swear words. It sounds like you had a similar learning experience to us! We can understand why people charge so much for doing canvas work - it's hard and takes ages, but for us it was just not an option to pay a pro. How do you find the sailrite machine?
@@SailingKittiwake I really like the Sailrite, I have the LZ1. I know there are similar, not-Sailrite sewing machines out there. On my previous boat we had a Reads (1980's) which I never used, partner did all the canvas! But it is robust, can do anything I need it to do, tons of layers (9-11) of sunbrella and easy to maintain. Heavy...yes. A storage nightmare...yes. I have no experience on other machines....but I do like my hot knife (2)!! Service and their Chat line have been fantastic. Thanks!
You did an awesome job!!! Barney
Cheers Barney! 😊
Awesome successful sewing projects. Well done!
well done guys absolutely brilliant. top credit to you both for getting stuck in , it looks perfect.
Just look at it all from a safe distance of 10m and it does look perfect 😂 Thank you tough 😊
I hope the canvas dodger and bimini work because you did a much better job than I could have tried to do. Just think when it needs to be done again and it will it will be a piece of cake for you. Trust my friend did this for well craft. :)peace
Thanks Lisa! It still feels like witch craft to me - mysterious and dangerous! Hopefully it’ll feel easier in the future 😊
Fabulous result especially using a residential type sewing machine. Ebay is your friend. Try and get a hot knife and a Sailrite machine. Now that you have done it once you have a new side line. Just having the machine and thread will get some jobs.
Thanks Mark! I think I’ll stick with my copywriting freelance work - it’s way easier 😁
Second time is half the work
Our boat neighbours do it to make some cash but every boat is different, so each piece is a new shape. They always run around with prototypes, measure them against the boats, come back and redo it all. I always tell them I could not do it.
that is an excellent job on that both of you
Cheers Roderick! 😊
That's a really great job and I admire your work ethic on just getting to grips with something that would scare most of us off
Cheers Tomas! It was a big challenge but we’re so glad we tackled it.
WOW u guys did a fantastic job,thanks for sharing.
Cheers Roger, was a lot of work but definitely paid off
another amazing episode!
You two are such resourceful grafters: I think you'll do anything you put your minds to.
Aw thanks so much. It was a challenge, but when you need something, you find a way 😊
Clever girl. Very fine work. Others will pay you for that. May help you along the trip.
Thank you!
I think I’ll stick with my usual job (copywriting) though 😁 This was way more difficult and stressful 😁
What a mammoth task I'm well impressed by your efforts and determination :)
Sheer necessity 😊
looks terrific inspires me to have a go at it
That’s awesome. Thanks Bobby!
Wow, you guys did a great job!!
Thanks Grant!
I should hire you guys to redo some of the canvas on my boat!
Another year 😁 Let Elena forget how hard it was 😊
You should be very proud of that... great job!
Cheers Billy!
Looks terrific! Nice work.
Cheers!
Your channel is growing on me! Eleanor and Ryan; you are a some team!
Thanks Nick 😊 Very glad you’re enjoying the channel.
Elena & Ryan
Your stitching got better as you went along of course! Nice job!
Thanks Gil!
Excellent job well done to you both, ya got grit! as they say 👍🏼💥💪🏼😄
Thank you 😊❤️
Fabulous effort. Great skills to make all those pieces.
Nah just lots of swearing 😂 Anyone could do it.
Very impressive !!!!
Thank you ☺️
Amazing job guys, huge amount of tricky work there. Looks brilliant, just keep reminding yourself how much you saved. I just had my sprayhood cleaned, reproofes and new windows and that was £290 so you saved a huge amount. Andy UK
Thanks a lot Andy, we didn't get a quote but would have guessed it would be in the thousands for all the bits we did, and at least we know we can repair it or replace it over time when a sailmaker can't be found. All the best and thanks for watching!
That's a serious amount of work! Well impressed!
Cheers Steven!
I would call your "luff tape" the bolt rope! Great job on the canvas works!
Thank you!
Very nice work!
Thank you very much.
nice job! way to get things done!
Cheers!
Nice job - you two are really talented!
Thanks Joe. No talent needed, just a bit of perseverance 😊
It's always so good and interesting watching your videos. Thanks
Cheers!
Very impressive I think I would go crazy doing that job. Hope you are enjoying the summer.
But I did go crazy 😜 😂
Hmmm summer isn’t here yet - the Med has been a bit tough so far (lots of wind storms, inaccurate forecasts, cold weather,...). Fingers crossed we’ll get to see summer soon!
Thanks Dan.
Haha I thought it would be all sun sailing and sangria by now. compared to where I work in northern Norway It must feel tropical.
Fair winds.
Oh yes, tropical! 😊
Great canvas work, INSPIRING!!! 👌
Wow thanks. It was just out of necessity, really ☺️
Excellent work! The skills you’re learning now will help with living a self sufficient sailing life. Plus many of these skills are highly sought after in far flung ports around the world. Another feather in your cap. Have you considered incorporating a raincatcher into the Bimini. Useful when water is at a premium. Looking forward to the next instalment. 😎
Thanks a lot Chris. We were thinking of using a pool noodle to trap rain directly by the water tank inlet, so we don’t have to store it. Not sure what would be more effective though. Do you have any tips? 😊
Found this video. Hope it helps.
th-cam.com/video/OwQewN3Asa0/w-d-xo.html
Awesome work and I can’t believe you got grumpy lol it happens to all of us.
Haha! Would you believe?! 😂 I just wanted to be honest 😁
Fantastic Job! You should be quite proud of yourselves, thanks for the inspiration!
Cheers~
Thanks Randy, and thanks for the nice words :)
That was brilliant! Well done. I made a canvas windscreen cover last week, nothing as complicated and impressive as your work, but always very satisfying to make something yourself. Adventures Adrift stand in the front hatch and work the sewing machine on the deck, like a sailing loft a real back saver i reckon!
Awesome. Well done! Yes, it saves so much money.
It looks nice
Thanks!
You did great - a little bit of wobbly stitching kinda makes it yours! if you know what I mean :)
I watched another sailing channel/couple a while back who actually paid for theres to be done (knowing what a difficult task it can be), but even after two attempts the Bimini Makers still could not get it right for their particular vessel! - in the end they refused to pay-up, & told 'em to stuff it (and rightly so).
Thanks so much 😊 Ha! They did well to refuse. I bet the bimini makers were more grumpy than me 😂
The whole canvas work is very evidently “mine” 😁👍
Bravo, nice job.
Cheers William!
Good job
Cheers Tony!
Nice one.
Cheers Ascot!
Great job!
Thanks Web!
I'm as interested in your repairs and maintenance as sailing. Pitched perfect to someone like myself ( average DIY guy ). You do great videos, really engaging and you are both really natural to listen to. Please keep them coming but some ppl run out of things to report on and still make videos which are then rather bland. Quality not quantity for me.
Get a pack of sharps or jeans needles so you always have sharp ones at hand, try using silicone spray over the material you will get better thickness penetration. What thread and bobbin thread are you using???
It’s V69, couldn’t tell you what bobbin though. Thanks for the silicon spray tip 👍
Inspiring af guys. Thank you
Anyone can do it 😊
Good on you! You definitely earned you strips there :-)
Thanks a lot Landy!
great work :) that sewing machine did a great job for a fantastic plastic machine my main boat sewing machine is a hand cranked singer model 28 circa 1898 the thing will stitch through anything but it would be great to have a zig zag machine that will sew sails onboard.
also its good to see more proof that you don't need to bust out $1000 for a sailrite sewing machine.
I run a sail loft so I have industrial machines at my disposal but I love the old hand crank machine you have so much more controll
Awesome! Thank you. Yes, when you can’t afford it, you find a way to make t work 😊
@@SailingKittiwake oh I can afford a sailrite but I just dont like the machine it's a chinese clunker re-badeged with a price mark up I have sewn on a few of them they are not what all the hype claims they are.
Congratulations (belated) on doing such a fine job on your new stack pack, spray hood and bimini. As I watch your videos hand stitching my own rotten stack pack seams, I admire your fine sewing machine and your nice straight lines. Fair winds for your future ventures. Thank you for the videos.
Can I borrow you to do my boat? Great job. Nobody gonna ever look to see if stitching is perfect or not! Look at all the money you saved!
Thanks Steven! Yes, it was a lot of saving 😊
well done.
Thanks guys great work, need to replace my spray hood, showing it age and the seams are starting to split 😱 after watching this and watching sailrite videos think i might try my luck having the old one to copy should help i hope🤔. Did you cut a bit shorter to accommodate for stretch over the years? Thinking trace out the old and cut inside 3mm?
Hi Al, we templated from the old canvas, then templates the windows (which provide a lot of the tension on our spray hood) really tight from templating plastic. But we'll see how it stretches over time. I think 3mm sounds sensible but I think it'll stretch for and aft more than side to side? Maybe email sailrite pretending you're going to buy a machine from them? :)
Elenor you are amazing! Such a huge task set but they look great. Sorry you seem to attract those wasps, but perhaps you are just too sweet for them to resist a taste!
Thanks Edward. It felt really tough at the time, but it really pays off now to have wind and sun protection 😊
-Elena 😉
That boat looks roomy and big inside. Being that you use a wide-angle lens for interior shots, does being there in person feel spacious? How old are your sails (the white part)? They look pristine new, and I'm sure expensive. Does the salt and sun really wear them out?
Hi Glenn, thanks for watching. To get a good idea of the space, watch the beginning of episode 38 (th-cam.com/video/CaMP--1uz-E/w-d-xo.html). We will release an episode with a full boat tour that shows it even better in a few weeks’ time (episode 46).
The sails are old, probably 10 years old and aren’t pristine at all 😅 hence we had to repair one. Yes, sun is their enemy, however their condition depends a lot on how many miles you put on them - they preserve OK in their covers. Our previous owner hardly did any miles on these (maybe 1000nm), so they are still good.
I saw a video how to tension before stitching by using a hot glue gun to set the tension of panels for a prefit then once its tight sow it tight
Interesting! I will look it up 😊👍
Amazingly done! Love it :) I’d like to renew a few canvasses on our boat too. Can you tell me where you bought you’re sewing machine and what the brand is? We’re in Spain too at the moment :) happy sailing !
Did you have any issue sewing through the basting tape. Tried it on my machine and it just gummed everything up.
Hi Andy. Yes I had to operate the machine manually in the tougher bits.
@@SailingKittiwake I've got to do the same as my spray hood is well past its use by date. I made a custom burgee and used the tape to create hems but it just wouldn't go through the glue. Perhaps need a heavier duty machine. Been following sailrite videos and they use it all the time.