Okay guys, I have to go on a little more about how cool my girlfriend is. She’s like Da Vinci with a Sailrite sewing machine.
Carla is turning into a total pro when it comes to canvas work. She doesn’t like handling large projects like dodgers & sails, but when it comes to cushions, winch covers, and sail covers she LOVES the work. She is going to train me on the machine and I’ll handle the sail repairs and larger, hard to handle projects. I’m also planning to build a new set of tanbark sails for Splendid when we can afford it. 
Sailrite has a really cool option to ordering sails. You can order new sails from Sailrite, or you can order much more affordable “sail kits” and do the stich work yourself if you have a machine.
The Sailrite machine opens up so much for us. We can easily find work in any port of the world and I’m not stuck in an oily engine room dealing with someone else’s headache.
Sewing is clean fun work. And when you’re 
finished the rewards are tangible. Carla’s only charging $20 an hour as she is still learning and doesn’t want to ask for more than she/we need. We also just turned down a few jobs as there is far more work around than we want.
I’d like to say a few things about Sailrite. First of all “what an awesome company to deal with”! Every time we call them to place 
an order, or have a technical question about the machine we only get the best of service, great attitudes, and best prices. The cost of buying the machine has paid for itself with our first job. They also have great “how-to” DVD’s and training workshops. If you’re planning on doing any cruising at all you should really get yourself a Sailrite machine and learn how to use it. We have the Ultrafeed LSZ-1 (the one that does zigzag and straight stich).
Even if you don’t plan on making money with a sewing machine as you travel, you should have the ability to repair your own sails. Sails are to a sailboat what an engine is to a car. If you are planning to do any traveling you’ll need to 
have the ability to repair, and if you’re really cool, build your own sails.
We decided to go with burgundy cushions in Splendid’s cockpit. Carla knocked out this cushion in two hours.
Carla also wants to recommend two books on canvas work if anyone is interested. Jim Grant’s “The Complete Canvasworker’s Guide”, and Don Casey’s “Canvaswork & Sail Repair”
I know it may sound corny, but on Splendid, our Sailrite machine equals freedom. With the ability to make money as we travel, our world just got a little bigger (and more beautiful).
Peace, love, and Sailrite
– Alex
Ya hoooo! Mountain Dew.
Nice to see all is going well for you and Carla.
Just returned from a cruise and got caught up on the posts. Glad to see that your not going the political correct way with the flag just because of others ignorance of the facts. What a sad world it is for those who would be spend time constantly having to consider every move you make due to someone elses conclusions based on misinformation and how they FEEL. Cudos to you! I’m sure the same people would try to convince the Kunas to change THEIR flag. Silly to say the very least! Keep living the dream.
Glad to hear you guys are doing so well! Her work looks great! What a pro! We have nothing but Sailrite machines in our shop. Sailrite really backs up their product and their website is FULL of tips and tricks, videos, and info. The Sailrite 111 is a BEAST for handling large/thick jobs. We do our sail repair on a Sailrite Professional with the 20″ arm. I don’t like it much. Our portable unit in the van is the LSZ and it’s awesome! The only thing I’d like to change on that machine is it needs more space under the presser foot. Does she have the binder attachment? It saves a ton of time.
Keep up the good work!
And check out our website to see some of our work. We are the only true sail repair shop in our area and are about to get into sail cleaning. Looking forward to a busy season!
Alex,
Thanks for your inquiry about the status of my project boat. Actually, it’s coming along quite well. The main issue is the rotted deck coring that I’m having to replace. Since the RK20 is a flush deck boat, the 1/4″ plywood core runs throughout the whole topside of the decking. Because of this, I could not just cut out squares from the exterior deck and replace the inner core using traditional methods. I’ve had to go inside the cabin and cut out the inner headliner and completely remove the coring from inside. Thankfully, that part of the job is more or less done.
The next step is for me to figure out what the replacement will be. I’m actually hoping that 3 alternating layers (6 ply altogether) of CSM and 24 oz. Rowing with Vinyl Ester resin will give me enough stiffness not to have to put in any wood coring. The way the boat is designed, I’m sure that the new core will rot away quite quickly – there’s just too many through hulls and my skills at sealing the wood aren’t good enough. If the stiffness isn’t sufficient, I will have to think of something…
Anyway, I’m happy as can be. I’ve already told my family that as soon as I’m done with the boat, I’m taking off for a while. The announcement was met with a surprising level of stoicism… I guess over the years they’ve gotten used to my insane projects.
So yeah, any advice would be greatly appreciated.
– Andy
Jeff,
On a few occasions Ive seen “cruisers” trying to explain to the Kuna why their flag is bad, rely upsetting!
Ricky,
The only bad thing about the Sailrite is Carla spends so much time with it I’m getting jealous, she is supposed to devote 100% of her attention to me right :)
Yodamouse.
I’d have to see the project but I would skin the top (deck) layer of glass off so I could get at the core, replace it, and glass the skins back in place. Sounds like a big job, and it is, but if your properly motivated it’s not so bad and you’ll have nice dry decks. All of your threw deck fittings should be over drilled, filled with epoxy, and re-drilled so you can’t get any water intrusion from around the bolts. You could entertian coreing with foam to keep it light?
Peace.
Jim Brown’s Searunner 31 has the most innovative and interesting Bimini / Awning / Dodger arrangement I’ve ever seen. It would be well worth your time to watch the videos regarding his boat. Many of them explain and demonstrate how everything works together. It might give you many ideas to offer your customers that they have never heard or thought of before.
The first video can be seen here:
youtu.be/3mSVopySXlA
Holy smokes your yacht/ home is looking beautiful. Just took another look at your pics. You should be very proud her. That means boat and your wonderful Lady!
Jeff,
Where Carla is at the table working, it’s on a 72′, 4 million dollar Italian monohull. The shot of the cushions and winch cover are on Splendid :)
Peace
I has tanbark sails on my old white over dark green Potter 19. Great color combo.
Hi Alex! Glad you on on top of the world around there.
I am proud to say I have finally made my long deserved donation to your cause :D
unfortunately the download link on my reciept email wont lead me anywhere. can you help?
Mark
Mark,
When you click on the link you have to give it time, it’s a large file to download:)
Peace
Well we have some new friends. Peter and Kathy have been fantastic guests!!!
I’ll get a blog and some pictures up soon.
Peace
Is my browser stuck again?.. hahaha …just returned from showing my friends the canal…now in PC….