I need to renew some of the covers on my boat, in particular the bimini. I'm going to do it myself - I have a good industrial sewing machine.

I'm looking for some suggestions for fabric suppliers. I'm after something like Sunbrella, ie a colour-fast, breathable synthetic canvas with good UV protection. There seem to be lots of US sites providing this on Ebay, but delivery charges are pretty high. Does anyone have experience with local suppliers who can provide this type of fabric at a good price?

I went through this recently, looked for a local fabric supplier without any luck or help from the various places I saw online.
Ended up going to see the local sailmaker & bought the last few metres on a roll of Sunbrella, & some UV thread, was able to get lots of expert advice on the project I was doing too.

Missus made all our covers from Sunbrella bought from Bainbridge International in Sydney.
They have cotton, zips just about everything you'll need.
Missus says the quality is excellent. Cost us $49.47 mtr +gst.

I know you're in Qld but I'm sure they'll post.

Address : Bainbridge International PO Box 430 Dee Why. NSW 2099.

Tel. 02 99381788.

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Ramona said..
Plenty on eBay as usual. Even paying silly freight from the USA it's still good value. I buy thread from the USA ebay too as there is a far greater choice and far cheaper than here.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/ROYAL-BLUE-BIMINI-TOP-BOAT-COVER-UV-OUTDOOR-COATED-MARINE-CANVAS-FABRIC-DWR-60-W-/302081327784?hash=item46557342a8:g:Kz0AAOSwu4BV3d60

$US8.45 per m sounds good compared to about $US20-25 for Sunbrella. But freight for 10m is $US423. Total $AU670!!! I think I could buy the Sunbrella locally for less.

I run a little sewing business in UK and the cheapest option is Kayospruce for me. They're local.
Having an account helps as I get trade prices on fabrics.
How much do you need? Curious to know if it's cheaper to buy from here with the low value of the pound

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TheMisfit said..
I run a little sewing business in UK and the cheapest option is Kayospruce for me. They're local.
Having an account helps as I get trade prices on fabrics.
How much do you need? Curious to know if it's cheaper to buy from here with the low value of the pound

How much are Missfits worth now the pound dropped need some canvas work done myself.
But really Id like to buy a second hand sewing machine to do my canvas work .Make up some covers for all my teak trim

I use a sail rite sewing machine.
It's a Thomson but rebadged (I think)
It's portable and can sew through heavy duty stuff, layers of canvas and leather.
I bought mine new from a company called Solent sew.

The Clipper round world boats use sailrite onboard, since I rocked up one day a few years ago, and sat my machine on deck while they were in London and did a load of last minute work for them. They ordered a whole load of them after that.

When buying a machine, just make sure it's got a walking foot. And make sure spares are easy to find.
Any machine will do really.

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TheMisfit said..
I use a sail rite sewing machine.
It's a Thomson but rebadged (I think)
It's portable and can sew through heavy duty stuff, layers of canvas and leather.
I bought mine new from a company called Solent sew.

The Clipper round world boats use sailrite onboard, since I rocked up one day a few years ago, and sat my machine on deck while they were in London and did a load of last minute work for them. They ordered a whole load of them after that.

When buying a machine, just make sure it's got a walking foot. And make sure spares are easy to find.
Any machine will do really.

Is that one zigzag capable Misfit ?

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SandS said..

TheMisfit said..
I use a sail rite sewing machine.
It's a Thomson but rebadged (I think)
It's portable and can sew through heavy duty stuff, layers of canvas and leather.
I bought mine new from a company called Solent sew.

The Clipper round world boats use sailrite onboard, since I rocked up one day a few years ago, and sat my machine on deck while they were in London and did a load of last minute work for them. They ordered a whole load of them after that.

When buying a machine, just make sure it's got a walking foot. And make sure spares are easy to find.
Any machine will do really.

Is that one zigzag capable Misfit ?

They have both options the zig & zag is slightly more expensive Sands

www.canvas-boat-cover-and-repair-advisor.com/used-walking-foot-sewing-machine.html





Bainbridge International at 273 Harbord Rd Brookvale NSW




www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Sailing/General/Strong-Arm-Sewing-Machines/

See pic. It's a zigzag model, but there's machines out there that are cheaper and are essentially the same thing. I bought this one around 6 years ago. I used it to fit out the Clipper fleet, there's pics of the stuff I've made on this machine, on my dining table in my yacht saloon on my Facebook gallery, which is linked to via my blog.
It's been so useful.
Last night I quickly adjusted a mattress protector from IKEA for my forward cabin. The day before I made a load of covers for a friend on another forum who has a classic boat.
Next week, I'll be starting on a full reupholstery for someone that I'm in the same yacht club as.

When I was sailing for my holidays the sewing machine was strapped under the table for safe stowage.

I've repaired my own sails too, when the leach ripped etc.

Can't recommend having a machine on board enough
:-)

Like all cloth, you get what you pay for.

My Sailtite machine is a great little machine and has save me a fortune in all sorts of repairs. I have just finished putting a new zip in my caravan cover. They are a tough little machine as well. Myne just fell off the bench to the floor and didn't hurt a thing, but that could be more good luck than anything.

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TheMisfit said..
I run a little sewing business in UK and the cheapest option is Kayospruce for me. They're local.
Having an account helps as I get trade prices on fabrics.
How much do you need? Curious to know if it's cheaper to buy from here with the low value of the pound

I probably need 5 or 10 metres - haven't measured it up yet. I'm favouring Sunbrella because there's no doubt about the quality, however the local markup is exhorbitant (eg, Sam says cost from the Aus distributor is $AU55 per m inc GST; can buy the same product in US at around $US20 = $AU28.). It's the freight charge on small quantities that is the killer. Maybe freight from the UK is cheaper?

I'd consider non-Sunbrella, but only a named brand where I can do some searching to satisfy myself about the quality. The UV performance (re colour fading and physical properties) is critical in Qld. There's a lot of work involved in patterning and putting together these items, and I want the final product to last a few years. Re this, Ramona, do you have any experience with the Marine One sold by TextileSpecialist on Ebay?

Just to qualify the purchase we made. The Sunbrella material we bought was not the normal width.
we bought top quality 2 metre wide material because we could make our covers without having to make a join.
The machine we used to sew it was 50 year old Necchi, which is an extra strong domestic machine.
The 2 metre width may not be available everywhere but it really suited us so we scourced it from Bainbridge.

We are having a new boom tent made in Weathermax (professionally), while we made a new wheel cover on an ancient home sewing machine. Weathermax comes in different weights and is available in Australia from Contender in Mona Vale.

As for the fabric branding, I wouldn't worry too much.

I mostly use Sauleda because Sunbrella is a little expensive. it's still teflon coated, or water beads off it. It also comes in coated and uncoated. which means it is single sided use or double sided use. (use uncoated as much as possible because it looks nicer on the inside)
The problem with any canvas job is not the material so much, but the thread.

You will need to restitch within about 3 years. The fabric can last much longer than the threads. So you're looking at about 6-8 years of use from canvas (more if its removed during bad weather), but with the need for careful restitching periodically.

If I recall correctly, Sauleda costs me around £9 per metre.
Sunbrella is usually £14 - £20 per metre
plastic window material is about £4 - 5 per metre.

I recommend you also get some special sticky tape (venture tape) what will help held material in place, as well as using a domestic stapler to pin canvas together before you sew it.