Making Leather Catalina 22 Spreader boots
My rubber spreader boots had definitely seen better days.
I had wrapped tape around them until I got around to getting, or making, new ones.
What to use now ?
In addition to the traditional leather, and the typical rubber ones available, I discovered that there are some newer designs, made of woven cloth, that allow moisture to drain & evaporate.
https://shop.sailboatowners.com/prod.php?5338
Taylor also makes some like that, but none of the local suppliers list them or have them in stock.
I figure I'll make or buy some of these, but I wanted a quicker solution.
I have some Moose hide, and some thread I used when working on my boat cover, so I decided that I'd try make some leather ones.
Using "Inkscape" (an open source vector based graphics program), I created a template, based on an image I found online.
I then used some old blue jean material to make a test version, to see if the dimensions were right.
It was then a simple task to trace and cut two copies from the Moose hide, mark and punch the stitching holes with a awl, and stitch them onto the spreaders with a "herring bone" stitch.
Stitching was a bit of a hassle initially, but it was easy once I did one side.
I used a large curved needle, and the same UV protected thread I used on my DIY boat cover.
$60 for leather spreader boots ? How about ones in true Canadian materials for Free ? LOL
FWIW: Thrift stores are a good source of pieces of leather. A single cowhide jacket would supply enough leather for multiple little projects.
A PDF version of the template is below.
Printing instructions on the template
Thread holes on template are a location guide, and don't need to be as big as shown. As long as your needle and thread fit through the hole it is fine.
C22 Leather Spreader Boot Template.pdf
My rubber spreader boots had definitely seen better days.
I had wrapped tape around them until I got around to getting, or making, new ones.
What to use now ?
In addition to the traditional leather, and the typical rubber ones available, I discovered that there are some newer designs, made of woven cloth, that allow moisture to drain & evaporate.
https://shop.sailboatowners.com/prod.php?5338
Taylor also makes some like that, but none of the local suppliers list them or have them in stock.
I figure I'll make or buy some of these, but I wanted a quicker solution.
I have some Moose hide, and some thread I used when working on my boat cover, so I decided that I'd try make some leather ones.
Using "Inkscape" (an open source vector based graphics program), I created a template, based on an image I found online.
I then used some old blue jean material to make a test version, to see if the dimensions were right.
It was then a simple task to trace and cut two copies from the Moose hide, mark and punch the stitching holes with a awl, and stitch them onto the spreaders with a "herring bone" stitch.
Stitching was a bit of a hassle initially, but it was easy once I did one side.
I used a large curved needle, and the same UV protected thread I used on my DIY boat cover.
$60 for leather spreader boots ? How about ones in true Canadian materials for Free ? LOL
FWIW: Thrift stores are a good source of pieces of leather. A single cowhide jacket would supply enough leather for multiple little projects.
A PDF version of the template is below.
Printing instructions on the template
Thread holes on template are a location guide, and don't need to be as big as shown. As long as your needle and thread fit through the hole it is fine.
C22 Leather Spreader Boot Template.pdf
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