Main Sail Cover

Aug 16, 2009
1,000
Hunter 1986 H31 California Yacht Marina, Chula Vista, CA
Mine is giving up the ghost. The area on top of the boom that is most exposed to the elements is beginning to shred. But there are other things I would prefer to spend my boat allowance on so I was thinking of using fabric cement or sewing a "tent" onto the top of the cover to extend its life. Anyone repair a cover?
 
Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
Mine is giving up the ghost. The area on top of the boom that is most exposed to the elements is beginning to shred. But there are other things I would prefer to spend my boat allowance on so I was thinking of using fabric cement or sewing a "tent" onto the top of the cover to extend its life. Anyone repair a cover?
absolutely....

have a "racing stripe" sewed down the back of it... usually the cover is only sun damaged along its back, and its easy and cheap to patch a new piece of sunbrella over it... I tend to go for a contrasting color so it looks like it was meant to be, rather than like it has been patched over with the same color, but brighter and newer material...
 

Gunni

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Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
Mine is giving up the ghost. The area on top of the boom that is most exposed to the elements is beginning to shred. But there are other things I would prefer to spend my boat allowance on so I was thinking of using fabric cement or sewing a "tent" onto the top of the cover to extend its life. Anyone repair a cover?
All my canvas makes 3-5 trips to the canvas shop before it gets to die. For ~$100 my time is more valuable. But if you are worried about money, consider how much that mainsail inside the cover is worth. They really don't like basking in the Cali sun ya know.
 
Dec 30, 2009
680
jeanneau 38 gin fizz sloop Summer- Keyport Yacht Club, Raritan Bay, NJ, Winter Viking Marina Verplanck, NY
Another tip is covering the headboard piece to protect it from ripping thru. I take a regular tennis ball and give it a slice thru, looks like" Pac-man" slip it over the headboard piece before you cover,works great...pics....Red
 

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Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
or just buy some sumbrella and sew it as a patch over the old material. Be sure to use acrylic thread as it is the same sun proof material as sumbrella. everything you need is a sailrite.com
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Well I guess you can piss away some money now on trying to repair something that may only last for a few months or pay $260 for a new one that will last for 8-12 years.

PS: A main sail is a terrible thing to waste :dance:
 
Aug 16, 2009
1,000
Hunter 1986 H31 California Yacht Marina, Chula Vista, CA
Normally do not take Steve on since his opinions have always been super helpful. As others have pointed out, it seems a shame to throw out the whole cover when it was very good quality when new, and most of it, including snaps, etc, are still good. Steve, why do you think covering the UV/weather destroyed area with quality fabric would only last a few months?
 
Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
Me too Steve. Sumbrella is pretty much bullet proof to sun and if you install a generous mittenfull of leather chafe panels you pretty much have to burn the boat down to have to need a new one.
 
Aug 16, 2009
1,000
Hunter 1986 H31 California Yacht Marina, Chula Vista, CA
Leather panels, Bill? Have you some pics I could look at? I would try red's tennis ball idea except for the pelican with the racquet I saw the other day.