Repair Your Own Sails

Ocean passages are hard on sails. When you travel to far away lands there may not be a sailmaker nearby, and not all sailmakers are equally skilled. It pays to learn how to repair sails yourself. Besides saving your cruising funds, it brings the added benefit of boosting your confidence and sense of self-reliance.

[mrzif]

Wow, great work! I want that book!. I living my dream life through your travels, wow, am I ever a great sailor!.

[benthrelkeld]

I watch lots of sailing channels. Yours is definitely the most informative. keep it up!

[mrc]

It seems like a very important part of repairing anything is have the reference available to show the proper way. And being able to use that information, which you do very well. Fairwinds to you !

[paulgarcia]

Man I’m trying to catch up on all your videos Kevin. Best sailing channel hands down! Nothing but weather, planning, wind, sailing and as many diy repairs as possible. The way it should be…

[jhollands]

this is a no-bull sh*t sail channel, perfect for the true sailor. May it never end

[rawcrux]

Man I love your stuff, the world needs more folks like you. Thanks for all the work you put into your channel, it is immensely beneficial to the sailing community.

[gking]

A clear, descriptive, and informative discussion of an important topic.
Or, as my kid would say, "You Rock Dude"!

[rodgrainger]

Once again awesome content.
Still the best sailing channel on YouTube.
Thank you!

[MiQBohlin]

Aye m8! Excellent video, if not one of your best (again). Yes I’ve read your Captain’s Log about route planning, and it really makes sense. Furthermore history is on your side, again, as well as your hard gained experience.

About sewing - in a scenario where (for some reason) one don’t have whipping twine, I would recommend dental floss. Strong, waxed and easy to get.

[sailingdevonscoast]

Always love anything to do with fixing things and repairing things Kevin, fair winds.

[WillNGo]

Good video. Thanks. When I was making very light weight camping gear, rainflys what I quickly figured out was grommets tear out, and using grosgrain and webbing to attach D - Rings was doing the same thing twice, adding weight, reducing options. The final straw was the D - rings I had were too small for the mini stakes I had. To pitch that tarp I had grosgrain holding on a D - ring, to which paracord would have to be tied, to which a stake would be tied. What I wound up doing is just sewing in grosgain loops. The stronger they needed to be, the heavier the ribbon nylon and the longer the gusseting legs sewn to the silnylon. I'd leave a loop. Then I'd just have to poke a stake into the loop, twist it around a couple of times and stick it in the ground.
How this might apply to a sail: Webbing, especially the light weight 1" and 2" dyneema webbing I bought from Sailrite, that I'm about to use to reattach my clew ring. This might work for your hanks, I'd also insert something, or attach to the hank, friction reducing, sacrificial and easily replaceable.

[farrellko]

It's not my scene but I take my hat off to you. You know your stuff and I learn something new every day. Keep it going.

[dougrutherford]

That is so cool. Always best to be self-sufficient.

[georgecanakis]

Your timing is impeccable i have to fix my genoa and this showed me the way. I enjoyed it very much and looking forward to future passages. Thanks a million cheers its minus 25 here in the north. 👍

[Seafariireland]

I love learning new nautical skills, thank you!

[wolfganggranig]

Thank you again Sir,
Love your Boat great Channel keep up the informative Content about „simple“ and enginless sailing.

Austrian Greetings from a FriendShip 26 in Brazil (5HP Outbord so not quite enginless:)

[seickhorn]

Excellent yet again! Your headed to my home town area. Hope it hasn’t changed too much and is still the great place I grew up in. Enjoy!

[Grepadu]

Thanks for another informative video. You've given me much food for thought that I've applied to my own vessel.

[rickgarland]

Well done! I always learn something new with every video you post

[busbys]

Great channel! Hanks for sharing your adventures!