Preview: How to Attach Sail Hardware, Part 1 – Hand-Sewing Rings

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In this series Alison Wood, of Port Townsend Sails in Washington, wants to show us how to attach the sliders and hanks to our sails, the very hardware which attaches our sails to our boats. In this video Alison begins by showing us the best technique for how to hand sew a brass ring into a sail.

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18 Responses So Far to “How to Attach Sail Hardware, Part 1 – Hand-Sewing Rings

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    David Green says:

    How fascinating. Wouldn’t it be cool to be able to take a night school course, or a few weekend workshops to learn some basics from a professional like this woman!

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    Andrew Yen says:

    Thanks Alison, you make it seem simple, and it is if you know how.

    I never worked out where you could obtain liners from when I put a HSR in the clew of my Chebacco sail. I ended up sewing a second layer of stitches over the top of the first then leather over that. Who supplies liners, or are they specially made from brass tube?

    Andrew

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    William Fanning says:

    It’s so great to see the shop where my sails were made. Thanks Alison! After your lesson I’d certainly be willing more willing and able to perform my future sail repairs.

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    Eric Winter says:

    Thank you for this well-done and workmanlike presentation.

    Questions:

    Why do you pre-punch the first three holes with the awl — the ones used to develop the friction — and not punch the holes for the actual stitching?

    Why use a brass ring, rather than bronze or stainless? Won’t the brass (more readily) fail in the salt air?

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    William Doehring says:

    Thank’s for sharing your knowledge Alison…thanks OCH for producing the video!!

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    Kent Lewis says:

    Nice work, very helpful. Now we need a video on that cool bench!

    Cheers
    Kent

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    John Florance says:

    One of my favorite parts of making my Welsford Navigator was making the sails. I got kits from Sail-right, put the panels together and attached all the hardware similar to above, including hand sewn leathers chafing pieces on each sail. Lots of fun. Loved the video. Thanks!

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    Elizabeth Aristeguieta says:

    Excellent instruction video! Thank you.

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    Conbert Benneck says:

    PBS has a program called CREATE TV. They recently have had a series on American craftsmen and women in all sorts of activities; wood, metal, fabric, pottery, painting; jewelry.
    Last week they had a long film on Pert Lowell and his boat building activities: Years ago, their highest yearly production of dories was 2,000 boats! They were showing how dories were made, and then how a whaleboat was made for the Charles Morgan at Mystic Seaport, with the launching of the boat and it being rowed by the crew. It was a great show which I enjoyed and I’m sure that you all will enjoy it too if you car find it and view it.

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    robert steele says:

    where do those heavy duty palms used for sewing come from? nice job Alison I have asked this before but never received an answer

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    robert steele says:

    where do those heavy duty palms used for sewing come from? nice job Alison

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    St.John Starkie says:

    Excellent video. This is a promising series.

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      Wow. Best online lesson for sewing hardware on sails I’ve ever seen. As a big, long-time fan (from sailing oceans to sailing PT Bay on Pax with these sails) of Hasse’s Port Townsend Sails, I was impressed to see the brilliant clarity Alison brought to the process. She obviously knows her stuff, but knowing how to teach it is another story. She nailed it! And, how about those cool leather finger pads?! Thanks, OCH! Great new series.

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