Canvas Repair– Rips & Tears

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Fifty-fifty if you sew your own boat canvas, it's nevertheless a large investment of both fourth dimension and money. Then when grommets fail or you become a rip or a hole in your sail, you desire to be able to repair information technology to prolong the life of your cover. To help you be able to fix any rip or tear on your boat canvas, we're sharing a 3-part series on canvas repair. In this first installment, we're going to focus on patching up rips and tears.</P.

Earlier y'all dive into any canvas repair, it's e'er a expert idea to assess the state of your unabridged encompass. If the cover is sometime (over x years for Sunbrella) you may be better off replacing the whole cover instead of repairing a canvass that's on information technology'south way out. Yet, getting another season or two out of the cover might be worth information technology. It'south really a cost/benefit analysis of the time and endeavor the repair will have you lot.

If yous decide to repair, you first need to assess what acquired the damage. If the chafing caused the rip (this is common effectually windshield corners for example), yous'll want to reinforce the expanse more than than if the rip was acquired past something external hit or snagging the sheet. Then, depending on your tear, yous have some options for how to patch information technology upward.

Patching at Your Sewing Machine

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If your damage was acquired by external forces, you can patch just the exterior of your canvas using the aforementioned material the embrace is made from. If your hole was caused by chafing, yous should patch the inside of the sheet with a chafe resistant textile like Shelter-Rite®  or Sur Last® to keep the harm from happening again. Employ the same encompass material on the outside.

For the most technical, sturdy and precise patch, here's what y'all want to practise. Cutting out a rectangle effectually the rip in your canvass. Cut a slit at each corner and fold the edges of the patch nether and sew in place. Then, cut a rectangle of your new patch material (acme and bottom if necessary) larger than the hole in your one-time canvas. Hem the edges of the patch fabric and baste it in identify on pinnacle of the hole in your cover. Sew together around the perimeter of the patch to secure.

To make this even easier, you could use a hotknife to cut out the rip and the new patch textile and eliminate any need for hemming. Then y'all would just sew the patch fabric over the removed rip in the cover. If the patch is vinyl it should non be cut with a hotknife, nevertheless vinyl won't fray so it doesn't need to be hemmed anyway.

Patching in Place

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Often we hear from customers that have a rip in a bimini top or an awning and don't desire to take the textile down to have information technology to their sewing machine. If you want a quick, no-sew repair, try Tear-Assist Type A. These adhesive-backed patches will create a solid, quick patch equally long every bit they are properly installed. Be certain to make clean your fabric thoroughly and let it dry completely earlier application and use the provided alcohol prep pad.

If y'all can get access to both sides of the textile (like on an awning) you tin can also use the Speedy Stitcher® Sewing Awl to run up on a patch without taking your fabric down from its awarding.

Exist sure to check back for our next installment on repairing grommets and snaps. Find everything you need to patch upwardly your canvass as good as new at Sailrite.com.

What other questions do you have well-nigh patching rips and tears? What was your toughest repair job? Share your questions and stories in the comments!

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