Tag Archives: Shelter Rite

Stack Pack Repairs

This past weekend I caught the zipper pulley line for our Mack Pack sail cover on the end of the batten while the Captain was raising the mainsail.  Why is it so hard to keep a 44' boat head to wind?  If I slowly ease the boat into the wind I hear "hurry up it's not fun standing here at the mast waiting.".  If I go fast to the wind I overcompensate and have to back off.  Probably half the time we catch a lazy jack or reefing line on the edge of the batten off the mainsail leech.  I really do try to watch the leech (and the depth and the crab pots and the other boaters) while keeping the bow directly into the wind.  But this time we caught the pulley line for Mack Pack zipper and pulled the zipper slider and one of the pulleys off the pack.  Read more [...]

Cover It Up – Sailrite Cover

To err is human... This post is one of the ongoing series of cover projects.  We moved my Sailrite aboard Magnolia into prime real estate on the "workbench" in the passageway leading aft.  The Captain again suggested  a cover.  Ok, no problem.  A cover with an opening for the handle. Away I went with extra Sunbrella I had on hand.  I measured the lid (note that I said lid) at least three times using the rule of measure three times, cut once.  This is where I confess to my mistake.  Also note that I made this cover several week ago and I can only now write about it.  I was so mad at myself for the mistake I am about to admit to that I snapped at the Captain.  I really try not to do that. So back to the story.  I made the Read more [...]

Repair or Remake?

There are so many "creative opportunities" for canvas on the boat.  The question -- can you repair an item to extend the life or is it time to remake and start over?  That question came up recently over aging hatch covers.  Hatch covers are a relatively easy sewing project (see my post on hatch covers).  I've seen many different styles, some with fancy top-stitching or cut outs for hinges for example.  But really you can make fairly simple hatch covers that will serve the purpose of protecting your hatch lenses.   We seem to lose one or two a season during a big storm.  I've started cutting out an extra one when I'm remaking one so I have a jump on the next one. Right now I'm two hatch covers short.  Those jumped to the top of the Read more [...]