posted 05-13-2014 03:03 PM ET (US)     

My only hesitation is that I am a rookie sewer and my wife is novice - for all you Mills owners out there - do you think the covers are do-able enough DIY with some favorable results (quality results) or are the Mills covers such high quality that I'll never even get close - even if I use the same fabric?

Also -

Mills has a winter clearance with a mooring cover for a 2001 18 dauntless - anyone own one of these? Worth it or should I stick with CC/RPS cover(s)?

Thanks in advance!

posted 05-13-2014 03:24 PM ET (US)            

I believe you will find that sewing heavy fabric such as Sunbrella requires a specialist machine. I believe the most economical and satisfying course would be with a local custom cover fabricator. Ask around the marina for recommendations.

posted 05-13-2014 03:34 PM ET (US)            

Now the caveats. My covers were intended to provide protection from the sun and I did not worry about appearance. Making a cover look good requires a level of experience I do not have (and suspect you and your wife don't have currently). Thus, you must expect your sewing will result in functional covers but should not be entered into a Concours competition! If you want pretty, looking good covers, go to a professional.

The machine is another consideration. My wife has had a number of machines through the years...not top of the line, but not bottom either. She is currently running a New Home brand. When purchasing the machine, you should ask the sellers how the machine will handle Sunbrella. According to my wife, if you have a sharp needle and sew at a moderate speed, most machines will handle two layers of Sunbrella (you usually have to double over the material on the seams and edges. Our machine also handles the edging (they do make Sunbrella edging or piping).

If you know someone who has sewing experience, that would be a real help. My stuff is not what I would call ugly, and some looks pretty darn good. But let's face it, you and I are practicing at this skill and won't be good at it until we make lots of stuff! Plus there are lots of details the professionals use which we would not think of on our own. You can learn lots by looking at professionally made covers before starting your own. Also, don't forget you need to add the snaps or fasteners that hold the covers onto the boat.

With regard to your final question (individual covers vs whole boat cover): I recommend a whole boat cover to protect your entire boat...unless you keep it on a mooring or slip and find it difficult to install or remove. The individual covers are better than nothing, and are good for the season you use the boat. However, there is no substitute for a good storage cover for most of the year if you want to keep your boat looking good.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

posted 05-15-2014 08:10 AM ET (US)            

Under the supervision of an instructor, you will learn the little tricks that shorten the learning process and improve the appearance of the final product. You also have somebody on hand to help with the really difficult tasks. The shop used for the class is likely to have heavy duty sewing machines that can handle any fabric you might care to sew.

Another benefit is great prices on fabric and foam. Our instructor, who owns his own shop and purchases supplies in bulk, adds a very reasonable mark-up. He also has insight into the best fabrics for an application. He even offered to help us purchase our own heavy duty sewing machine at a wholesale price.

After we finish the cushions, we are going to do a top and full boat cover. It is very satisfying to have a boat with significant DIY content!

posted 05-16-2014 07:20 AM ET (US)            

I enjoy sewing canvas and sails. A buddy and myself set up a loft in his basement 10 years ago and made sails and canvas covers for a couple years. Tough way to make money but I truly enjoyed learning to make sails and canvas products. I recently purchased a Marshall Marine Sanderling B-Cat from a friend I've known for years. We made a sail for him years back. It's still in good shape and I really enjoy the fact that I am looking at a beautiful sail I made while out enjoying a sail.

My Outrage 21 and the B-Cat needs canvas work. I just purchased a new machine from Sailrite and I'm looking forward to getting back into sewing. I'm doing it myself for hobby purposes not to save money.

My suggestion is to first practice on a small project to learn how to use the machine. Make a small bag and see how you do. If you screw it up no biggie. Learning the nuances of a sewing machine is usually the most challenging part of the task. On more than one occasion our industrial machine almost became a boat mooring anchor- they can get a bit cranky at times!

You probably won't save money making your own covers if you consider your time worth money. And quality vs a Mill's product may not be equal if you are making the cover for your first project. As time goes on and you do more projects you can make a high quality cover that is as good as a professional product. It will be a rewarding experience when you complete the project and you may find you simply enjoy the process.

Rich