9 Tender Cover Project

A conversation among Whalers
TreyWeitzel
Posts: 11
Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2022 10:10 am

9 Tender Cover Project

Postby TreyWeitzel » Fri Jan 21, 2022 11:04 am

Readers may enjoy seeing my first boat cover project for my 9 Tender.

I used [Pacific Blue] Sunbrella cloth. I assembled the cover with my Sailrite LSZ-1 sewing machine.

My success on this project may inspire others to take on similar work

I still need to figure out how I want to hem around the motor well area (and if I want to integrate a motor cover), and to install the permanent snaps.

IMG_7278.jpg
Fig. 1. Cutting the first of three panels, laying across the beam of the boat.
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Fig. 2. Using seamstick to attach two panels, prior to sewing.
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Fig. 3. The first stitch.
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1997 Boston Whaler Dauntless 13'
1990 Boston Whaler 9' Tender
1982 Boston Whaler Harpoon 4.6

TreyWeitzel
Posts: 11
Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2022 10:10 am

Re: 9 Tender Cover Project

Postby TreyWeitzel » Fri Jan 21, 2022 11:06 am

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Fig. 4. Semi felled seam.
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Reinforced snaps for support poles:
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Fig. 5. Reinforced snaps for support poles.
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First dry-fit and marking of the rubrail for trimming:
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Fig. 6: First dry-fit and marking of the rub rail for trimming
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1997 Boston Whaler Dauntless 13'
1990 Boston Whaler 9' Tender
1982 Boston Whaler Harpoon 4.6

TreyWeitzel
Posts: 11
Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2022 10:10 am

Re: 9 Tender Cover Project

Postby TreyWeitzel » Fri Jan 21, 2022 11:08 am

IMG_7311.jpg
Fig. 7. Another view of dry-fit.
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FIg. 8. Cutting strips to make a perimeter skirt.
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Fig. 9. Dry-fit with perimeter skirt installed.
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1997 Boston Whaler Dauntless 13'
1990 Boston Whaler 9' Tender
1982 Boston Whaler Harpoon 4.6

TreyWeitzel
Posts: 11
Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2022 10:10 am

Re: 9 Tender Cover Project

Postby TreyWeitzel » Fri Jan 21, 2022 11:11 am

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Fig 10. Detail view of stitching.
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Fig. 11. Installed with temporary snaps (snaps were already on the hull from prior owner but no cover).
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Fig. 12. Another view.
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The weather has been too cold to finalize the project, I'll post more when it is complete.
1997 Boston Whaler Dauntless 13'
1990 Boston Whaler 9' Tender
1982 Boston Whaler Harpoon 4.6

dtmackey
Posts: 760
Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2017 9:29 pm

Re: 9 Tender Cover Project

Postby dtmackey » Fri Jan 21, 2022 1:01 pm

Your canvas work looks great. Thanks for sharing.

Is that a walking foot sewing machine? I had one and regret selling it several years ago, was running out of room for everything. It was my Dad's and he did upholstery and canvas when he was in college.

TreyWeitzel
Posts: 11
Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2022 10:10 am

Re: 9 Tender Cover Project

Postby TreyWeitzel » Fri Jan 21, 2022 1:14 pm

Hi D, Thanks for your comments! The Sailrite LSZ-1 is a walking foot machine and has been a tremendous companion. I've had the machine for about 14 years, purchased in college when I too was doing canvas work although I just did repairs (restitching, replacing zippers, replacing glass, etc.) not any scratch fabrication, so this is a new adventure for me.
1997 Boston Whaler Dauntless 13'
1990 Boston Whaler 9' Tender
1982 Boston Whaler Harpoon 4.6

jimh
Posts: 11673
Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2015 12:25 pm
Location: Michigan, Lower Peninsula
Contact:

Re: 9 Tender Cover Project

Postby jimh » Tue Jan 25, 2022 10:21 am

I have enjoyed seeing this canvas boat cover work. Clearly this was not your first attempt at sewing boat canvas.

Just for my own curiousity:

Q1: where did you buy the Sunbrella fabric?

Q2: what was the cost per yard?

Q3: how much fabric was used in the cover?

ASIDE: that there are two guys who have some skill with a sewing machine in this thread is most interesting. When I was young, our household had a SINGER sewing machine, but I remember my Dad did most of the sewing. He was much better at using the machine than my Mom. In the 1950's I think household sewing was a common skill, but not so much today.

TreyWeitzel
Posts: 11
Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2022 10:10 am

Re: 9 Tender Cover Project

Postby TreyWeitzel » Wed Jan 26, 2022 11:39 am

Hi Jim, thank you for your comments. It was far from my first canvas sewing project with the LSZ-1 but my first complete scratch fabrication project.

I purchased the Sunbrella through Sailrite, I also often buy locally in Maryland from JoAnn Fabric or a few smaller retailers.

Cost per yard was $32.95

I used 5 yards with almost no scrap.

I grew up watching my grandmother sew on her old singer machine, mainly clothes, draperies, pillows and a few boat cushions. When I introduced her to the Sailrite LSZ-1 machine, she was truly impressed with its abilities when it came to handling the marine weight fabrics. It'll roll right through 12 layers of sunbrella like butter.
1997 Boston Whaler Dauntless 13'
1990 Boston Whaler 9' Tender
1982 Boston Whaler Harpoon 4.6