What an absolute gent and an exceptional communicator and teacher. His ability to explain core concepts related to sewing has answered questions I've had for years.
Mr. Meddes is a true diamond in the rough! He's smart, articulate, fun, and knows his stuff! You were so fortunate to meet him. Thanks so much for sharing this with us.
Really good, useful, informative, yet entertaining ! My Singer HD completely fell apart when I tried to sew thru 6 layers of Sunbrella. Bobbin holder broke, an unknown spring fell out, belts slipped, and the nearest repair is a 4.5 hr drive each way. Your video here provides enormously useful info! 👍👍
A good overview of the Sailrite. With proper adjustment of tension, foot pressure and practice a Sailright can be used for many lighter fabrics avoiding the need for a second machine. I modified our machine to run with a 12 VDC motor, so we did not wast energy running the inverter.
We used a non walking foot machine for years, then finally bought the sailrite....my goodness, what a difference. It's a lot of weight in our spare cabin in the sailboat, but we don't leave the dock without it. Nice video Drake.
I bought a sailrite over a year ago for my boat and have made everything from winch covers to all my salon cushions I also made my dinghy chaps and save hundreds of dollars doing this myself and know it got done correctly. Get one you won't regret it!!!
I have a lsz 1 and it's my most fun machine. There were some problems at first, but their best service solved everything for me. The best service in the world.
There are very similar machines, based on a machine that predated the Sailrite. One is the REX, which looks the same, is half the cost and uses all the same attachments. Whereas the REX can be used for all the Sailrite will do (after adjustments and a couple of part upgrades) it won't ever work as well as the Sailrite. I bought a REX for upholstery and window treatments. I saved a lot of money and learned how the machine works with an electronic servo controller and external motor. I'm pleased with it, but will upgrade to a Sailrite machine in the future. Not sure if it will be an Ultrafeed or a Fabricator, but the servo will work with any machine. The Sailrite machines are really worth the extra money. Get a Sailrite and save yourself the headaches and breaks of the "clones".
Great demonstration and great discussion. He's got a nice collection of machines. I noticed the little Singer Featherweight right away. In addition to the Sailrite, I have two Featherweights. I just got an old Wilson treadle (foot powered) machine the other day that I'll clean up and see about using as well. It's kinda cool how well older machines work. My Featherweights are 68 and 72 yrs old and the treadle I just got I can only guess at being over 100 yrs old. I feel with good care, a Sailrite will last many years. Take care, Drake and Mo.
Thanks Daniel, I didn't know you had those machines. The Featherweights are amazing. I think might really like Davie's Facebook page "Sew Far North", and I think you'll love our next episode where Davie shows us a bunch of really cool machines, including the Featherweight. - Drake Sew Far North: facebook.com/groups/1346509865787938
@@drakeParagon looking forward to the next video. The Featherweights I got this past year. Did a baby sized quilt top by hand and thought to try doing it by machine next. Might try making a shirt or other clothing too. Not sure yet. Take care.
@@drakeParagon checked out the Facebook link. He's got some beautiful machines. Nice paint jobs on some of them too. Thanks for sharing. That'll keep me busy browsing some good looking machines. lol.
when you mentioned how slow it can go, you reminded me, there is a potentiometer inside most singer foot pedals that you can dial to adjust the sensitivity of the pedal
I did try adjusting that, but it didn't really help. It seems to me that when sewing through much thicker materials like sails, you have to press the pedal down further to get it have the force needed to go through the material. But when you do that you increase the speed as well.. Great for clothes and lighter stuff... Not the best for heavy sails.
I had been saving up for one of these several years ago, and at the last minute went a bit above it and got a new Consew walking foot machine, 206Rb-5. Great machine with also needle feed which is nice. Bulletproof machine, never needs adjustment, does not care what you sew with it. Still, it would be fun to have a Sailrite cause of the zig zag and smaller size than a true industrial sometimes. Maybe in my next life!
Hi Drake. We have a Barracuda. It is a knockoff and works ok but does not have the servo motor. They are more expensive but allow better slow speed control. It will sew 11 or 12 layers of Sunbrella, no problem.
Epic episode. Davie is a legend, he has helped me no end refurbishing a Husqvarna machine as well as a Singer 20u. A mine of information and a thoroughly nice bloke. You should see his boat, a beauty. Cheers Drake, loved watching that. Andy UK
Great job Drake. I picked up Sailrite LSZ with Worker Bee and the works recently, after using my Singer HD for awhile. I still like the Singer for quick light jobs, but the Sailrite is great for the heavier Condura projects I do more often. The Worker option is very nice and runs super slow...and has a light.
Patreon: Check out our Patreon page for our latest news, sneak peeks of current footage, outtakes and behind the scenes footage, and commercial free videos! www.patreon.com/DrakeParagon
More to come! Over this summer we are doing a lot of long distance passages, and when coastal we're moving the boat a lot, so we just don't have time for a lot of video production. But in October/November we'll settle down in a winter harbor, probably in Shetland, and then I'll start up the full time editing work. Hopefully then we'll get back to at least a video a week or more to tell the story of our voyages throughout Scotland and Ireland. :) Thanks for waiting for the next season. I can't wait to tell those stories! All the best, Drake
nice the zig zag Sailryte but 1.2k USD for me was too much. I solved the issue buying a beautiful Singer 15 from 1936 for 60 USD! no walking foot only straight stitches but way better and reliable han the modern junk Singer heavy duty...
Hi Ken, thank you. Over this summer we are doing a lot of long distance passages, and when coastal we're moving the boat a lot, so we just don't have time for a lot of video production. But in October/November we'll settle down in a winter harbor, probably in Shetland, and then I'll start up the full time editing work. Hopefully then we'll get back to at least a video a week or more to tell the story of our voyages throughout Scotland and Ireland. :) Thanks for waiting for the next season. I can't wait to tell those stories! All the best, Drake
Your sail repair really didn't go as well as you'd have liked for one reason..maybe there were more reasons..but...is because you didn't use the walking foot for sure.
I did get the only walking foot attachment available for the Singer Heavy Duty machine, but I don't think it was designed for material as heavy as what we were sewing. It didn't really help on that machine. However the walking foot on the Sailrite is a whole different thing..
@@allynonderdonk7577 Hmm... Is your machine a Singer Heavy duty and is this the walking foot you used? singeroutlet.co.uk/products/even-feed-walking-foot-original-singer-retail-pack?variant=33446110822453
The sailrite is a good little machine but over priced, I've got a much better industrial machine that cost less, but it doesn't do zig zag. Walking foot machines are not for delicate fabrics.
There are so many wonderful sewing machines out there that would happily go through many layers of sail material, but I think for sail repair you really need the zig zag.
I hate how the world got flooded with grey interiors and matching, grey items! Have the sewing machine manufacturers followed this awful trend or is it just a coincidence?
What an absolute gent and an exceptional communicator and teacher. His ability to explain core concepts related to sewing has answered questions I've had for years.
Ditto
Mr. Meddes is a true diamond in the rough! He's smart, articulate, fun, and knows his stuff! You were so fortunate to meet him. Thanks so much for sharing this with us.
Ditto
Really good, useful, informative, yet entertaining ! My Singer HD completely fell apart when I tried to sew thru 6 layers of Sunbrella. Bobbin holder broke, an unknown spring fell out, belts slipped, and the nearest repair is a 4.5 hr drive each way. Your video here provides enormously useful info! 👍👍
Glad it helped!
A good overview of the Sailrite. With proper adjustment of tension, foot pressure and practice a Sailright can be used for many lighter fabrics avoiding the need for a second machine. I modified our machine to run with a 12 VDC motor, so we did not wast energy running the inverter.
We used a non walking foot machine for years, then finally bought the sailrite....my goodness, what a difference. It's a lot of weight in our spare cabin in the sailboat, but we don't leave the dock without it. Nice video Drake.
I bought a sailrite over a year ago for my boat and have made everything from winch covers to all my salon cushions I also made my dinghy chaps and save hundreds of dollars doing this myself and know it got done correctly. Get one you won't regret it!!!
What a great day we had making that video. Lovely to see.
Heh, dont sail, dont sew (except a button or two). Enjoyed this thoroughly.
Best video about these machines out there. And a great sweater too.
I have a lsz 1 and it's my most fun machine. There were some problems at first, but their best service solved everything for me. The best service in the world.
There are very similar machines, based on a machine that predated the Sailrite. One is the REX, which looks the same, is half the cost and uses all the same attachments. Whereas the REX can be used for all the Sailrite will do (after adjustments and a couple of part upgrades) it won't ever work as well as the Sailrite.
I bought a REX for upholstery and window treatments. I saved a lot of money and learned how the machine works with an electronic servo controller and external motor. I'm pleased with it, but will upgrade to a Sailrite machine in the future. Not sure if it will be an Ultrafeed or a Fabricator, but the servo will work with any machine.
The Sailrite machines are really worth the extra money. Get a Sailrite and save yourself the headaches and breaks of the "clones".
Great demonstration and great discussion. He's got a nice collection of machines. I noticed the little Singer Featherweight right away. In addition to the Sailrite, I have two Featherweights. I just got an old Wilson treadle (foot powered) machine the other day that I'll clean up and see about using as well. It's kinda cool how well older machines work. My Featherweights are 68 and 72 yrs old and the treadle I just got I can only guess at being over 100 yrs old. I feel with good care, a Sailrite will last many years.
Take care, Drake and Mo.
Thanks Daniel, I didn't know you had those machines. The Featherweights are amazing. I think might really like Davie's Facebook page "Sew Far North", and I think you'll love our next episode where Davie shows us a bunch of really cool machines, including the Featherweight. - Drake
Sew Far North: facebook.com/groups/1346509865787938
@@drakeParagon looking forward to the next video. The Featherweights I got this past year. Did a baby sized quilt top by hand and thought to try doing it by machine next. Might try making a shirt or other clothing too. Not sure yet. Take care.
@@drakeParagon checked out the Facebook link. He's got some beautiful machines. Nice paint jobs on some of them too. Thanks for sharing. That'll keep me busy browsing some good looking machines. lol.
when you mentioned how slow it can go, you reminded me, there is a potentiometer inside most singer foot pedals that you can dial to adjust the sensitivity of the pedal
I did try adjusting that, but it didn't really help. It seems to me that when sewing through much thicker materials like sails, you have to press the pedal down further to get it have the force needed to go through the material. But when you do that you increase the speed as well.. Great for clothes and lighter stuff... Not the best for heavy sails.
@@drakeParagonahh, that kinda makes sense. guess thats just the limitation of the machine at that point.
I had been saving up for one of these several years ago, and at the last minute went a bit above it and got a new Consew walking foot machine, 206Rb-5. Great machine with also needle feed which is nice. Bulletproof machine, never needs adjustment, does not care what you sew with it. Still, it would be fun to have a Sailrite cause of the zig zag and smaller size than a true industrial sometimes. Maybe in my next life!
Good stuff..
I think you can sew delicate fanrics on other if you loosen the presser foot and you use a smaller needle and thread.
Great presentation on the Sailrite machine and useful tips for sewing with it. I have a Sailrite and learned a lot.
Hi Drake. We have a Barracuda. It is a knockoff and works ok but does not have the servo motor. They are more expensive but allow better slow speed control. It will sew 11 or 12 layers of Sunbrella, no problem.
I love how the Barracuda has a handle on top. That would make it so much easier to pull up out of a top opening locker like what we have.
@@drakeParagon For sure. They are heavy. We loaned the machine to Gone Sailing (currently in Ireland I think). Jane said the handle was a big plus.
Epic episode. Davie is a legend, he has helped me no end refurbishing a Husqvarna machine as well as a Singer 20u. A mine of information and a thoroughly nice bloke. You should see his boat, a beauty. Cheers Drake, loved watching that. Andy UK
What an amazing boat! S/V Tess Bess boat tour coming soon!
Great job Drake. I picked up Sailrite LSZ with Worker Bee and the works recently, after using my Singer HD for awhile. I still like the Singer for quick light jobs, but the Sailrite is great for the heavier Condura projects I do more often. The Worker option is very nice and runs super slow...and has a light.
Looks like a tank . ❤. Love all sewing machines.
They’re on holiday sale right now if anyone’s looking to buy
Fascinating, I have never used a machine like this one. I would love to add one of these to my collection.
Birdy
Thanks!
Thank you very much! 🙏
Patreon: Check out our Patreon page for our latest news, sneak peeks of current footage, outtakes and behind the scenes footage, and commercial free videos! www.patreon.com/DrakeParagon
Excellent video...
Many many thanks!
This is a nice vlog. I miss your normal uploads.
More to come! Over this summer we are doing a lot of long distance passages, and when coastal we're moving the boat a lot, so we just don't have time for a lot of video production. But in October/November we'll settle down in a winter harbor, probably in Shetland, and then I'll start up the full time editing work. Hopefully then we'll get back to at least a video a week or more to tell the story of our voyages throughout Scotland and Ireland. :) Thanks for waiting for the next season. I can't wait to tell those stories! All the best, Drake
Great Video! WARNING! The new sailrite 240v version don't work with inverters. Bye Bye sailboat owners
Thanks for the info. Will it work with a pure sine wave inverter?
@@drakeParagonthe 110v will work on almost any inverter. The 240v version doesn’t work on any inverter
nice the zig zag Sailryte but 1.2k USD for me was too much. I solved the issue buying a beautiful Singer 15 from 1936 for 60 USD! no walking foot only straight stitches but way better and reliable han the modern junk Singer heavy duty...
Is the sailrite also electric. Capable of working electrically in the usa
Do you know of a machine that sews a buttonholes that doesnt have to avoid seams
Does it make a proper buttonhole?
Where is this product made
What is the brand and name of the other green zig zag machine. Would be interested in that one
You could ask Davie this on this facebook page called Sew Far North.
How to's are nice.. however, I miss the journeys.
Hi Ken, thank you. Over this summer we are doing a lot of long distance passages, and when coastal we're moving the boat a lot, so we just don't have time for a lot of video production. But in October/November we'll settle down in a winter harbor, probably in Shetland, and then I'll start up the full time editing work. Hopefully then we'll get back to at least a video a week or more to tell the story of our voyages throughout Scotland and Ireland. :) Thanks for waiting for the next season. I can't wait to tell those stories! All the best, Drake
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe you finished the wind vane and emergency rudder review.
Installing the Hydrovane is still on the list.
Your sail repair really didn't go as well as you'd have liked for one reason..maybe there were more reasons..but...is because you didn't use the walking foot for sure.
I did get the only walking foot attachment available for the Singer Heavy Duty machine, but I don't think it was designed for material as heavy as what we were sewing. It didn't really help on that machine. However the walking foot on the Sailrite is a whole different thing..
@@drakeParagon My walking foot works for sails with the Singer. At least for my Catalina 30 sails...several layers.
@@allynonderdonk7577 Hmm... Is your machine a Singer Heavy duty and is this the walking foot you used? singeroutlet.co.uk/products/even-feed-walking-foot-original-singer-retail-pack?variant=33446110822453
The sailrite is a good little machine but over priced, I've got a much better industrial machine that cost less, but it doesn't do zig zag. Walking foot machines are not for delicate fabrics.
There are so many wonderful sewing machines out there that would happily go through many layers of sail material, but I think for sail repair you really need the zig zag.
@@drakeParagon yes, because as the sail stretches it would burst with straight stitching
I hate how the world got flooded with grey interiors and matching, grey items! Have the sewing machine manufacturers followed this awful trend or is it just a coincidence?