[RichH]

Sail and canvas repair is actually quite easy, many times you dont even need a sewing machine ... as, if you''re clever and neat you can simply ''glue'' the seams together, using ''Slow Cure'' 3M 5200, etc. adhesives ... that will be a seam that will NEVER be able to be taken apart or adjusted if you make a mistake. Simply apply light films of glue over ''masked'' seams, press the fabric faces together and wait a few hours, peel off the masking tape - done. Just dont put in too much glue so that it squeezes out when pressing the seams together - practice first.

For sail makers supplies try: www.sailrite.com

For a sewing machine many times you can ''do it'' if its an older homemakers machine that has all of its parts made for ''metal'' .... simply saturate the sewing thread with a teflon lubricant. The modern homemakers plastic machnes will simply fall apart. The only ''real'' trick is to match the proper needle with the proper sized thread for best results and choose a machine with a BIG balance wheel.

If you do your own sail construction and repair you will eventuallly save a minor fortune and you will gain a much much better understanding of how sails actually work, whats needed to ''shape'' them when sailing, etc.

hope this helps.