Small Boat Sail Repair

[wastvedt]

Hi all,
I have an O'Day Flying Saucer (iheartodays.com/model_flying_saucer.html) that I bought on e-bay a year or two ago. It is in pretty good condition, but the sails are starting to show some wear, and I need to do some repairs. I know how to sail, but I've never repaired a sail before, so I am in need of some guidance. I'd really like to do the repairs myself, and I think that on this scale I can, I'm just not sure where to begin. I've looked at tutorials online, and I can follow those just fine, but I'm not sure what will work best for the type of boat I have.
Here's a few specific questions:
-What weight of sailcloth do I need? I haven't been able to find any info about the Flying Saucer's type of sails; is there a standard for small boats?

-Can I or should I repair it by hand, or do I need a sewing machine?

-One of the problem areas is near the base of the mainsail where it rubs up against the side stays. Should it do this? Do I just sew a sacrificial piece on there and then replace it periodically?

Thanks in advance for any help!

[sailingdog]

There are several good books on sail repair and canvas work. Check Amazon.com or Alibris.com for them. Putting a sacrificial patch over the areas where it rubs is a good idea, and generally the simplest fix. While you can repair it by hand, it would probably faster, simpler and easier if you had a decent sewing machine to use to do the repairs. If you don't own one, you could probably buy a used Pfaff for fairly cheap. The older Pfaff machines are built like tanks. I just bought on a week or so ago, and it can go through seven layers of sunbrella without much trouble.

[Freesail99]

You could also contact a sail loft about them doing the repair for you. Get a quote first.