We consider "The Complete Guide to Sail Care & Repair", at least in part, an endorsement of all that Sailrite has stood for. Even though he is careful to stress that he does not recommend sail construction for amateurs, his book certainly helps lift the shroud of mystery that has surrounded professional sailmaking. And we are appreciative of his warm praise for the Ultrafeed zigzag machine that we loaned him during preparation of the book.
This is a good book on traditional sail design, construction, repair and improvement. It is full of techniques and tips that have hitherto been available only to those who are willing to apprentice themselves to a loft. It also covers rigs and sail types. There are some skills that can only be learned by actually doing them, but this book serves as an excellent foundation.
Don Casey, the author of This Old Boat as well as this brand new book on boat canvas, has a real flair for making do-it-yourself projects fun and satisfying. The illustrations alone are worth the price.
Sail Repair - Tips on Sail & Canvas Repairs CD Rom. This is a "Power Point" presentation. It is a true multimedia show with video clips, audio explanations, and detailed text as well. The intent of the presentation is to explain some of the special techniques that the Grants have developed to make do-it-yourself sewing easy.