How to Add a Winch Cover to a Sail Cover

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If you have a throated sail cover that accommodates a winch along the mast or anywhere else, you might notice that the cover chafes and abrades against the winch. In fact, it can abrade enough that it creates a hole or rip in your sail cover. Luckily, this is an easy problem to solve. In today's video tutorial, we'll add a winch cover to an existing throated sail cover to accommodate the winch and eliminate this chafe point. This will also create a better-fitting cover. Join us for this simple project tutorial.
Materials List:
  • Throated Sail Cover Kit from Sailrite®
  • Marine Canvas Fabric
  • UV Bonded Polyester or Lifetime Thread
Tools List:
  • Sailrite® Edge Hotknife Package – #103800
  • Soapstone Fabric Marking Pencil White – #102766
  • Suisei Magnetic Sewing Guide – #102983
  • Scratch Awl Yellow – #235411
  • Sailrite® Ultrafeed® LSZ Walking Foot Sewing Machine – #311502
  • Yardstick/Tape Measure

Add a winch to your sail

To add a winch cover to your sail cover, you'll need some marine grade fabric, a cutting tool (we recommend a hotknife), a sewing machine, and some basic sewing tools and supplies.

Sattler® Marine Grade is a great choice for marine canvas. This high-quality marine canvas boasts excellent UV, water, and abrasion resistance. It's also easy to cut and sew. Many of our marine DIY kits include Sattler fabric for its quality and affordability for the DIY community.

In this video tutorial, you'll learn how to measure the opening, how to sew the winch cover and how to add the cover to your existing sail cover.

Sailrite is your one-stop DIY shop! We are a passionate crew of do-it-yourselfers who strive to equip you with the supplies and how-to knowledge you need to tackle your next project. Do you want to learn sailmaking, upholstery, leatherwork, canvaswork, hobby sewing, bag making or more? We have the fabric, tools, hardware, sewing machines and notions you need to master any DIY. And even if you've never sewn before, our tutorials and how-to videos are designed for beginners and experienced crafters alike.

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