How to Patch Holes & Rips in Sails

Whether you are inspecting your sails at the end of boating season — or if you are still on the water and find a hole — knowing how to repair holes and rips in your sail is very important. This is an issue you want to tackle right away as rips and holes can grow if not fixed immediately. Let us show you how to patch holes and tears in your sail in our handy how-to video.

If you’ve got a hole in your sail — don’t panic! No, you don’t have to sew a completely new sail. You can make a patch and sew it onto your existing sail and it will not compromise the sail in any way. This will save you both time and a huge expense by not having to sew a new sail or having to pay a sail shop to make you a new one. And patching holes in your sail is a quick fix to get you back on the water as soon as possible.

This is an easy DIY that requires very few supplies and materials. First, you’ll want to trace a patch from new sailcloth to sew onto your existing sail. The patch should be at least 1 inch larger in circumference than the hole. This will give you plenty of space to sew your patch without getting your stitching too close to the hole. You’ll use Seamstick Basting Tape to base the patch onto the sail, and then zigzag stitch the patch onto the sail.