Protect Your Sail With a DIY Sacrificial Sun Cover

X-HT-102739

Are you interested in learning how to install a sacrificial sun cover to your sail? You're in luck! Our step-by-step tutorial video will show you how to install your own sacrificial sail sun cover using high-quality marine grade fabric. Our all-inclusive kits — available in six sizes and two fabric choices — include everything you need to sew your own sail sun cover. Let's get started with today's DIY project. Scroll down to see the full materials and tools lists, then order your Sacrificial Sail Sun Cover Kit today!

Video Chapters:

Measuring Sail & Calculations — 1:06 min.
Removing Old Sun Cover (if any) — 3:35 min.
Cutting Canvas Strips to Size — 8:00 min.

SAIL’S FOOT EDGE:

Applying Sun Cover Strips — 11:37 min.
Sewing Top Edge — 16:28 min.
Sewing Short Overlap Seams — 23:25 min.
Folding & Sewing Canvas Over Edge — 27:05 min.
Sewing Diagonal Across Each Panel — 33:30 min.

SAIL’S LEECH EDGE:

Applying Sun Cover Strips — 36:04 min.
Sewing Top Edge — 41:56 min.
Sewing Short Overlap Seams — 45:06 min.
Folding & Sewing Over Edge — 47:20 min.
Sewing Diagonal Across Each Panel — 49:38 min.
Heavy Sewing at Corners Patches — 50:27 min.

Materials List:

Choose Your Kit Size & Fabric:

Sailrite® Sacrificial Sail Sun Cover Kit 40' - Sattler® Fabric #126932
Sailrite® Sacrificial Sail Sun Cover Kit 50' - Sattler® Fabric #126933
Sailrite® Sacrificial Sail Sun Cover Kit 60' - Sattler® Fabric #126934
Sailrite® Sacrificial Sail Sun Cover Kit 70' - Sattler® Fabric #126935
Sailrite® Sacrificial Sail Sun Cover Kit 80' - Sattler® Fabric #126936
Sailrite® Sacrificial Sail Sun Cover Kit 90' - Sattler® Fabric #126937
Sailrite® Sacrificial Sail Sun Cover Kit 40' - Sunbrella® Fabric #126153
Sailrite® Sacrificial Sail Sun Cover Kit 50' - Sunbrella® Fabric #126154
Sailrite® Sacrificial Sail Sun Cover Kit 60' - Sunbrella® Fabric #126155
Sailrite® Sacrificial Sail Sun Cover Kit 70' - Sunbrella® Fabric #126156
Sailrite® Sacrificial Sail Sun Cover Kit 80' - Sunbrella® Fabric #126157
Sailrite® Sacrificial Sail Sun Cover Kit 90' - Sunbrella® Fabric #126158

Tools List:

Sailrite® Clear Acrylic Ruler 6" x 24" #102400
Seam Ripper Deluxe #18104
Sailrite® Tucking Tool #766100
Kai Stainless Steel Bent Handle 9" Scissors #125661
Soapstone Fabric Marking Pencil White #102766
Rivets Semi-Tubular 3/16" x 3/8" #98989 OR 3/16" x 1/2" #85257
White Polyester Webbing #PLLWWH
Sailrite® Edge Cordless Hotknife 18V Package #122177
Precision Cutting Blade & Foot for Edge Hotknife # 125495
#22 Sewing Machine Needles SD1 #100806
Posi-Pin® Replacement #102043
T Pins 2" Long #95848
Speed Reduction Upgrade for Ultrafeed® LS & LSZ #123372
Ultrafeed® LSZ Walking Foot Sewing Machine (110V) #311602
Sailrite® Ultrafeed® Industrial Sewing Table #120934
Straightedge, Folding Tables, Tape Measure, Drill and Drill Bits, Rivet Punch

Make Your Own Sacrificial Sun Cover

Our Sailrite® Sacrificial Sail Sun Cover Kits come with all the materials you need to add a sacrificial sun cover to a furling genoa sail. Our kits are available in a range of sizes that can accommodate most sailboats. Once you determine the size you need, choose between Sattler® or Sunbrella® Marine Grade Fabric. Both brands are quality solution-dyed marine canvas fabrics known for their incredible strength, abrasion resistance and UV protection. The width of the sacrificial canvas strip should span the exposed edge of the sail when rolled onto the forestay. You should add 6" to this width to account for loose or sloppy furling, just in case.

Our Sacrificial Sun Cover Kits include: marine grade canvas, UV polyester thread, Super 88 Spray Adhesive, basting tape and the instructions for assembling your sun cover. Super 88 is a fantastic spray adhesive that allows you to position the marine canvas fabric along the edge of the sail for accurate placement and easier sewing.

We recommend sewing your sacrificial sun cover with the Sailrite® Ultrafeed® LSZ Walking Foot Sewing Machine using a zigzag stitch. If you do not have a zigzag stitch sewing machine, you can sew two rows of straight stitches. We advise that you set your straight stitch length at the longest setting your machine offers.

With tools, supplies and free how-to videos from Sailrite, it’s fun and easy to DIY for your sailboat! Are you looking for more boat projects? Does your sailboat need new cockpit cushions? A new bimini? Or what about a new sleeve for your genoa headsail? Explore our entire Marine DIY Projects category for free tutorial videos on everything you need to outfit your boat's upholstery and canvaswork.

We hope you enjoyed this tutorial video. If you have questions about the video, kit or instructions, our Sailrite customer support team is happy to help. Please reach out via email, phone or the chat function on our website. You can also post questions in the comments section below. Thanks for watching and happy DIYing!