Sail Repair - Sail Making Class
Sail Repair and Sail making Workshop with a professional Sail Maker
- Do you want to repair your sail?
- Do you want to make your own sail?
- Do you simply want to become a better sailor?
- Do you need more knowledge to choose your sails and talk to your sail maker?
What is better than making a sail in a workshop to acquire all this indispensable knowledge?
What you learn:
- How sails are designed: shape, draft, camber, twist
- Sail terminology: luff, leech, foot, clew, tack, head
- Types of sails: mainsail, genoa, jib, spinnaker (sym / asym)
- Sailcloth materials: Dacron, laminates, canvas, UV covers
- Understanding panel layout, marking a sail accurately
- Cutting sail panels and understanding seam shapes
- Sewing techniques used in sailmaking
- Reinforcements: corners, patches, radial vs cross-cut
- Installing hardware: grommets, rings, slides, batten pockets
- Repair techniques: tears, blown seams, chafe, UV damage
- Replacing or repairing leech lines, telltales, sail numbers
- Communicating effectively with a sailmaker about needed work
How is it taught?
- 2 day class from 9 to 5pm in a sail making loft
- Taught by a pro sailor and sail maker
- You will make a sail in two days
- You will understand how to repair a sail
- Hands-on class. You do it yourself with proper tools
- Students measure, cut, assemble and even sow the sail using professional sewing machines
- Fix grommets, rings, batten pockets
What will you be able to do after the sail repair – sail making class?
- Understand how sails are designed and why they are built the way they are
- Identify common sail damage and decide whether to repair or replace
- Perform basic sail repairs (tears, seams, chafe, leech lines, telltales)
- Install or replace hardware (grommets, slides, batten pockets)
- Communicate confidently with a professional sailmaker about needed work
- Care for and store sails properly to extend their lifespan
Why join the class?
In this hands-on class with a professional sail maker, you will learn how to design and make a headsail and a mainsail. During this two-day class you and your classmates will layout, cut, and assemble a custom sail.
Even if you don’t aspire to make your own sails, the hands-on experience and learning will give you the basic skills you need to repair your sails. Plus, by gaining an understanding of how shape is imparted into a sail, you’ll gain a greater comprehension of how to shape and trim your sails as a sailor.
Where does the class take place
Location: Fast Sailmaker – 28 Cottage Street East Weymouth, MA 02189
Instructor for the sail making class: Francois Asselin, professional sail maker
Details program
Day one: Design and first steps
- Sail making overview
- Sail design
- Sewing machine basic operation
- Fabric selection
- Sail layout on the floor
- Cutting and broadseaming panels
- Fabricating and installing batten pockets
Day two: Finish your sail and Repair technics
- Cut and install patches
- Assembling and stitching panels
- Cutting the panel assembly
- Installing tabling and boltrope
- Installing cleats, rings, and headboard
- Repair technics
- Sail care
- COURSE OVERVIEW -
Sail Repair - Sail Making Class
2 Days - 9am to 5pm
Hands-on in a sail loft
5 students max per instructor
Starting at: $590
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Sail Making class
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TESTIMONIALS
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I need prior sailmaking experience?
No. This class is designed for sailors with no prior sailmaking experience. We start with the basics and focus on practical, easy-to-apply repair and sail making skills.
What types of sail repairs will I learn?
You’ll learn how to repair small tears, re-stitch seams, fix chafe damage, replace leech lines and telltales, and install or replace grommets and patches.
Is the class mostly hands-on?
Yes. The class is highly hands-on. You’ll work directly with sailcloth, tools, and sewing machines used for real sail making. Your instructor will guide you through.
Will I be able to repair my own sails after the class?
You’ll be able to handle most common onboard and dockside repairs and know when a repair is safe to do yourself versus when a professional sailmaker is needed.
What kind of sails does the class focus on?
The class focuses on typical cruising sails such as mainsails and jibs, using real-world examples and common repair scenarios. During the class, you will literally make a jib for a small keelboat.