Life is Like Sailing - DIY - Canvas Dodger Repair

[@whileysea]

Hi Alfie. I am Andy and I used to live on Vancouver Island, where I sailed with my Fortune 30 in Wintertime too. I live now in Switzerland, where I currently prepare to sail from Spain to New Zealand with a 33ft Fellowship. Currently I want to install a Dieselheater and searching the Internet, I have found you and your many, great, GREAT VIDEOS. I must admit, I feel very Little compared to your abilities to fix things. When watching your Episode DIY Canvas Dodger Repair, I feelt that I could do it too. AND THAT IS EXTREMELY MOTIVATING. Thank you for your work and sharing it with you. AND..., thank you for your great Friends, at helping each other. I am getting interested in that Sawmachine too. Cheers Andy

[@lifeislikesailing]

Hi Andy, so glad you have found my channel and I hope you enjoy the many episodes covering a wide range of sailing related content. :) Yes, I was intimidated about trying this project, but thought what is the worst that can happen? Turned out great in the end and was so glad I tried it! Good luck with it! Alfy

[@whileysea]

Hi Alfy :-) Yes, I put you on my Vid-List. Well, I am a bit homesick to this beautyful B.C. Coast as well. Fair Winds, Andy

[@AndysEastCoastAdventures]

Having the decent sewing machine is the key. tried similar using a domestic machine but the basting tape kept gumming up the needle so didn't work very well. Borrowed an industrial machine and it went without a hitch.

[@terrencebradley5417]

Thanks for posting this project Alfie. I'm about to start building a dodger for my boat. Wasn't looking forward to it but watched your video and found it reassuring and made me a little more confident that indeed I can do it!

[@lifeislikesailing]

You are welcome and I was nervous about doing this myself as well, but realized part way through that if you just take your time and plan it all out then it is not so difficult. :) Good luck with yours!

[@dominiquejacques4726]

Geez Alfy you are doing a good job maintaining moonshine!!! You are awesome!! I got few projects on my own boat, learning so much from your videos!

[@lifeislikesailing]

Thank you and it is fun to do these projects. :) Good luck on yours!

[@jwrappuhn71]

Looking really sharp Alfy.

[@lifeislikesailing]

Thanks!

[@01ariti]

The covers look great, what a good skill to have.

[@lifeislikesailing]

Thanks and I hope to be as good at sewing one day as Mae is, but I won't hold my breath. ha

[@jchase5408]

Good timing! I'm halfway through a DIY total rebuild of my dodger, bimini, and connector, all from scratch... only the original frame is being re-used.

[@lifeislikesailing]

Sounds like a fun project Jamie! I would like to rebuild mine completely one day as well, would be a good challenge I bet!

[@perpearson524]

To take a quote from another channel, "that looks spiffy!" Clear vision is a beautiful thing. 😃

[@lifeislikesailing]

haha, nice to have clear windows for this upcoming season! :)

[@bertski60]

to tell you the truth, this episode was a lot more interesting than i thought it would be. well done and thanks.

[@lifeislikesailing]

Thanks you and so glad you enjoyed it!! I know these DIY episodes can sometimes be boring. ha

[@bertski60]

i would never say "boring"....i'd say some are more interesting than others. :) the way you present them makes all the difference.....all business, no fluff, just no nonsense and to the point.

[@lifeislikesailing]

That is a good way to put it and that is how I had hoped it would be presented! :)

[@W4ABN]

Nice work. Looking forward to replacing my dodger.

[@lifeislikesailing]

Thanks and good luck. :)

[@SailSmileReDo]

Another job well done! Congrats ))) Looks like a shiny brand new windshield

[@lifeislikesailing]

Thank you!

[@skookumjack]

Skookum job Alfy! Fantastic to have friends and the where with all to carry out a project like this, you'll really enjoy that extra light in Rupert! Well done........

[@lifeislikesailing]

Thanks and so great to have good friends like Marty and Mae! Yes, I'll enjoy that extra light in the cockpit now for sure!! :)

[@stanleykelly9459]

alfie thanks from Ireland on the data on your little car. love your show i watch out most days for updates. thanks again alfie. from beautiful Ireland.

[@lifeislikesailing]

Glad that vehicle info helped! So glad to hear you enjoy the channel! Fair winds from Canada's west coast!

[@georgecanakis1075]

I always wondered how its done. I thought it will be a lot more difficult. Thanks for video i learned a lot. Cheers.

[@lifeislikesailing]

First time doing this, but with proper preparation and taking our time it worked out well. :) Glad you enjoyed this episode!

[@kenlynch6332]

Good neighbors working together. Having the right equipment / tools and skill set is a major plus. You said "quick job"; but was it One Day or 2 or more days?

[@lifeislikesailing]

Yes, great to have such good friends! Once we had all the materials and started working on the canvas, it was two and a half days. :)

[@captgrant]

Really informative Alfie. Sailrite really makes a good machine. Expensive, but you need the right tools for the job. That section that you put new glass in was probably for more shade in the cockpit. Maybe you could make another panel that can be changed out when needed depending on the weather or season.

[@lifeislikesailing]

Glad you enjoyed it and yes having the right equipment makes all the difference! I'll definitely be making a canvas cover for the new window in case I want shade. :)

[@rickczainski9734]

great work Alfie. That really makes a difference. You should have 'clear' sailing now.

[@bertski60]

"clear sailing." i wished i'd have thought of that one. :)

[@lifeislikesailing]

Thanks and it sure does make a difference! 'clear' sailing...LOL

[@donb4386]

With the right tools, a little skilled assistance and a plan you make it look so easy. That said I bet if I tried it, somehow I’d screw it up. I’ll say it again that is one good looking boat.

[@lifeislikesailing]

Yes, having a plan, the right equipment and sewing skills made it a fun project! Never hurts to try these things yourself, you just might enjoy it! Thanks for the compliment on s/v Moonshine, she has been a great boat! :)

[@gerardmollema]

Nah, exactly what I wanted to see this evening. Triggers me to work on my sprayhood again. Only wish I had a Sailrite.... (BTW: very rare, seeing you in a space that's not floating on water.....)

[@lifeislikesailing]

Glad you were able to enjoy this episode this evening and I hope you'll be able to get to your spray hood. :) It was also weird for me to be editing an episode seeing me in that strange place called a house. haha

[@marshallpoe8087]

That turned out really well. I guess the saying should be "It takes a community to care for a boat." What great friends you have - and talented also. Perhaps one day you could dig through some of your previous video to show us the "dark" cockpit under the old dodger, and then the "light" cockpit under the new skylight. Great job!

[@lifeislikesailing]

Yes it sure is great to have such wonderful friends to help with these projects! I'll check for a comparison clip. :)

[@billbye2427]

beautiful job and it looks great!

[@lifeislikesailing]

Thank you!

[@roydaley3413]

Hi Alphie, great job. We bought a Barracuda sewing machine locally (Newfoundland, $CDN900 I think). Same as Sailrite machine. We use their tutorials for our machine as it had terible ones.

[@lifeislikesailing]

Thank you and nice you have the ability to do canvas and sail repairs too! Yes, Sailrite has great videos!

[@sailingvesselsouthernlady447]

That was a hugh roll of glass. Sailrite is the best. I have the same model. It makes sewing so much easier! Final project looks really nice!

[@lifeislikesailing]

Yes is sure was a lot of strata glass! ha Nice to hear you have the same sewing machine! A must have piece of equipment for projects like this and I think I'm going to buy one for myself. :)

[@Al.W7263]

Great job there Alfie. Amazing what you can do with a couple of good friends. Now you'll need a good pair of sunglasses.😎

[@lifeislikesailing]

Thank you and so great to have good friends who are nice enough to help with the projects!! I'll have to look for those sunglasses! ha

[@914va]

Thanks Brother!....looks like my next project!

[@lifeislikesailing]

You are welcome and good luck with your project! :)

[@kduborg]

Great job and great freinds. Shure looks like a fine upgrade with the new Window 😊👍

[@lifeislikesailing]

Thanks and this sure was a fun project with great friends!! Will be nice to see clearly out of the new windows this season!

[@normanboyes4983]

that looked a super job - and I bet the top panel really made the whole cockpit much more pleasant.

[@lifeislikesailing]

Thanks and yes it sure has brightened up the cockpit! I'll try to show the difference in an upcoming episode. :)

[@theislandpackrat]

Good job, Looks great! I did mine with glass and should last the rest of my life. Sure like how your totally enclosed, hoping to do that some day!

[@lifeislikesailing]

Thanks Vern! Glass would be as good as you can get for minimal worries for breakage! :) I do love the full enclosure as it really extends my cruising season in this part of the world. :)

[@tWoforgamenot1]

its beautiful

[@laurentfroggy6631]

Really looks great Alfie and to do all that with skilled friends too :) Let's go sailing now :))))) Thanks and best from HKG

[@lifeislikesailing]

Thank you and so great to have good friends to work on these projects together! Cruising season is just around the corner now! :)

[@paulswan1965]

Well done Alfie & crew, how many time did you sew around the edges?

[@lifeislikesailing]

Thank you and it was stitched twice.

[@tahoo2121]

Really good tutorial on it since I have Dodger with Windows and though they're in great shape one of these days I'll need to replace I'm curious about what the cost was for the strataglass? S/V ...Waves

[@lifeislikesailing]

Yes, unfortunately these things need replacing from time to time. I needed to buy a full sheet at approx $400.00 CAD.

[@asennaydenov6461]

Hi :) That calls great job it looks easy to do it but for sure needs a lot of preparations.

[@lifeislikesailing]

Thanks and yes with proper preparations it was a job that went well! :)

[@bladeflapUH60]

Looks like new and just in time for spring :-)

[@lifeislikesailing]

Thank you and I can't wait for cruising season to begin!

[@bigblockcutlass123]

I question using strata glass. I just did my windows .040 gauge my self also. After doing research, Strata glass is particular on what touches it and what you use to clean it. Also crack or brake easy when cold. Regalia light or O sea may be better.

[@lifeislikesailing]

I had strata glass before I really like the crystal clear clarity when looking through it, but I know there must be other good products out there as well. :)

[@justinrice8509]

Wow nice...!

[@lifeislikesailing]

Thanks!

[@dalebuckley6073]

Look's great and good friend's also

[@lifeislikesailing]

Thank you and yes, so great to have good friends who enjoy doing projects like this together. :)

[@en8581]

Nice video. Can you tell us what kind of sewing machine that is and what kind of thread do you use? Sorry if it is a dumb question or you addressed it already!

[@lifeislikesailing]

The sewing machine is a 'Sailrite'. :)

[@ian3940]

Wow looking great. Now u could see where your going no need for the gps anymore lolll

[@lifeislikesailing]

Thanks and yes so great to be able to see out! ha

[@JoelWelter]

Just curious, why did you have to remove the snaps from the existing cloth? Would they be in the way of sewing? Good, educational video, Alfy! Thanks!

[@lifeislikesailing]

The snaps were riveted thru the old strata glass so they had to be removed to get the old windows out. I still need to put the new snap's in (they are for the canvas window covers) :)

[@PrecisionSailLoftVictoria]

Nice job Alfie! I'm not sure we could have done any better in our loft. Did you keep track of how many hours it took to complete the whole job?

[@lifeislikesailing]

Thanks! It was fun to try this ourselves! I'd say it was about 15 hours spanning over three different days from the time we started drilling out the hardware to the finished product. Two of the days had three of us working on it and one day was just myself. Was really fun to do this! :)

[@tWoforgamenot1]

cool.

[@AlsinoFerreira]

awesome

[@lifeislikesailing]

Thanks!

[@alansailing1387]

Your loungeroom is much bigger than I would have expected on a 34 foot boat

[@lifeislikesailing]

yes, very spacious! haha

[@dgourdine50]

You didn't show us the new "Moon Roof" for the cockpit....Aww Man!

[@lifeislikesailing]

I'll show it in an upcoming episode. :)

[@ericantrim7119]

Very Nice. :)

[@lifeislikesailing]

Thanks!

[@rockinpiano1]

Another great video, Alfie. Being as how I'm 600+/- from the Canadian Border, I don't have any close contact with folks from Canada/BC...............................but with the advent of You Tube I've been following some like you that show BC people at their finest. Skadill, Larry Warner, you, and Tax me, I'm Canadian are just a few. I come from a fishing/logging background so I'm kinda predigest! Where I first noticed a Canadian/USA comaraderie was in a book I read many years ago about the "First Service Special Force". Those folks worked very well with one another. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Special_Service_Force Anyway Alfie, I really like the people you have on your videos. ............Have a GREAT Sunday.(:>)

[@lifeislikesailing]

Thanks so much and I'll check that link out. :) I hope you have a great Sunday as well!

[@bigroundwatermelon6456]

Hate to be doing that on my own, we all need our friends and neighbours

[@thearchibaldtuttle]

Not dodgy at all! Looks spiffy new! We call this whole cabin stuff „Kuchenbude“. This translates to cake stall. A place where you can sit and have coffee and cake comfortably. Have you considered to install Linux instead of upgrading your Windows? Just saying...

[@lifeislikesailing]

Thanks and maybe I'll have some cake in there now that you mention it. hah

[@tWoforgamenot1]

cool to see lol :)