Sailing Jibsea · video

What this video covers

The crew of a 45-foot aluminum sailboat fabricates a custom cockpit enclosure to improve weather protection and living space for high-latitude sailing.▶ 0:58 Working from a marina in the Outer Banks, they install luff track along the existing hard dodger and bimini to secure the canvas panels.▶ 3:10 They choose 60-gauge Strataglass for the front window and 30-gauge for the side curtains, opting for soft roll-up material over rigid polycarbonate to simplify installation and reduce costs.▶ 4:43 The project involves templating, cutting, and sewing the panels using PTFE lifetime thread.▶ 3:14 To avoid needle gumming, they strategically place double-sided tape away from stitch lines.▶ 12:20 They use a hot knife to seal canvas edges and employ a relief-slit technique to sew windows into the fabric panels.▶ 13:22 Despite initial concerns regarding window symmetry and material constraints, the final enclosure provides a sealed, wind-resistant cockpit.▶ 15:33 The project demonstrates that custom canvas work is achievable without professional templates, provided the installer accounts for non-symmetrical boat geometry and material limitations.

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