Cover for My Simpson Lawrence Seatiger Windlass

[cburger]

Wondering if anyone may have an origional cover for a Simpson Lawrence 555 Seatiger windlass they would be willing to part with

[JPA Cate]

Failing your finding one, windlass covers are not too hard to make. Use Sunbrella to match your sail covers, or Weather Max. The latter will keep it dryer over time. The windlass seals need to be replaced in order to keep salt water out of the innards, from time to time.

If you're interested to make one, I can try to explain how I made ours.

Ann

[cburger]

Anne, thanks for your response, I have Sunbrella and am planning on had sewing the cover to match the rest of boats canvass. As I have no experience using a sewing machine thought I could take the old factory cover apart and use it as template to make the new one.

[JPA Cate]

You can do it without the template, if you are content to have a not-quite-perfect fit. The gypsy is the largest protrusion. You make it like a beer caddy, a round bottom and a cylinder. Allow for 3/8 " seams, and use a hot knife to cut the Sunbrella. Where there are joins, you will have to cut slashes to accommodate the larger diameters on the outside of the stitching. You will want to make small stitches, about 1/8" apart. If you haven't done it before, mark the places you want to stitch, using a marking pen or something, till your hands are used to it. Put a lock stitch every 3rd stitch.

The remainder is basically a rectangle with a lid. Do the fitting with pins, and basting, then after you have sewn it, cut away the part that is excess. Be sure to allow a seam allowance for a hem at the bottom, an inch to 1-1/2 will give you a finished hem of 3/4" to 1-1/4". Use either 2mm line or use bungee for the bottom, to secure it.

The one I made had a cutout for the chain, and was split a little, to make it fit over everything, and still be secured.. To make the slit, use the hot knife., turn the edge under a tiny bit, and stitch it down.

It takes a fairly sharp needle and rather a lot of hand strength to sew new Sunbrella. I use a sail needle if I hand sew it. Use the heaviest weight thread you can find, I used to use UV treated polyester #92 for canvas work on the machine; now I use PTFE thread, but I think it might be hard to work with by hand--if you do, it will last the lifetime of the windlass cover.

Ann

[cburger]

Thank you Ann

[JPA Cate]

You're most welcome, Cburger, sorry no one could source one for you. However, successive approximations will work.

Ann