Replacing dodger plastic windows & PTFE thread info

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by OzClipper

Neat and tidy job, what machine was used.

A Sailrite Ultrafeed LSZ-1 (stitches both straight and zig zag).

[Seaworthy Lass]

This is the useful data sheet on Tenara from the manufacturer Gore:

http://www.gore.com/MungoBlobs/940/9...US_OCT15_e.pdf

Sailrite do not specify the weight they sell, but what they list as "Tenara" is 1400 denier (equivalent weight of V-92 polyester) and "Heavy Tenara" is 2500 denier (equivalent weight of V-138 polyester).

Does anyone know of retail suppliers in the UK or anywhere else in Europe? I did manage to buy it in Greece about 5 years ago, but it was not through a retail outlet and not easy to source. The last time I purchased it from Sailrite in the US, had it delivered to Australia and brought it back to Greece with me . Having it sent to Greece from anywhere out of the EU involves potentially long delays with customs and great difficulty tracing where it arrives if it is posted rather than couriered.

SWL

[Jim Cate]

Angela, we get ours through a local sailmaker. You might try Bainbridge or Contender or other sailmaker's supply houses in the UK.

Jim

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Angela, we get ours through a local sailmaker. You might try Bainbridge or Contender or other sailmaker's supply houses in the UK.

Jim

Contender and Amann are the two UK distributors, but they will only sell to the trade. Bainbridge don't stock it. I emailed extensively several years ago trying to obtain info about retail outlets, but got nowhere .

What sailmaker do you buy it from in Australia and can you recall how much a spool cost?

[Seaworthy Lass]

I have just found Kayospruce in the UK where I source some of my sewing supplies now sell Tenara.

They are charging a whopping £182 for a 1750m spool!

That is equivalent to around US $240 and AUD $320. Sailrite's price is US $129. EBay have it for US $112-115.

[Jim Cate]

What sailmaker do you buy it from in Australia and can you recall how much a spool cost?

We just bought a spool from Bret Scott, Scott sails:

Address: 1/67 Kenneth Rd, Manly Vale NSW 2093
Phone: (02) 9948 8945

Price was 140 AUD

Jim

[nigel1]

If you dont mind dark grey thread, then this could be a bargain

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TENARA-RESI.../dp/B015WXNC7M

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by nigel1

If you dont mind dark grey thread, then this could be a bargain

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TENARA-RESI.../dp/B015WXNC7M

Nigel, that's for sure! Best price I've seen anywhere.

Jim

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by nigel1

If you dont mind dark grey thread, then this could be a bargain

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TENARA-RESI.../dp/B015WXNC7M

Wow! That is a bargain.
They don't deliver to Greece, but if you are in the UK I would snap up a spool or two of this. Even if you don't sew, you could ask your sailmaker/canvas worker to use it. It would save a fortune in restitching polyester in years to come. I understand many professionals don't stock PTFE thread (maybe because of its longevity ).

I am just hunting up the alternatives to Tenara. There seem to be quite a few around now. I will post what info I find later.

SWL

[steamgoat]

Hi Seaworthy,you may be able to find 'SolarFix' another 100% PTFE fiber. Available in USA from The Miami Corporation.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by steamgoat

Hi Seaworthy,you may be able to find 'SolarFix' another 100% PTFE fiber. Available in USA from The Miami Corporation.

Thanks. I've added that to the list.

SWL

[ctl411]

Originally Posted by Seaworthy Lass

I have been putting off replacing our dodger windows for nearly a year now, as I was a little daunted by the process.

I took the bull by the horns yesterday and thought I would share the procedure I used, as it went extremely well and was not difficult, as the old windows were not removed until the new ones were in place.

METHOD:

• If the existing windows have two rows of stitching then unpick the outer row. If not, skip the first three steps.

• Trim the existing plastic close to the inner row of stitches, cutting away a thin strip of old window around the entire perimeter.

• Remove all the old loose threads.

• Lay the dodger down so that the window being replaced is flat.

• Cut a piece of new window very roughly to size (no need to be accurate, just give a reasonable overlap)

• Stick down some 8mm wide double sided sailmakers sticky tape on the inner side of the Sunbrella close to the remaining row of stitching, but not overlapping the old window.

• Lay the new window over the old on the inside. Starting from one side peel back the covering on the tape a few cm. The covering will then stick out from between the flattened old and new windows and can slowly be pulled, revealing the outer sticky side. Keeping the new window smooth and flat, stick the edge down as you slowly peel back the tape in small portions.
Don't attempt to peel back the protective seal on all the tape in one hit, as it will be very difficult to stick the new window down smoothly.

• Sew through the new window and canvas just beyond the sticky tape. If you sew on the sticky tape, it is likely dirt will then eventually creep in a stick to it, creating an unsightly black line.
I used Tenara for its longevity with UV exposure (and I stitched over the rest of the old stitching on the dodger at the same time). Otherwise use heavy duty polyester eg V-138.

• Unpick the old inner row of stitching and the old window will fall out.

• Remove all the old loose threads.

• Stitch through the Sunbrella and new window along the line of old inner stitching.

• Trim the new window neatly a few mm from the outer row of stitching

Repeat for the rest of the windows.

It is a fairly foolproof, easy method .

SWL

Great job, we have the same style of frame. Not any like it around us (constant arc ) most have a straight across the top. We need to build a new one from scratch. All we got with the boat was the frame. We stitched together a quick top part for shade and rain protection. This fall/winter will buy better material to make a "real " one.

[steamgoat]

Another tip,if you have the sail rite remote thread spool holder. Put a dive weight where the spool goes and bend up the 'thread carrying loop' just past horizontal. The spool then rides nicely on the bent up loop for a horizontal feed.

[Seaworthy Lass]

PTFE thread

It is a bit of a maze comparing the thread types available, as weight may be listed as listed denier or tex (or not at all) and spool weight is not always given. Some of the info from suppliers seems to be incorrect so I would go by manufacturers data sheets when making comparisons.

Price seems to vary dramatically, even if the comparison is being made for similar denier and amounts per spool. Not sure if the quality varies much, but given all that is really necessary is for the life of the thread to exceed the life of the fabric used, then whether 15 year or lifetime warranty is given, it is a bit immaterial.

The links are a bit of a mixed bag, but here is some product info and prices:

Gore: Tenara (USA)
GORE® TENARA® Sewing Thread – Technical Information & Support
http://www.sailrite.com/Tenara-Threa...sistant-Thread
Tenara® Thread TR Marine Tenara | eBay

Lenzing : Profilen (Austria)
http://www.lenzing-plastics.com/file..._Folder_en.pdf
Lenzing PTFE Profilen - Paskal
http://www.sailrite.com/Profilen-PTF...Black-8oz-Cone
Price through Sailrite is the same as for Tenara. They list it as being similar in weight to V-92. Interestingly, they state it is easier to sew with it than with Tenara.

AY Tech LLC: SolarFix (US)
https://www.miamicorp.com/products/M.../SOLARFIX.aspx
SolarFix PTFE Thread | Nolan.UDA
Solarfix® PTFE Teflon Sewing Thread | eBay
This is a little less than Tenara per lb.

Hicoman: Sunlast (Spain)
Buy sewing thread for sailing, awning, outdoor, kevlar sewing thread, nomex sewing thread, bag closing, unflatables, bouncy castle, - Hicoman
Buy sewing thread for sailing, awning, outdoor, kevlar sewing thread, nomex sewing thread, bag closing, unflatables, bouncy castle, - Hicoman
Can be purchased online directly from the manufacturer. Seems like good value.

Coats: Helios P (UK, but listed as made in US)
http://www.coatsindustrial.com/en/im...cm35-17885.pdf
Helios P 100 Ptfe Sewing Thread | eBay
If this eBay product is genuine, this is a winner price wise!

Lots of Chinese ones I didn't look up.

SWL

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by steamgoat

Another tip,if you have the sail rite remote thread spool holder. Put a dive weight where the spool goes and bend up the 'thread carrying loop' just past horizontal. The spool then rides nicely on the bent up loop for a horizontal feed.

Oh, I like that tip .
Thanks.

For some reason I have two remote spool holders. I will bend the used one next time I pull the machine out. Particularly for big projects, it is much easier if kinks in the thread can be avoided.

SWL