Dingy Chaps - How much or how men's hours to make

[JPA Cate]

Originally Posted by GordMay

In my experience, men don't read instructions first, so get your lady to do it. It will be done sooner, and better made.

^^^^

Mmmmm. Maybe that's why the "f" is in rtfm???

[kayakerChuck]

I own a canvas shop near Detroit.

Listen to Ann.

For me making the chaps, I'd figure about 10 hours. My winter rate is $100/hour, plus maybe $3 or 400 in materials. This is for "basic" level. Things get even more expensive if adding pockets and extra reinforcements.

[wingssail]

I made one set of chaps (but I refuse to call them that, Dingy Covers) for a customer, and I found it tedious, cutouts for the handles, side ropes, oar locks, and making it stay on when going fast. And I made so little on the job.

So I refused any further Dingy Cover jobs, and glad of it.

Our own dingies never had covers, My friend Jim Ploughman said the bottoms get banged up faster then the tops anyhow. In 24 years cruising we've had two dingies, no "chaps". And they are lighter to pull up the beach and to lift up at night.

But I know...Everyone has them so we must be sheeps and follow them. Besides, the canvas people got car payments to make.

[sailingchiro]

I spent an evening watching Sailrite videos. Ordered the Sunbrella and thread. I already had a sewing machine. Then over a weekend, had new chaps. Took about 10-12 hours ( had a couple of beers). Many have commented on them and told me theirs were over $1200 and didn't look as nice. Sailrite videos are a must. I used regular painters plastic and duct tape for pattern.
I would do it again and could do in less time. Yes, I am a man but can follow instructions only on video, not written. Thanks Sailrite.
Instead of red/white, I used Persian Green/white and they do look great.
Please get a hot cutter to cut the sunbrella material. It will save alot of time and unraveling.

[Sailor_Al]

I've finished making the chaps per the Sailrite video. They didn't come out as well as I expected but I expect I will have protection from the davit lifts too the dink.
The biggest issue for me was the machine Instead of buying a used machine, I purchased a commercial Singer. It had issues feeding he vinyl, even after replacing the presses foot with one that had rollers. I should have paid a few hundred more for the used Sailrite to get a smooth stitch. Get a hot knife, and tape the templates down. Watch the videos for the dink but use those techniques on a smaller project like outboard motors first.

Thanks everyone for the advice

Materials were approx 350.00.

[jha]

Hi, we also had problems with the vinyl so discarded that and put a second layer of sunbrella on instead which worked well.