Want To Buy: Sailrite LSZ-1 Wanted

[Mike OReilly]

I'm in search of a Sailrite LSZ-1 sewing machine (the blue one that does both straight and zig-zag stitches). I will buy new if need be, but if anyone has a machine that is in good shape, please let me know.

[JPA Cate]

Mike,

Let me give this a *bump*.

I hope you find one, soon.

Ann

[xeon_tsd]

I often found them listed on craigslist... try a national search engine like Dailylister - Search all of Craigslist Nationwide

[Mirar]

Hi Mike et al,

When we retired our old Reid's Sailmaker after a couple of decades, we looked at replacements and settled on a Jenome/Babylok heavy duty. It hovered around the 400 Canadian price range and sews everything from leather and multiple layers of Sunbrella to silk. We found that for the average year to year usage, we needed something versatile and light, easily driven by the inverter and user friendly. Most of our projects revolved around making awnings, cushions, windscoops etc. To actually do a major repair on a large mainsail takes a lot more than a short throated Sailrite in my opinion, but you are welcome to have at it. We always have carried a nice little sewing awl for the really heavy duty repairs. It makes a delightful little stitch in the heaviest of materials.
Cheers, greg

[s/v Beth]

Mike,
Make sure you get the big wheel that you can hand sew with.
I love my Sailrite

[Mirar]

We had a hand crank on the Reids as well as a 12 volt motor but never used either as we had a couple of inverters that easily drove the 110. Took away the multi-tasking as in trying to crank and guide/concentrate on the stitch at the same time. All I am saying is that the Sailrite is not the only capable machine around, but great PR department. Good luck on the search, they seem to come up for sale fairly regularly.
Greg

[jeepbluetj]

Around here, a used sailrite goes within $50 of a new one. Hope you have better luck than I have.

I'm now looking for an old pfaff 130, as it's heavy duty enough. I'd love a long-arm with a walking foot, but the budget just won't allow for it.

[Yeti]

I can echo what Mirar has said to a degree.

Last year I bought a new Janome HD1000 for $300. So far it has done the job. I've done sunbrella cushions for the salon that included multiple layers and sewing through velcro. So far so good. I plan on doing cockpit cushions and a main sail cover sometime in the future as well. After that I'll probably attempt a dodger.

Don't be afraid to use sharp needles changed often and in the right size. Also be conscious of thread weight. These things can definitely make a difference for machines that are not necessarily "super-duper duty". That Janome HD1000 isn't going to be making a cobbler any money but it definitely seemed to be heavy duty enough for boat projects.

[Mike OReilly]

Thanks folks (and Ann for the bump ). I'll definitely check out the alternatives mentioned. I'm a very novice sewer, but have been able to use a Sailrite to build a sunbrella project (a solar food dehydrator ), and a few minor repairs. Right now I'm facing a rather large repair job on our canvas winter cover.

I really love the Sailrite that I used. I also plan to carry it on board as we move into being full-timers, so I really having it all contained in a carrying case.

Interestingly, my own question prompted me to dig out my mother-in-law's old sewing machine. It's pretty old, but feels heavy-duty (at least, it's all-metal and heavy!). Doesn't have walking foot, but will do a zig-zag stitch. Also comes in a carrying case. It's labelled "Sloan-Ashland" and says it is "Designed by Sokokec", Made in Japan. I can't find any info about it online, except this one reference: Sloan Ashland machine.



I'm going to rig it up (is that the right term?) and see what it can do. I've got some old sunbrella that I'm going layer up and try.

[jaybird1111]

Quote from another person, another post:

"I bought a Pfaff 130 specifically with an eye to carrying it aboard. It'll do clothes and sails. Although I have a 138, I use the 130 for lightweight cloth (spinnaker) work.

You can modify the machines for ease of use: Add springs to the pressor foot shaft. Purchase aggressive feed dogs. Get a heavier wheel.

Learn how to help the cloth through the machine. You can get one of those puller things but you are better served to learn how to do it yourself.

Set up a large table next to the machine table to lay the cloth out on so it's not pulling down off the edge. My dining room table works for that. Roll and fold the cloth so it fits under the machine better, and that's what clamps are for.

BTW it cannot be stated enough that you need to learn about tension and thread-and-needle combinations. Puckering is mostly from poor choices of these.

FWIW, I had more like $1G into my Sailrite LSZ with all the bells and whistles, and when I went to work in the canvas house and learned about the old Pfaffs, bought a Pfaff and sold that LSZ in short order. BTW, even with a walking foot machine you're going to have to help some projects through..."

Mr O'Reilly, I'd bet that the suggestions above would work just fine for your machine. Also, there is a resource: ISMACS International Sewing Machine Association of Collectors or some such, anyway, they have a web presence

[Boatguy30]

I have one called an alpha sew. It is the same machine as the sailrite and I bought the heavy carrying case and some spare parts from sailrite when I put it together 12 years ago. I just used it a few weeks ago. Could no doubt use some oiling and tuning up but seemed to still work ok.


Make offer.

[Mike OReilly]

Well, I've been trying to get my old machine to work, but without much success. I can't get it to sew through one layer of sunbrella without getting all gummed up and seizing after about 10 cm. It might be a tensioning problem, but I can't seem to get working.

I'm back to looking for a LSZ-1. My birthday is coming up. Maybe I can convince my sweetheart that we need a new one .

[JohnCT]

I have a Necchi that does zig zag, the 3/1 stich zig zag and the usual home style stuff.

I just used it to repair a jib, 6 layers of 5 ounce dacron, # 18 sharp needle and the V69 thread, no issues.

[Mirar]

Hi Mike, Are you still looking for a Sailrite? A friend of ours here in Comox , on Vancouver Island has decided she needs a bigger machine for her canvas business and would like to get rid of her relatively new unit.PM me and I can connect the dots on that one.
Greg

[exMaggieDrum]

Hi Mirar,
If the OP is not interested in the Sailrite your friend in Comox has, we might be. We are just south of the US border from Vancouver - Anacortes, WA. Thanks.
Joe