← Back to main site

Canvas & Sewing for Sailboats

Canvas work — biminis, dodgers, sail covers, winch covers, hatch covers, cockpit cushions, and interior upholstery — is one of the most rewarding DIY skills a sailor can develop. A professional dodger costs $2,000–$4,000. A DIY dodger with a Sailrite machine and good fabric costs $300–$600 in materials. This page covers the right machines, the best fabrics for each application, sail repair, and all the resources you need to get started.

The single most important tool: A walking-foot sewing machine. Standard home sewing machines feed fabric from below only — they bog down, skip stitches, and break needles on canvas, webbing, and Sunbrella. A walking foot feeds from top and bottom simultaneously and handles 8–16 layers of canvas without complaint. The Sailrite Ultrafeed is the gold standard for sailors.

Marine Sewing Machines

Sailrite Ultrafeed LSZ-1

The Standard

Type: Walking foot, straight stitch + zigzag

Price: ~$800–$1,000 (machine + package)

The definitive marine canvas sewing machine. Handles 16 layers of canvas; sews through Sunbrella, sail cloth, webbing, leather, vinyl, and upholstery foam without skipping a stitch. Portable — runs on 110V or 12V DC (ideal for aboard use). The LSZ adds zigzag capability — essential for sail repairs (zigzag is stronger than straight stitch on curved sailcloth). If you buy one machine for a sailboat, this is it.

sailrite.com — Ultrafeed LSZ

Sailrite Ultrafeed LS-1

Straight Stitch Only

Type: Walking foot, straight stitch only

Price: ~$650–$800

Same machine as the LSZ without zigzag. Fine for canvas work (dodgers, biminis, covers) but lacks the zigzag needed for proper sail repair. If budget is tight and you'll only do canvas — not sail repair — this saves $150. Otherwise pay for the LSZ.

sailrite.com — Ultrafeed LS

Consew 206RB-5

Industrial Alternative

Type: Walking foot, straight stitch

Price: ~$500–$700

The professional canvas shop choice — a full industrial machine at a fraction of the cost of other industrial walkers. Not portable (requires a table); 110V only. Better for a workshop than for aboard use. If you have a dedicated sewing space and do high-volume work, the Consew outlasts the Ultrafeed for sheer production use.

Janome HD9 / HD5

Budget Option

Type: Standard feed (not walking foot)

Price: ~$250–$500

A capable heavy-duty home machine — handles 4–6 layers of Sunbrella for simpler projects like sail covers and winch covers. Not ideal for dodgers or biminis (too many layers, too much resistance) and cannot do sail repair properly. A reasonable starting point if you're not ready to invest in an Ultrafeed, but you'll quickly outgrow it.

Machine Accessories & Supplies

  • Sailrite — needles (V-92 thread uses size 16 needle; V-138 uses size 18–19), bobbins, presser feet, seam rippers, marking tools — everything for the Ultrafeed
  • Thread: V-92 (Tex 90) polyester for most canvas work; V-138 (Tex 135) for heavy webbing and straps; use UV-resistant marine thread — not cotton or standard polyester from a fabric store
  • Needles: Size 16 for V-92, size 18–19 for V-138; use a leather/denim needle for vinyl and leatherette; replace needles frequently — a dull needle is the cause of most skipped stitches
  • Sailrite Marine Thread — UV-stabilized, pre-wound bobbins available

YouTube — Sewing Tutorials

  • Sailrite YouTube Channel — the best free resource for marine canvas; dodger patterns, bimini tutorials, sail repair, upholstery, winch covers — over 300 free project videos
  • Fresh Breeze Sailing — DIY canvas projects on a real cruising boat
  • Search YouTube "Sailrite dodger" or "DIY bimini Sunbrella" for dozens of real-boat tutorials

Marine Fabrics — What to Use Where

Exterior Canvas & Covers

Sunbrella Marine Grade (Glen Raven)

Industry Standard

Weight: 9.25 oz/sq yd

Price: ~$18–$28/yard

The benchmark for exterior marine canvas. Solution-dyed acrylic — color goes all the way through the fiber so it cannot fade out. UV-resistant, mildew-resistant, breathable, and cleanable with soap and water. Industry-standard warranty of 5 years for color retention. Used on 90% of professional biminis, dodgers, and sailboat covers worldwide. Available in 60+ colors.

Use for: Biminis, dodgers, sail covers, boom covers, winch covers, weather cloths, cockpit enclosures, hatch covers.

sunbrella.com | Sailrite — Sunbrella

Sunbrella Plus

Premium

Weight: 9.25 oz/sq yd

Price: ~$28–$38/yard

Sunbrella with an additional waterproof coating (Teflon-coated). Better water beading and faster drying than standard Sunbrella. The right choice for dodger tops and bimini tops in rainy climates (Pacific Northwest, offshore). Breathable side faces up; waterproof coating faces down. Standard Sunbrella is breathable but not waterproof — worth the upgrade for any canvas that will hold rain.

Use for: Dodger tops, bimini tops, any canvas expected to shed standing water.

Sailrite — Sunbrella Plus

Stamoid / Top Gun (Serge Ferrari)

Alternative

Price: ~$20–$30/yard

PVC-coated polyester — waterproof (not just water-resistant), very tough, easy to wipe clean. Heavier than Sunbrella; does not breathe; can be hot in the tropics. Better for enclosure side panels and dodger window surrounds where a fully waterproof panel is needed. Not recommended for bimini tops — heat buildup underneath.

Use for: Cockpit enclosure panels, dodger side panels, spray dodger panels, weather cloths where waterproofing is paramount.

Phifertex (Phifer)

Ventilation / Enclosures

Price: ~$12–$20/yard

PVC-coated polyester mesh — the standard fabric for cockpit enclosure panels where ventilation and visibility are needed simultaneously. Blocks spray, allows airflow. Used as screen panels in dodger side windows and cockpit enclosures. Available in multiple weave densities (tight for spray, open for airflow).

Use for: Cockpit enclosure screen panels, shade sails, windscreens.

Sail Repair Fabrics

Dacron Sailcloth (Woven Polyester)

Standard for Sail Repair

Price: ~$4–$12/yard depending on weight

The fabric most production sails are made of. Available in multiple weights (3.8 oz for light-air sails, 6 oz for working sails, 8–9 oz for offshore mains). Match the weight of the original sail when patching. Available from Sailrite by the yard.

Use for: Patches on mainsails, headsails, and jibs; reinforcement at high-load points (clew, tack, head); leech and foot tape repair.

Sailrite — Dacron Sailcloth

Insignia Cloth / Spinnaker Nylon

Price: ~$4–$8/yard

Lightweight woven nylon for spinnaker and light-air sail repair. 0.5–1.5 oz weights. Use zigzag stitch for all spinnaker repair — it handles stretch better than straight stitch.

Sailrite

Sail Repair Tape (temporary)

Price: ~$12–$25/roll

Two-sided adhesive tape for temporary field repairs underway. Repairs done with tape should be sewn properly at the next opportunity. Tear-Aid Type A (fabric) and Rip-Stop Repair tape are the standard. Always carry both on any offshore passage.

Sailrite | Defender

Interior & Upholstery Fabrics

Sunbrella Upholstery Fabric

Interior Standard

Weight: 5.5–7 oz (lighter than marine grade)

Price: ~$15–$25/yard

Same solution-dyed acrylic technology as exterior Sunbrella but in a softer, upholstery-weight construction. Mildew-resistant — critical for marine interiors where moisture is constant. Cleanable; holds color; available in hundreds of patterns and solids. The correct fabric for salon settees, V-berth cushions, and navigation seat cushions.

Sailrite — Interior Fabric | Rocky Woods

Marine Vinyl (Naugahyde / SeaMark)

Easy-Clean Option

Price: ~$10–$22/yard

PVC vinyl over woven backing — the most common material for cockpit cushion tops, companionway seat surfaces, and surfaces that get wet regularly. Easy to wipe clean; waterproof; durable. Choose marine-grade vinyl only — standard automotive or furniture vinyl deteriorates rapidly with UV and salt exposure. Naugahyde and SeaMark are the standard brands.

Use for: Cockpit cushion tops (use foam underneath with drainage gaps), helm seat surfaces, any interior surface that gets wet regularly.

Sailrite — Marine Vinyl

Closed-Cell Foam (Cushion Fill)

Price: ~$1.50–$4/sq ft depending on density

Use 4–6 lb density closed-cell foam for cockpit cushions (resists water absorption). Use 1.8–2.5 lb open-cell foam for interior cabin cushions where breathability matters. Sailrite sells pre-cut marine foam in standard sizes; or buy sheets from a local foam supplier and cut to your templates.

Sailrite — Marine Foam

Where to Buy Fabric

Project Guides & Tutorials

Bimini & Dodger

Sail Repair

  • Sailrite — Repairing Sunbrella Canvas (Video)
  • Practical Sailor — Fixing Tears in Sunbrella
  • Basic sail repair kit for offshore: sail repair tape (Tear-Aid), 2 oz and 6 oz Dacron, a curved needle, sail twine, a palm (sail sewing leather thimble), seam ripper, and a tube of Seamstick (double-sided basting tape). Sailrite sells complete offshore sail repair kits.
  • Batten pocket repair: the most common sail repair needed; cut out the failed pocket, sew a new one from 6 oz Dacron; reinforce the ends with an extra patch
  • Leech tape repair: remove the old leech tape, sew new 1.5" or 2" Dacron tape with zigzag stitch
  • UV cover on furled headsails: Sunbrella UV cover tape sewn to the leech and foot; most common canvas repair on cruising boats; full replacement is a one-afternoon sewing project with the Ultrafeed

Covers & Upholstery

  • Winch covers — the simplest canvas project; great for learning the Ultrafeed. Cut a circle, sew a hem with shock cord through the hem for a drawstring fit. 30-minute project per winch.
  • Sail cover (boom cover) — measure boom circumference and length; sew a tube with zipper or snap closure; reinforce the sail tie attachment points with webbing
  • Hatch covers — flat panels with elasticized edges; use Sunbrella for UV protection; sew in a stiffener ring or edge trim for shape
  • Cockpit cushions — foam cut to shape, wrapped in marine vinyl (top) and Sunbrella (sides and bottom); use drain holes in the bottom panel to prevent waterlogging
  • Interior berth cushions — open-cell foam in Sunbrella or marine vinyl covers; removable covers for washing are worth the extra work

Sunbrella Care & Cleaning

  • Brush off loose dirt before wetting — wet dirt grinds into the fiber
  • Mild soap and water for regular cleaning; a soft brush works for most stains
  • For mildew: 1 cup bleach + 1/4 cup dish soap per gallon of water; apply, let sit 15 min, scrub, rinse thoroughly
  • Re-treat with Star Brite Sail and Canvas Restorer or 303 Fabric Guard every 1–2 seasons to restore water beading
  • Sailrite — How to Clean Sunbrella Canvas
  • Never machine wash Sunbrella canvas attached to its hardware — hand wash in place or remove and wash separately without hardware

Professional Canvas Shops

  • If a project is beyond your skill or time, a professional canvas shop is the right call for a dodger — the structural measurements and window placement are unforgiving
  • Ask your local marina for referrals; the best canvas shops have a 4–6 week wait and deserve it
  • Consider having a pro make the dodger and doing the bimini yourself — dodgers are harder; biminis are approachable
  • The Marine Canvas — online patterns and templates for common boat models