Battery operated sewing machine

[Ribbit]

With the cheap digital type inverters, it's worth getting one a fair bit bigger than needed, so you don't drive it too hard (they don't last long if you do).

As mentioned above, there isn't that much difference in price (and modified sine wave are pretty cheap anyway). I picked up a nice 2kw/4kw 12v to 230v, for just over £120 (it actually cost me £10 more than the 8kw heavy duty pure sine wave I sniped on Ebay, believe it or not). It'll run a 1kw oil filled radiator on the 400w setting, til the cows come home, with no sign of overheating.

Those Sailright sound interesting, I'll have to look into one. Also, any good books on DIY sail making around?

Good tip on the double sided tape by the way.

[senormechanico]

Originally Posted by Greenhand

My sewing machine hasn't been working properly on shore power. I should get out the inverter, but instead I am trying to convince my husband that we need to make a trip to Lehmans to stock up on manual tools before we head out!

Fix it or ditch it.

It's never going to magically get better on an inverter.

[Greenhand]

Originally Posted by senormechanico

Fix it or ditch it.

It's never going to magically get better on an inverter.

It works fine if I take it up to shore, so it is something on the boat (or the dock box) that needs fixin', not the sewing machine.

[Schooner Chandlery]

Originally Posted by Greenhand

It works fine if I take it up to shore, so it is something on the boat (or the dock box) that needs fixin', not the sewing machine.

Sounds like you're on brown-out shore power. Does your boat have a good transformer (step-up/line conditoner)? That can protect you from bad shore power.

[rosatte]

Greenhand were is lehmans and so they sell sewing machines..

[rosatte]

Ok know iam curious what is brown out shore piwer..

[transmitterdan]

Originally Posted by Greenhand

It works fine if I take it up to shore, so it is something on the boat (or the dock box) that needs fixin', not the sewing machine.

Exactly! I suspect you should stop worrying about the sewing machine and worry more about what is wrong with your shore power setup. Several boats catch fire every year from poor shore power installation, corrosion or faulty connectors. It is a leading cause of total boat loss according to boat insurers.

You need to figure out what is wrong and fix it. It could be a serious problem that might start a fire.

[jkindredpdx]

I bought my heavy duty sewing machine for $30 from Goodwill Store 5 years ago.


JimK

[RolfP]

If you can find one, the older sailrite yachtsman machines had a DC power option, I just ran into a guy who is still sewing on his from many years ago.

[Greenhand]

Originally Posted by rosatte

Greenhand were is lehmans and so they sell sewing machines..

Lehman's is in Ohio, deep in Amish country, so they sell everything that gets around using electricity. You can also order online, despite the irony of the need for electricity to do so.