Interested in making dinghy chaps?

[karenmccraw]

I wanted chaps to protect my dinghy....so I asked the local sailmaker what they would charge. They laughed. Literally laughed and said I'd be better off sailing to South America where I could get them made for under $1000.

So, I successfully made my own using Sunbrella material and a Singer 4423 Heavy Duty Sewing Machine.

It was tiring but I'm pretty pleased with the results. Materials about $200 and $155 for the sewing machine from Amazon which I'll use often in the future.

Here's my how-to if you're interested.

[Kenomac]

I've found it to easier just to paint the dinghy every year or two with a coat of the special, rubberized dinghy paint that costs $50.
I priced chaps in Mallorca last season, I think the bid came in at 650 euros, so I said no to it.

I bet sewing the chaps was a good lesson in how to make canvas stuff. I wouldn't mind learning to do it.

[JPA Cate]

Jim & I made chaps for our dinghy this year. Humble suggestion is to read the sail-rite discussion of how to do it (we used the wrong stuff for the patterns) BEFORE you get stuck into the project. The other day, I started a thread about our new addition to the chaps, reflective piping around the outside edge of the cover. The thread is posted under the Dinghy forum.

Ann

[monte]

Thanks Karen. I've bookmarked that. It might be a good job for summer. I'd like to make a similar one but would love to design it so the inside flaps can be pulled together and zipped up to keep the dinghy dry and secure on passages and allow for a good place to throw the rubbish bags.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by monte

Thanks Karen. I've bookmarked that. It might be a good job for summer. I'd like to make a similar one but would love to design it so the inside flaps can be pulled together and zipped up to keep the dinghy dry and secure on passages and allow for a good place to throw the rubbish bags.

Monte, unless you have really big diameter tubes and a small beam, i don't think the numbers work out well for that. But, one could easily sew a half zipper into the top of each side and zip a separate cover piece in when needed. Haven't seen it done, but not a bad idea!

Jim

[colemj]

Nice Karen. I have one suggestion before you put the sewing machine away - consider adding extra fabric chafe patches where people usually sit. One back by the motor definitely, and the other in an appropriate place unless the second person always sits on the seat. If you can make them out of old sail material or something similarly chafe-resistant - even better.

We found with our chaps that these two places wore out well before any other part of the chaps. Amazing how much of creatures of habit we are - the wear spots almost perfectly matched our butts!

Mark

[Ndavies]

Looks great! thanks for posting the "How To" I am going to show my wife and see if I can get her motivated.

[Jon Eisberg]

One suggestion I have for anyone making a set of chaps, would be to consider using Stamoid as your material, instead of Sunbrella...

Since Stamoid doesn't require to be hemmed, fashioning the numerous cutouts for things like oarlocks, etc., will save you a LOT of work in the end...

Stamoid, when folded or rolled up for storage when not in use, will lay much flatter and stow more compactly than Sunbrella...

One of Sunbrella's biggest weaknesses is its minimal resistance to abrasion. I think the double-sided Stamoid is far more durable in this regard...

Stamoid would seem to be less likely to 'capture' and hold dried salt crystals than the more open weave of Sunbrella. I've heard it said that chaps made of Sunbrella can actually contribute to the abrasion of Hypalon or similar inflatable fabrics, but I have no experience to assess the likelihood of that...

Needless to say, I've become a big fan of Stamoid over the years, with the exception of my mainsail cover, all of the canvaswork on my boat is from Stamoid... anyone not familiar with the material should handle a sample of it before making a decision, however, as the look and 'feel' of it differs considerably from Sunbrella...

[winethief]

I am interested in your chaps plan.

George Louis
S/v wind thief

Glouisiv@gmail.com

[colemj]

Originally Posted by Jon Eisberg

One suggestion I have for anyone making a set of chaps, would be to consider using Stamoid as your material, instead of Sunbrella...

Since Stamoid doesn't require to be hemmed, fashioning the numerous cutouts for things like oarlocks, etc., will save you a LOT of work in the end...

Stamoid, when folded or rolled up for storage when not in use, will lay much flatter and stow more compactly than Sunbrella...

One of Sunbrella's biggest weaknesses is its minimal resistance to abrasion. I think the double-sided Stamoid is far more durable in this regard...

Stamoid would seem to be less likely to 'capture' and hold dried salt crystals than the more open weave of Sunbrella. I've heard it said that chaps made of Sunbrella can actually contribute to the abrasion of Hypalon or similar inflatable fabrics, but I have no experience to assess the likelihood of that...

Needless to say, I've become a big fan of Stamoid over the years, with the exception of my mainsail cover, all of the canvaswork on my boat is from Stamoid... anyone not familiar with the material should handle a sample of it before making a decision, however, as the look and 'feel' of it differs considerably from Sunbrella...

Stamoid would solve the chafe problem I alluded to. One thing about it though, is it is very "clammy" feeling and could cause slipping if one stepped on a tube when wet.

I have seen sunbrella chaps with lots of stamoid-type material on typical wear points and butt areas before. If we get new chaps, I may consider this. I have also thought of using sailcloth in these areas.

Mark

[wrwakefield]

Well done, Karen.

Thank you for taking the time to create and share such a thorough how-to.

Cheers!

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by monte

Thanks Karen. I've bookmarked that. It might be a good job for summer. I'd like to make a similar one but would love to design it so the inside flaps can be pulled together and zipped up to keep the dinghy dry and secure on passages and allow for a good place to throw the rubbish bags.

buy extra hypalon, is appropriate, and reinforce the areas whereon the zippers will be chafing your dinghy pontoons.

[JPA Cate]

Originally Posted by zeehag

buy extra hypalon, is appropriate, and reinforce the areas whereon the zippers will be chafing your dinghy pontoons.

Good idea, zee.

Ann

[tstano]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

I've found it to easier just to paint the dinghy every year or two with a coat of the special, rubberized dinghy paint that costs $50.
I priced chaps in Mallorca last season, I think the bid came in at 650 euros, so I said no to it.

I bet sewing the chaps was a good lesson in how to make canvas stuff. I wouldn't mind learning to do it.

I used that rubber paint and it got soft and sticky after two winters in Florida. My wife made the chaps because the goo was sticking to our clothes and to us. I tried mineral spirits to take it off with minimal success. Then I was cleaning the bottom and happened to overspray onto the tubes. The paint rubbed off with a soft brush. The cleaner was Totally Awesome I spent 1$ for at the local Dollar Store.

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