PVC 'clamps' for sail sewing

[Steve Lansdowne]

Sailrite sewing suggestions include using a cardboard tube with a slit down one side to slip over portions of rolled sail to make it easier to handle when feeding it through a sewing machine. I found that 1" sections of PVC pipe with a saw kerf-wide slot cut to open them up (or slots the width of 2-3 kerfs) work just as well for this job, if not better. PVC comes in various diameters and can be easily cut on a band saw. Once all sharp edges are sanded, the clamps are ready to use. These are lightweight and one will handle 3-4' of rolled sail. They can be easily slipped over the end of the sail and slid to where they are needed. Once these clamps are installed on the sail, the sail can be easily rolled up or back out as needed. For additional convenience, masking tape can be used (as shown in one of these photos) to hold them in place. One drawback is that these protrude a bit beyond the rolled face of the sail, thus one must be aware of their tendency to hang up on the sewing machine 'platform' or on other supports used to support the sail as it is fed through the machine.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lansdownes/sets/72157605991492824/