Supplier of sailmaking thread

[peterAustralia]

Hi all,

I am having big, big trouble in finding a supplier of sail repair / sail making thread here in Australia.

I know that I require a strong polyester thread like V69 from Sailrite and also sold from Duckworks. I only require 200 yards or so, though do not mind getting 600 yards just for the sake of it. The cost per 350 yard spool is $4.50, very reasonable. However sailrite would like to charge me $40 for freight and duckworks would like to charge me $20.

When you factor is exchange rates and credit card charges it starts to get very expensive.

I have been to craft stores with no luck. I have been to canvas awning people with no luck (will not sell to public). One sailmaker was not interested, though one sailmaker in Sandringham was pretty helpful and will sell me a modest 2500 yards for $52. I have also tried eBay.

What next, someone suggested lefferer leather shop, there may be other sail makers to contact, the yacht shop is another option. A few yacht chandlerly shops I have tried do not have any...

You can start to see that I have tried a few places and am getting pretty annoyed and sh**** about the whole thing.

Would anyone be so kind to give me an idea of where to look. I am prepared to pay the $52 if I have to, but would have thought I would be able to find something for $10 - $15 somewhere


regards,
peter

(the fellow that was sailing his dory on the maribrynong river with white polytarp sails last week)

[Colin Howkins]

Peter,

There is a company based in Sydney called Sewing Thread Specialists.

They are wholesale only, so they may not sell to you.

If you know what you want - exactly - and they have it, they may be able to tell you where you can get it, or I may be able to buy it for you and get it to you - I'm sure we could work out the details.

PM me is you wish

[bitingmidge]

Collin's your best bet I reckon, or phone a few more sail makers till you find a friendly one!

Unfortunately postage from the States is a fact of life, I have photo books printed there occasionally at about $29.00 per pop, the postage is $20.00.

It still costs less than a third the price of producing one locally, but it makes me weep!

cheers,

P

[GeoffN]

Peter
I asked a sailmaker if I could buy some thread from him and he said when he gets to the end of a spool, if he doesn't have enough for a sail he puts it aside, so this may be an option for you. Just a thought.
Cheers
Geoff

[Boatmik]

I've had little trouble buying thread and fabric from independent sailmakers. Generally a sale is a sale is a sale to them. If you are after something specific you might have to wait.

Binks in Adelaide is good
08 8294 6211 ask to speak to the sail loft. If you tell them what the sail is for they can help.

Contender - I haven't used them.
http://www.contender.com.au/

WA
http://www.parkinson-mann.com.au/proddetail.php?prod=DabondAuto
(this is a direct link to thread - don't know if it is what you need. They would probably need to know the weight of the cloth.

This guy works by email only. But seems to promise anything and everything.
http://www.thesailfactory.com/services.html

These Dudes seem to have most things I can imagine
http://www.paskal.com.au/default1.asp?country=26
Paskal Australia Pty Ltd
3 Shearson Crescent
MENTONE, VIC, 3194
Phone: 03 9585 1207
Fax: 03 9583 1699
a further list of distributors - these guys are important
http://www.paskal.com.au/pas_dist.asp?country=26

[catbuilder]

Hi Peter

I'd just go to a sailmaker in Melbourne, Horizon is Sandringham, Hooper I think is in Port Melbourne, Victorian Sailing Supplies in Seaford have an in house Sailmaker (Warren..somebody).

They buy it by the box full, I'm sure they sell you some.

Regards

Matt

[catbuilder]

I do have a part spool here, however I just went out to find it and it has had some hardener splashed on it and now has west system colour on it every few feet, but as I said I'd try some more sailmakers.

Out of the three mentioned above I would probably try www.victoriansailingsupplies.com.au (http://www.victoriansailingsupplies.com.au) first, Matt Kelly owns the business and is a friend of mine.

Regards

Matt Harper

[Boatmik]

These Dudes seem to have most things I can imagine
http://www.paskal.com.au/default1.asp?country=26

These guys seem to supply to everyone else. Big range of stuff from brass eyes through double sided tape, thread.

MIK