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Sailmaking |
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Mister Nick 
Far too distracted from work 
Joined: 01 Aug 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 389 |
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 Topic: SailmakingPosted: 27 Aug 11 at 1:30pm |
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I'm looking to go into sailmaking when I've finished my education and I was just wondering if anyone knew the best way to go about that? As far as I can tell you can't do a degree in sailmaking (Unless you have to do some kind of general textiles qualification?) so that leads me to believe it's taught via apprenticeship. I've been advised by a few people to go to my nearest loft and ask if they can take me on (without payment) so I can learn the ropes and hopefully work my way up into a job. Obviously I wouldn't be going anywhere near sails or anything important for a long time but it's more the experience of seeing everything happening and knowing what goes on that would be beneficial. Is this a good way to go about it or have I missed something? I'm 15 at the moment, one year of school left.
Edited by Mister Nick - 27 Aug 11 at 1:54pm |
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RS400atC
Really should get out more 
Joined: 04 Dec 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3011 |
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Posted: 27 Aug 11 at 2:23pm |
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Asking around sailmakers is a start.
Maybe try to get a work experience week and talk to people in the job. You might also try the Association of British Sailmakers and find out what training is out there. good luck! |
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Jon711
Far too distracted from work
Joined: 04 May 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 465 |
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Posted: 27 Aug 11 at 4:29pm |
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Yes, Good Luck.. however, you may find that most lofts seem to want good sailors to be the sailmakers (ie those that now, or in the past have been at the top of the game)....
If you really want a career in the Marine Industry (Been there, got the T-Shirt), it is easier to get into the boatbuilding side. Do a year a year course with the IBTC (or similar), and once known, you may be able to branch out into sails. I did a year at the IBTC and two years later, was a nearly foreman(! - it's along story!) and ended up specialising in rigging... It is a great business, but, unfortunately, I need to earn money to pay the bills.... I could not do that in the marine industry.. Good Luck Jon |
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Blaze 711
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Jack Sparrow
Really should get out more
Joined: 08 Feb 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2965 |
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Posted: 27 Aug 11 at 4:32pm |
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Good sailors seem to get the jobs in lofts. It's logical when you think about it, sailing well in a fleet with a given set of sails from a loft, equals more sales in that fleet. If you want anything more than being a back room seamstress, I suggest concentrating on you're sailing. Then have a really long think about if you really want to go into an industry that is very poorly paid, and is reducing it's work force to purely design and sales teams ( not many jobs ) and out sourcing the manufacture to the far east. I'm not sure that getting into a loft with sewing skill and without another complimentary skill, that the loft needs ( i.e web developer, RYA youth squad sailor, etc... ) is going to happen. But if you want to start somewhere to understanding how to sew sail cloth, start making kites. There are plenty of kite shops around that sell materials, as well as plenty of books, internet sites describing how to build them. This should at least help you decide if you want to spend many hours hunched up over a machine and cutting table.
Edited by Jack Sparrow - 27 Aug 11 at 7:33pm |
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Jack Sparrow
Really should get out more
Joined: 08 Feb 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2965 |
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Posted: 27 Aug 11 at 4:43pm |
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JimC
Really should get out more
Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6662 |
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Posted: 27 Aug 11 at 5:03pm |
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Also consider: do you love sailing with a passion? If so it may not be what you should do for a living. I ride bikes, and used to work in the bike trade, but it wasn't too long before I discovered that the last thing I wanted to do at the weekend was hang around with more damn bikers, especially if they were customers and so I was always having to guard what I said just a little bit: you're never really off duty if you socialise with your customers. There's a lot to be said for having a bill paying job which is not your hobby...
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Guests
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Posted: 27 Aug 11 at 6:54pm |
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The above advice of concentrating on your sailing is spot on. Focus on getting as good as you can and understanding as much as you can and work as hard as you an at school. Do A-levels! Being a good sailor and having good understanding will help you get into sailmaking. Pushing hard at school at getting some good qualifications will help, should you then decide sailmaking isn't for you.
Also, start out in a dinghy racing loft, not a yacht loft. You'll be a much better sailmaker for it. |
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G.R.F.
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Joined: 10 Aug 08 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 4028 |
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Posted: 27 Aug 11 at 7:36pm |
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I find this interesting, in windsurfing it doesn't necessarily follow that you have to be a good windsurfer to be a good sailmaker.
Good at sailing doesn't necessarily mean a chap has what it takes to be good at sailmaking. Good at sail making imv requires skill with a sewing machine, good attention to detail, patience. At 15, I'd suggest asking for work at a loft, any jobbing loft, you'll soon find a lot of the commerce of a loft is more about boat covers, shop awnings and other sewing and cloth assembly work. Floor sweeping, tea making and tidying up are the first requisites of a good sailmaker.  If you do happen to become good at sailing, then make your own sail and your natural talent has it at the front of the fleet then folk buy it as a result, you're off. But I wouldn't quit your day job, or duck out of school or GCSE's, the obvious question is, are there any sail lofts near you?
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blueboy
Really should get out more
Joined: 27 Aug 10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 512 |
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Posted: 28 Aug 11 at 8:34am |
Experience is important, getting contacts is important. Yes, for a limited period of time, it would be a good thing to do and give you some idea if this is really what you want to do. It's a tough business. Mind you, right now, they all are. |
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Andymac
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Joined: 04 Apr 07 Location: Derbyshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 852 |
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Posted: 28 Aug 11 at 10:02am |
I couldn't agree more.
Went into full time sailing instructing for 9 years. my leisure sailing got to be like a 'busmans holiday'. Ironically, (opposite to Jim) I took to cycle racing for 20 years, before a young family meant lack of training time, and I eventually picked up on sailing again (having changed career some time ago).
I would never again try to mix business and pleasure.
Having said that, good luck with whatever path you choose.
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