Rolf,
I forgot to mention that I am using a 110/18 needle, though I only had one and broke it with about 2 feet of stitching left. We ended up using a 100/16 and it worked fine.

Phill,
All I really need to do is get the halyards in the pockets. That's the only reason I put them on. They should fit even if it is tight. The material is some sort of very heavy ripstop. I was helping a friend of mine do some work and I noticed a bright blue roll of material in his workshop. I mentioned that it was a pretty blue and I was looking for some material in a similar color to build a trampoline. He said that this material would work and asked me how much I needed. When I continued to ask about the material, he said he didn't know much about it. He had gotten it in bulk at an auction, but he said it was rediculously strong. He cut a piece off and cut two slits in it. He then tried to continue ripping it and couldn't. I tried and it wouldn't rip. He uses it on bimini tops for power/fishing boats. He showed me a bikini top that he put on his tractor that he had pulled drum tight. He said you could get up on top of the tractor and stand on it although I didn't take him up on the offer. So basically, when anyone asks where I got the material, I tell them that it came from aliens because I really have no idea what it is. I'll attach a close up picture. It is heavier than the trampoline mesh, but much lighter than the old solid Hobie tramps.


-Rob V.
Panama City
Nacra 5.2