Withum Sailmakers

Prepping for the 2011 Sailing Season

admin — Thu, 12 May 2011 04:44:45 +0000

New in The Sail Loft…
We’ve upgraded the sail loft with the installation of our new Prosail plotter.
This will allow us to produce sails to your exacting specifications even more quickly, and with even greater precision!
We spent the end of the winter expanding the sail loft to include our plotter room, then brought the team together to install and set up our plotter.
Now, with the bugs worked out & our own training completed, we’re plotting out sails & our stitching equipment is humming away!

Embarking on any endeavor, proper preparation prevents poor performance and that’s especially true when it comes to sailing, whether you’re cruising or racing.

Sail Repairs @ the Withum Seacoast Sail Loft…
At the Withum Sailmakers Seacoast loft, we’re well underway not only plotting, cutting & stitching new mains, genoas, spinnakers & more, we’re also inspecting, repairing and washing your sails.
Racing & cruising genoas, mains, spinnakers & other sails are thoroughly inspected from the luft tape to the stitching, sun covers and your sail fabric we look closely for chafing from life lines, battens, etc. and the general condition of your sail is noted.
If we find any damage we quickly & expertly resolve the issue, whether it’s a new sun cover, a minor patch or worn stitching.

Sail Washing at Withum Sailmakers…
Once your sails are returned to optimal condition, we thoroughly wash then dry the sails, ensuring that your investment looks and performs to it’s maximum capabilities.
Your sails are a huge investment, not only in monetary terms ( andproper preventative maintenance is crucial to extended sail life & use) but also an investment in your sailing experience!
There’s not much worse than the disappointment of a mildewed or tattered sail prematurely ending the anticipation of a great day on the water.
Withum Sailmakers will make sure you get your day in the sun so call or stop in & let us optimize your sailing experience.

End of The Sailing Season Recap…

admin — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 00:53:02 +0000

Withum Sailmakers hopes you all had a great season of sailing! Unlike last season (anyone else remember 29 days of rain in June of 2009?) we had plenty of beautiful days & we really enjoyed them. In between participating in regattas like the 2010 PHRF New England and the American Yacht clubs Bacardi Challenge (and Withum Sails were well-represented across New England), we banged out a lot of your emergency repairs, measured, cut & fit a number of mains, spinnakers & genoas (including a beautiful, full-battened mainsail for an Irwin 38) and upgraded our Amesbury, Massachusetts sail loft.
We experimented with some new techniques, materials and tools to bring you even better quality sails & accessories, like our ever-popular stack packs.

We capped off the season with a visit to the United States Sailboat Show in Annapolis, Md. It was a great day, checking out the latest & greatest sail technologies, talking to & sharing ideas with industry leaders and networking with a wide variety of service providers that will enhance Withum Sailmakers ability to provide you with the quality of service you’ve come to expect from us. One thing we confirmed?
Withum Sailmakers quality & service matches or surpasses that of our competitors!

While it was nice to take a “busmans holiday”, there’s no time for us to rest and we’re back in our Amesbury, Ma. sail loft and back to work.

It’s Wash, Check & Repair Season! Invest in an ounce of prevention have us give your sails a professional going over & cleaning.
Your sails are a major investment & what makes your sailing happen, so protect that investment.
Free pick up & delivery and our prices haven’t changed in 5 years!

We’re also wading into some really fun & exciting projects. Some of them are;

A full suit of sails for a Camper & Nicholson 48′ ketch

Mylar-kevlar composite genoa for a Frers 30

Full suit for a La Compte 38′ yawl, with a full batten main & a roller furler genoa.

A 20′ Handi-Cat sail with a gaff rig.

We’re also working on filling orders for our newest stack pack systems and starting to work on early holiday orders for life jacket bags, sail bags & the like. You’ll be able to see some of our in-stock sail products on our products page, shortly.

Sailing Accessories from Withum Sailmakers

Life Jacket Bag
Keep your life jackets readily at hand with one (or more) of our life jacket bags. Various sizes, custom crafted to fit your needs!

Sail Bags, Wheel Covers & More

Recycled Sail Cloth Totes

Perfect for the boat, dock, beach & even shopping! Made right here in Amesbury, Ma. sail loft, out of recycled sail cloth, various sizes and styles. Just in time for carrying those Christmas packages & goodies in style.

Pennants, Accessories, Etc.

Custom Stack Packs
Convenience & protection in one, custom package! Our stack packs are American made (right here in our North Shore sail loft, of course) and tailored to suit your tastes & needs. Super selection of quality materials and colors, place your order now as our calender fills up quickly!

Main Sails, Spinnakers, Genoas, Storm Sails & More!
Custom crafted sails for day sailing, cruising & racing; the Withum Sailmakers specialty!
Stop by the Withum Sailmakers sail loft & let us show you what quality sail making & service is all about.

Withum Sails in Regatta News

admin — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 02:47:15 +0000

If you’ve been participating in regattas across New England as of late, you’ve probably seen Withum Sails in action.
Those boats on their ear or slogging along at the back of the pack? NOT running Withum sails.
Just been scorched by Bruce Brown & his J 37, the “Banzai”, at a PHRF Regatta ? He’s running a custom, plotter-cut spinnaker from Withum Sailmakers of Amesbury, Ma. ( 40 minutes north of Boston on the Mass., New Hampshire border ).
Of course, Bruce isn’t the only serious sailor getting all he deserves from a custom Withum sail. You’ll find our sails on the fast boats from Lake Champlain to Newport Harbor.
If you attended the Mayor’s Cup Regatta, you saw Withum Sails in action there, too, most notably on Andy Sajor’s MetalMast 30, the “Chaousarou”.

The Withum Difference:
Commitment to Quality and Service.
Tools + Materials + Knowledge = Craftsmanship
What’s the difference between Withum genoas, mains, spinnakers and other sails? It’s the Withum commitment to quality & service… we employ state-of-the-art technology, cutting edge materials and 30 years of sailing & sailmaking experience to custom craft sails that perform, whether you’re racing, cruising or day sailing.

Withum Sailmaking & Technology…

State-of-the-Art materials, cutting edge technology and a Master Sailmaker’s knowledge; the 3 key ingredients required to produce a modern suit of sails…

Dacron, Nylon, Kevlar & More…

Shown above, plotter-cut panels made of Bainbridge’s newest “AIRX” sailcloth painstakingly assembled for a racing spinnaker, at the Withum Sailmakers loft in Amesbury, Massachusetts.

Quality Materials…
Withum Sailmakers uses the highest quality materials in constructing your sails; whether you’re looking for conventionally constructed sails or need the newest, hottest composite sails. But, your material is only ONE aspect of a quality sail.

Quality Tooling…
Withum Sailmakers uses a wide variety of well-maintained equipment & tools to assemble your sails. Stop by our sail loft & you’ll see a serious sail loft, outfitted with serious sailmaking equipment, operated by true artisans, dedicated to producing the best sails possible.

Technical Expertise…
Withum Sailmakers creates superior sails to move you…not patchwork quilts or shipping blankets, so we employ the most advanced technologies available combined with an expertise attained from more than 30 years of experience, to take you where you want to go.

The Withum Sailmakers Difference
Commitment to Quality & Service!
Many sail lofts offer material, equipment & access to technology but without the passion to create
great sails, tailored to YOUR needs,
what can you expect to end up with?
Contact Withum Sailmakers, call us at (978) 388-0017 or stop by the Withum Sailmakers sail loft & talk with Bill; you’ll discover there’s no sailmaker, from Boston, Ma. to Burlington, Vt., Postland, Me. to Plattsburg, N.Y. with more passion to create great sails & committment to customer service.

Spring Sails Checkup!

admin — Mon, 03 May 2010 19:26:34 +0000

The sun has started shining & the temperatures are rising, from Newport to Boston to the waters of the Northeast Kingdom! You hop onboard, unfurl your mainsail or Genoa only to be greeted by an unpleasant surprise; a tattered sun cover, broken battens or some other sail issue.
Avoid those nasty surprises, make an appointment with Withum Sailmakers of Amesbury, Massachusetts ~ conveniently located at the nexus of the Massachusetts North Shore and the New Hampshire Seacoast ~ and have us give your sails the once over.

Complete Sail Checkup~ Mains, Genoas & More!

At Withum Sailmakers, we want you to enjoy your sailing experience and we understand how those “small details” can ruin a day on the water! Our complete sail checkup ensures you get the most enjoyment and use from your Mainsail, Genoa & Spinnaker, whether you’re cruising out of Boston or racing on Champlain.
Some of the points in our comprehensive check up are:

Inspection of Mainsail cover for rotten stitching, wear, the condition & proper fit of lazy jacks.

Inspection of Genoa sun covers, again for rotten stitching, tears and wear.

Spreader patch inspection.

Shredded luff tape.

Inspection of battens & batten pockets for missing or broken battens, holes around the pockets, etc.

Check for loose or damaged grommets.

Operating & condition of foot lines & leetch lines.

Missing/damaged telltales.

If we find an issue with your sail, we’ll advise you on the best way to resolve it and supply a reasonable quote for any necessary sail repairs.
All this and more, after we wash your sails! At $3.00/pound (a price we haven’t raised in 5 years), this is not only an excellent investment in your sails but also in your sailing experience.
We also offer free pick up and delivery.

And in the event your sail has seen it’s last day on the water, we can make you a new Genoa, Mainsail, Spinnaker or any other sail you might need or want, for cruising or racing.
With over 30 years experience, Withum Sailmakers can make sure your time on the water is free of any sail issues.
Call us at (978) 388-0017 to find out more or arrange an appointment.

Hallmark of Quality; The Well-Equipped Sail Loft

admin — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 04:34:57 +0000

One sign that you’re dealing with a quality sailmaker is a well-equipped sail loft, with properly maintained equipment.
Over the years, and millions of miles of thread, Withum Sailmakers has grown from a Singer107 in a garage, to an impressive array of sail making equipment running at peak performance in our Amesbury, Massachusetts sail loft.
Here’s some of the gear we use to provide you with high-quality, handcrafted sails….

The Singer 107w1 Zig Zag

Every sail loft in America has at least one of these(or they should). We run a number of these high quality, sturdy units.

Consew_XKZ6 Zig Zag
Extra heavy duty zig zag machine.
Good for corners, sewing thick webbings, heavy duty canvas & sail work.

Who Keeps These Beauties Humming?Withum Sailmakers is fortunate to have Sal Parisi of Parisi Sewing on North Putnam St. in Danvers, Massachusetts, as a resource.
Sal is renowned for his expertise in singer industrial sewing machines, especially the Singer 107 zigzag, an important machine in the sailmaking & canvas business.
We employ a number of singer 107s at any given time & count on Sal & his expert service to keep these machines running, and running well.

Singer 107 ~ Stretched

Custom stretched to 20″, this Singer features a 3 step attachment and Joseph, top-drive puller, which pulls fabric evenly, more consistently & gives your sails smoother, flatter seams.

Thanks, Sal!!!
Below is a Consew 206, stretched out to 25 inches. Walking foot, good for heavy duty canvas work. Sal did a killer job reconditioning & rebuilding this machine & thanks to Sals’ expertise, this machine stitches like a beast & runs like a top!

This is just a sample of the equipment that we use to create a high quality Withum Sailmakers Genoa, main, spinnaker or any other sail you might need for cruising or racing.
If you’re looking for a custom sail or need some sail repairs, call or stop by the Withum Sailmakers sail loft & take a look around. You’ll see we have what it takes to get your job done, quickly & properly.