Sailrite or an industrial walking foot: which one your canvas work needs

Sailrite portable machines have a loyal following among boat owners and DIY canvas makers, and for good reason. They are also the machine many canvas shops outgrow first. This is an honest comparison of a portable walking foot like the Sailrite Ultrafeed with a table-mounted industrial walking foot, and how to tell which one your work needs.

Two different kinds of machine

A portable walking foot such as the Ultrafeed LSZ-1 is a compact, carry-able machine with a walking foot and, on the LSZ model, a zig-zag stitch. It is built to go where the boat is: on a dock, in a cockpit, on a kitchen table, even hand-cranked without power.

An industrial walking foot is a cast iron head mounted in a table with its own motor, built to sew all day in one place. It is not portable at all, and it is not meant to be. What it gives up in mobility it makes up in capacity and speed.

It is worth knowing that Sailrite also sells a table-mounted industrial walking foot of its own. The comparison here is really portable against industrial, whoever makes it.

The numbers side by side

Where a portable machine is the right choice

• Repairs on the boat, at the dock or at sea, with or without power.
• Occasional canvas projects at home: a few covers, cushions, a dodger a season.
• Small sail repairs and patches, where the zig-zag stitch matters.
• No room for a machine table, or a machine that has to be put away after use.

Where you will outgrow it

• Thread. Many canvas makers run 138 thread on heavy covers and webbing for strength. A portable machine tops out around 92.
• Thickness. A bimini with webbing, a binding over several layers, or a zipper end with vinyl: 3/8 inch of lift fills up quickly.
• Feed on long seams. On big panels the compound feed of an industrial head keeps layers aligned better, and a table holds the weight of the work.
• Volume. When canvas becomes paid work, sewing speed, bobbin size and a machine that does not move on the table add up to hours every week.
• Reach. Enclosures and large covers are far easier on a long arm, which a portable machine cannot offer.

What to move up to

For a canvas shop the usual step up is a compound feed walking foot with a large hook. If most of your work is covers and cushions, a standard arm such as the 1541S is enough. If you make biminis, enclosures and full boat covers, go straight to a long arm such as the 1508L-18: our long arm guide explains how to choose the length. Sail lofts that need zig-zag should look at a heavy zig-zag such as the 2153L30.

Sailrite and Ultrafeed are trademarks of Sailrite Enterprises, Inc. SEWPRO is not affiliated with Sailrite. Specifications for the Ultrafeed LSZ-1 are taken from Sailrite's published product information; check sailrite.com for current figures.