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 Lorena happy with the new machine
The two docks will have depths of 7 ft. with electricity for up to four boats at a time. The new sail loft and workshop will be located across the bay from Texan Bay Marina.
At present, Annie and Tom are operating out of the rancho next to Texan Bay Marina which they are renting from Association de las Mujeres de Cayo Quemado. However, the association has recently received their much anticipated grant money to continue the process of turning it into a restaurant., so Annie and Tom will be building their own sail loft.  Annie and Tom Annie and Tom have been cruising and working on sailboats for the last two years but found that constant travel by boat didn’t leave them time to build the kinds of work-related, community-based friendships that they are both used to, being from small towns in the mid-west United States. They started out in Ohio where Annie replaced all of the canvas and repaired all the sails on their Vancouver 27 with a Sailrite LSZ-1 machine while Tom refinished the teak decks, replaced all the wiring and plumbing and paint and installed a new galley and pantry.  Damaris removing the old stitching from the sacrificial on a jib
In Annapolis they rebuilt a 60’ steel schooner including all new wiring, plumbing, water-maker, fridge, cabin sole, bulkheads and headliner, galley and saloon, interior & exterior paint, and canvas.  Lorena stitching the new sacrificial on another jib
“We had heard many things about the river before we arrived, but none prepared us for how fast we fell in love with the sweet water, wonderful people, fresh abundant veggies and tranquil atmosphere. We spent a month in Tortugal building some awnings and doing some plumbing and carpentry work and then moved down river to beautiful Cayo Quemado. We noticed that cruisers can get canvas work done here on the Rio but the options for proper sail repair are harder to find,” Annie said.  Myra and Lorena Sail repair, as their name suggests is their passion. Since they decided to stay and pursue this line of work, they have hired a neighbor, Lorena, who has become an amazingly good seamstress over the last several months, and they bought a sail-making and repair machine. “The Sailrite Professional, provides a flawless 2 point (normal) and 4 point (three stitches per zig, three per zag) zig-zag stitch up to 10mm wide, as well as 5mm straight stitch, in over a dozen layers of 8 ounce Dacron and Sunbrella, not to mention pounding through an additional two layers of 4000# test nylon webbing to reinforce tired tacks and clews.  s/v Emma in Annapolis  Maykol  Hanks for a jib -- no longer furler rolled
The same commitment to quality extends to all of the work they do, rigging, electrical, plumbing, diesel repair and anything else your sailboat needs, all with the highest quality parts available. “We have no problem importing materials for your boat, and the cost is very reasonable with around a six-week lead-time,” they said. “We have great local craftsmen here in Cayo Quemado capable of paint, glass and amazing carpentry and to make sure we spread the wealth around the community, 3% of our gross sales go to the Cayo Quemado school,” Annie explained.  New life for an old clew “We also hire some of the local women to wash sails and do prep work and we are starting one of the girls making backpacks and totes on one of our smaller machines, out of old sails, for donation to the school kids. (If you have worn out sails in the locker, please consider donating them.)” “Please stop by and see us on the way upriver or downriver, drop off your sails (dockside access) for a complete wash and professional inspection and repair of any worn stitching, tears, holes, and chafe points. We also offer free pick-up and delivery anywhere on the river,” she added. Their shop is totally powered by solar energy. Contact Cayo Quemado Sails and Rigging at (502) 5776 5856 |
