Working on boats can be fun, but there are many expensive things to slow you down. Part of the problem is getting specialty items from established "botique" places such as:
West Marine
Svendsens (Alameda, California)
Others?
For rigging and skilled tasks like splicing, harness building and other such pursuits, these shops are often your only place to go, unless you know someone skilled in these arts. I've recently started to follow Youtube for examples of people splicing, braiding and otherwise performing for the camera.
If you're looking to repair covers and harnesses (as I now am) here is a relatively cheap Online spot to pick up nylon webbing and D-rings:
http://www.onlinefabricstore.net/
I'm finding that the small Brother sewing machine that I purchased, may not be up to the task of sewing through nylon webbing and canvas. Time to investigate new alternatives !
