I'm seriously considering going this route because I'm on a very tight budget with my AMF Trac 16. My tramp has a hole in it, right where you need to step to step the mast. It's been patch repaired before but I went through the patch, so it's time to do something about it.

I found a few articles about using a heavy duty tarp for trampoline repair/replacement. I'm not sure if it's a good idea or not, and I'm sure it wont last as long as the real deal, but considering a heavy duty tarp cost around $25 and the actual replacement tramp cost around $400, the $25 sounds good for my pocket.

Have any of you out there tried this before?

http://www.instructables.…ck-Catamaran-Trampoline/

http://www.instructables.…/id/Hobie-18-Trampoline/


I'm also curious if anyone has used netting, like you would see on the bow of large luxury catamarans, for a trampoline replacement?(just thinking aloud)


P.S.
I really wish I had the money to get the actual replacement tramp... someday...

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1984 AMF Trac 16, First year of sailing, Central California
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I would really recommend against a heavy duty tarp or netting fix. Neither are ideal and would be disappointing.

If the trampoline is still servicable get yourself a Speady Stitcher and some sunbrella from Sailrite http://www.sailrite.com/Speedy-Stitcher-Sewing-Awl-Kit and do an overlay patch. Place a layer of sunbrella larger than the hole on both sides and stich around the perimeter. Cut an even larger piece, place it over the patch and stitch around it's perimeter and through the other patch to distribute the load.

Technically speaking you could buy yourself some sunbrella and grommet kit and reuse the bolt rope and make your own tramp using the old one as a pattern. Doing so with a hand stitcher would be very time consuming and depending on your skill level might yeild poor results. Tramp material is about $16.00 per yard (72" bolt).

D.

--
Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
--

@wolfman

Sunbrella is boat canvas, used for sail covers and suchlike. What is used for trampolines is more porous, for the most part, and a bit more heavy-duty

Phifertex would work, or some of these: (I've tinyurl'd the very long search string) http://tinyurl.com/48etqqy

You are correct. Sorry this is the fabric I meant:

http://www.sailrite.com/Trampoline-Mesh-Black-74

Regards,
Dave

--
Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
--

I have built a tramp from mesh tramp material. You will need a heavy duty sewing machine and good thread. If the trac's tramp uses grommets, you will need to buy a $35 spur grommet tool. With
some ingenuity, you can be successful. My tramp was made from
used material and has already lasted two summers and is holding
up well.

--
Pete Knapp
Schodack landing,NY
Goodall Viper,AHPC Viper,Nacra I20
--

Thank you guys for the great advice and Wolfman for the link to Sailrite!

Sounds like patching it with the mesh material and that hand tool from Sailrite is the best way to go for my budget.

Once the rest of the tramp is beyond repair hopefully I'll have some extra cash to buy a pre-made tramp... If not I'll be learning the hard way to make my own.

Thanks again!

--
1984 AMF Trac 16, First year of sailing, Central California
--

Go ahead and bite the bullet. $400. is a good deal, and you won't regret it. I have one made by Sunrise??? in Fla. that was stiched with teflon thread. It is 15 years old, has set outside year round, and is still in great shape. I weigh in at 245# and stand on it to step the mast.

So I ended up purchasing some black mesh trampoline material from Sailrite for like $14 and the speedy stitcher sewing awl for like $14, after tax and shipping came to about $40.

The patch looks great and took a little while to do with some help, since I patched it while the tramp was still on the cat.

I'll post some pictures of how prepared the patch and the finished repair.

Thanks everyone for the great advice.

--
1984 AMF Trac 16, First year of sailing, Central California
--

Old post, but I wanted to follow up with some pictures of my repair.

Purchased the trampoline material and Speedy Stitcher from sailrite.com for about $40(shipping included)
http://www.sailrite.com/Trampoline-Mesh-Black-74
http://www.sailrite.com/S…-Stitcher-Sewing-Awl-Kit

The Speedy Stitcher and the preparation of the patch. I used blue masking tape to prevent fraying while preparing the patch:


More preparation, double folded about a inch of the parameter of the patch, before sewing the patch to the tramp:


Used some stitching to hold the major tare together on the trampoline. I also left the stitching from the old patch to help add strength and prevent fraying:


The finished patch. I had a friend help with the stitching so I could patch the tare while the tramp was still installed on the boat. The blue stuff is the masking tape that was used in preparing the patch, just left it, I don't think it will hurt anything:


This patch is amazingly strong. I can step right in the middle of it while stepping the mast and holds up great....



Edited by aaronhall555 on Jun 21, 2011 - 04:23 PM.

--
1984 AMF Trac 16, First year of sailing, Central California
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Good job, whatever it takes to get back on the water!

--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

How To Create Your Signature

How To Create Your Own Cool Avatar

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For what it is worth, I once purchased a P15 with netting as the tramp. Terrible idea: lines were falling in the holes in the netting and streaming behind the boat. It was also impossible to pull the netting tight enough to keep knees, elbows, and feet out of the drink during certain maneuvers (minus tacking - the boat did not like to tack). I had already paid too much for the boat and didn't want to spend another dime on it, BUT because of the reasons just mentioned, ended up ordering a tramp on clearence from Atomic Tarps. Now that same tramp has been moved to another beater: P16 and works just fine.

--
Hank, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, P16 - "Sideways"
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Awesome job!! I'm just waiting for my fabric to come in and I am planning on making my own wing tramps! Hope that I have as much success.

--
Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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