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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Old friend on it's last legs

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/14/2012 : 18:35:37

I just discovered a 3" or so tear along the brim of my Tilley T-3. I was wearing the hat yesterday at our marina working party, but I don't remember doing anything to cause the tear. To be fair, the tear ends (or started) in a hole left by our old chocolate lab retrieving it like a Frisbee on one of our sailing trips about 5 years ago. Rita & I just went for a walk around the neighborhood which is when I discovered the tear. It definitely wasn't there yesterday so something I did while at the working party must have caused the damage.

Tilley has a life time guarantee on their hats, but I don't really want to replace it. I've written them to see if they can repair it for me instead, but I'm not hopeful, the tear is right along the joint between the brim & top. That hat's been with me for at least two plus decades, possibly closer to three, I don't really remember when I got it. It's been to a least a dozen other countries over the years, been on my head probably every single time I've been sailing in the past twenty years, I hate to think it's time has passed.

David
C-250 Mainsheet Editor

Sirius Lepak
1997 C-250 WK TR #271 --Seattle area Port Captain --

Edited by - on

shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 10/14/2012 : 18:44:12

Know the feeling, lost my oilskin aussie sailing last summer... lots of funny crap happened to that hat, and it recovered from it. Including becoming a chew toy for a Newfoundland (had to recoat it with oil then, and glue the hatband back on). It was so rough looking at points we called it the "sorting hat" (Harry Potter ref)... Hat was responsible for several MOB drills. I've also been dumped by my horse, going over forward, landing on my feet, with my hat still firmly on my head... thank god.

Lost the hat to a sweeping jibe, in 15-20mph winds with a +5 gust. Got turned around, but the dark brown just didn't mesh well with the (then) dark water of the lake. Never found it again, and I know it was floating, it was waterproof afterall!

May you repair your Tilly and it last a lifetime of sailing.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 10/14/2012 : 19:05:04

Yup--my 30+ year-old Tilley is fraying along the brim, but still in one piece... I've rescued it several times, thanks to the foam flotation in the crown. (Being "waterproof" by itself won't keep it from going below the surface.) I would be sorry to have to replace it with a new one--not because of cost, but because of history. And where else can I buy a size 8??

When I feel the need to wash it due to the sweat stains, I do it in the dishwasher to eliminate chafe.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 10/14/2012 19:07:21

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 10/14/2012 : 21:22:31

I feel your pain. I lost my T-3 this summer and am slowly building a relationship with a new one. Looking at the new one doesn't bring flashes of great memories.

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pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 10/15/2012 : 11:13:12

Get a palm and a curved needle.

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 10/17/2012 : 14:04:26

Don't think that's going to work:

We mailed it off to Tilley this morning, they're going to replace it with a new one. Makes me sad, but this one is unwearable (unless I want sun burnt brows all the time).

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 10/17/2012 : 14:14:18

Duct-tape.

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 10/17/2012 : 15:46:02

Hah, that's what Rita suggested. The original tear was from the right side to where you can see my first finger toward the bottom. After washing it so it could be sent in for replacement, it had more than doubled the original tear.

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islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4023 Posts

Response Posted - 10/19/2012 : 13:29:31

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Duct-tape.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
What? Blasphemy I say!....Any true sailor would use sail repair tape!
Oh yes, My condolences on the loss of a good friend.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 10/19/2012 : 19:33:45

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by islander
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Duct-tape.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
What? Blasphemy I say!....Any true sailor would use sail repair tape!
Oh yes, My condolences on the loss of a good friend.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">You have to remember I've gone over to the Dark Side. But "sail repair tape"?? What a snob!

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2012 : 09:59:26

So, got a letter yesterday from Tilley, they no longer make my exact hat and they wanted instructions to replace it. I spent some time on the web choosing another hat (TWC-4), then gave them a call this morning. Turns out they still do make one nearly identical except it's more of a khaki than white (it's a T-4, not a T-3 as I thought). It still has the green underbrim, and I don't care so much about the color. I'm much more concerned about blocking the sun & rain, so I've got a brand new khaki colored T-4 on the way.

We went mushroom hunting over the weekend, and I missed having my hat, so I'm looking forward to getting my new one & breaking it in.

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bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1776 Posts

Response Posted - 10/26/2012 : 17:36:05

And THAT is the reason I love my Tilley -- exceptional service!!!!

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