Interview: Lea Rambadt on sail-making and self-employment

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Timm Kruse: Do you find the question of how you feel as a woman in this male-dominated field a bit annoying?

Lea Rambadt: No, not really. Fortunately, things have changed a bit since then. At the start, I was quite worried about what people might say: she’s young, she’s a woman, and she’s even setting up her own business in the trades. I thought I’d definitely face some resistance. But I suppose I worried too much, because that’s hardly the case at all. There are a few isolated instances, but mostly people are delighted and say: ‘Wow, it’s brilliant that someone so young is getting started.’ They support it and think it’s a good thing.

But there are still a few of the old school, aren’t there?

Of course, but I’m quite tough and good at countering arguments. That doesn’t happen very often, though. Most people like it, and that’s really lovely.

It might even be the case that people say: “It’s great that a woman’s finally doing this – they always work more thoroughly than men.”

Lots of people ask me what it was like at vocational college and whether there were any women there. In the past, there were probably far more men. Things have changed a bit since then, but there are still more men than women in the trade. Often, the real issue isn’t even that I’m a woman. People tend to say: ‘Oh, she’s still quite young, isn’t she?’ But that settles down after a while.

Experience is incredibly important, especially in your line of work. You have to make a tarpaulin so that it fits well and holds up, but without tearing.

Exactly, it’s all bespoke work. I’d say that’s just part and parcel of the job. That’s also what’s so lovely about this profession: everything is tailored to the individual. Every boat is different, every customer is different, and everyone wants it to be just that little bit different. Nothing is ever the same. That’s what makes the job interesting and ensures that this craft will probably never die out. Everything is customised to fit the boat. You go out to the boat, take the measurements and have to make templates.

How did you come to decide to become a sailmaker? It is, after all, an unusual career choice.

Actually, I realised this quite early on. When I was 14, I had to do my first school work experience placement. Up until then, I’d always thought I was the sort of person who’d end up working in an office. But my hobby has always been sailing. I also did a bit of sewing as a child and teenager. At some point, my parents said, “Why don’t you do an internship as a sailmaker?”

Did your parents have a boat?

Yes, exactly. I grew up with it. At first, though, I thought: ‘What sort of job is that?’ Then I did the work experience, and I enjoyed it so much that I’ve never done anything else. From the age of 14, I knew for certain that I wanted to train as a sailmaker.

But there’s much more to being self-employed than just the craft itself. You run a small business. How did you learn to do that?

I’d say I’m still learning. It’s not exactly easy. On the one hand, you’re learning the craft – that’s the main thing and also the best bit about it. But on top of that, it feels as though you’re also an accountant, the marketing department and a sales assistant all at once.

The good thing was that I had the support of my family and my partner right from the start. They always stood by me and said, “Go for it, it’s a good idea.” At the beginning, you also get help from the Chamber of Crafts. You have the idea of setting up your own business, but at first you have no idea what you need to do to make it happen. So I got in touch with the Chamber of Crafts – which you have to register with anyway. There, I was given a checklist that showed me, step by step, what needed to be done.

Of course, I’m still learning, and there are always new challenges to face. But that’s how you grow. You might make a small mistake now and then, learn from it and carry on. Looking back, it was the best decision.

So you’ve actually found what you want to do.

Yes, I love my craft. That’s why there’s no question about it as far as I’m concerned.

If young people with similar talents are listening: what advice can you give them? How do you set up your own business, and what is particularly important when doing so?

The most important thing is to love your craft. After that, you should seek help, for example from the Chamber of Crafts or from other people who can support you. I started my own business two and a half years ago. To begin with, I had a small workshop. It contained a sewing machine and a small table, and I also had the bare essentials in terms of materials. Then I got started.

Bit by bit, more and more was added until the workshop became too small. I now have a relatively large workshop with several machines and everything that goes with it. Things do tend to pile up. However, I would always recommend starting small and then seeing how things go. A path will present itself, and the business will grow of its own accord.

You’ve got your own boat and you sail it yourself. Is your boat sometimes a sort of testing ground for you?

Absolutely. We actually test everything on our own boat. When new materials come onto the market, we make something out of them. Then we go on holiday, and the material is put through its paces in rain, storms, wind and sunshine. We also try out new ideas on our own boat first. We see how something works, how practical it is and how it looks. Afterwards, we often offer it to our customers as well.

How do you find your customers?

It actually works quite well. We’re in Rendsburg, right in the middle of the Kiel Canal. The North Sea is about three-quarters of an hour away, as is the Baltic Sea. We have to drive out to the clients anyway to take measurements and discuss everything.

At the start, I gave a lot of thought to how I could attract customers. I started on 1 May and thought I’d need a website, an Instagram account and some advertising to begin with. In fact, though, from 2 May right up to today, I’ve had an endless amount of work and haven’t had a single boring day.

Most of it is down to word of mouth. The news has spread relatively quickly. When the company car is parked at the harbour and I’m there to take measurements, I often come back to the car to find four or five people waiting there who also need something. Of course, many people find us via the website and Google as well. Younger people find us mainly via Instagram.

As a relatively young person, are you better equipped digitally than older sailmakers?

I wouldn’t exactly say ‘better’ – more like ‘different’. I’m certainly looking into the subject and trying to make the most of Instagram. I’m no expert in this either. But of course we’re trying to approach the whole thing in a slightly more modern way, and perhaps not quite as ‘old-school’ as the craft used to be.

You just said ‘we’. Are there more people working in the sail-making workshop now?

There are two of us. That’s great, especially when we’ve got bigger jobs coming up. It also means there’s always someone in the workshop when I’m out taking measurements myself. And sometimes you do go on holiday – it doesn’t happen often, but it does happen.

Are there any cases you turn down because they’re a bit too big or too complicated for you? Or do you say, ‘All the more reason to take them on’?

It’s rare for something to be too big or too complicated. After all, that’s what makes this job so rewarding: you really get to get to grips with a task. Every client and every boat is different. You take on the challenge and try to make it all happen.

Sometimes, however, customers have very specific ideas. In such cases, I occasionally say that we won’t do something because it isn’t practical or could lead to problems down the line.

I usually explain this to customers, and they say, “You’re right. ‘Then we’ll do it as the sailmaker recommends.’ Some still insist on their own idea, though. In that case, we tell them we won’t do it that way because, for example, it could lead to water pockets or other damage. We turn down jobs like that. But not because something’s too big – challenges are always welcome.

Do you ever come across customers where you know straight away that there might be problems – no matter how well you do your job?

Yes, there are cases like that. You develop a feel for it over time. They are few and far between, though. I get the feeling that customers are becoming more modern too, moving with the times and listening to the experts. That’s great. But of course there are isolated cases where we say: ‘We won’t do that, we can’t do that, we don’t want to do that.’

As a self-employed person in particular, you have to learn to say ‘no’ every now and then. Have you made significant progress in this regard over the past two and a half years?

I probably don’t really notice it myself. But people from outside often tell me that I’ve come a long way. Especially at the start, you often say, ‘Yes, let’s do it.’ Over time, you learn to say, ‘No, not like that.’ Bit by bit, you keep moving forward. I think you toughen up a bit and have to learn to stand your ground. But I was brought up quite well in that respect. I’m quite good at it.

How do you manage your private life? Has it taken a back seat because you’re self-employed?

It’s certainly different, but it’s lovely. We’ve got plenty of work all year round. During the summer holidays, though, the phone doesn’t ring as often because the customers are away themselves. So I’ll say, ‘We’re off sailing now – we’re taking a holiday.’

When you turn your hobby into a job and sail around the area, you do sometimes see your work passing you by and find yourself thinking about it. But that’s all right. I love my job, so it doesn’t really feel like work. Of course, you have to be careful not to overdo it. It’s important to have a regular daily routine and to call it a day at some point. I’m better at that now than I was at the start.

Even so, it’s extremely hectic during the season. In the spring, we often work through the weekends – that’s quite normal. Things are a bit quieter during the summer holidays, though. After that, it’s back to full speed again.

For many boat owners, boat covers are an important issue. What sort of fabric do you need, and what is the best way to look after and maintain it?

When it comes to tarpaulins, it always depends on what you have and what the tarpaulin is intended for. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The important thing is to buy a decent quality one and look after it properly.

You shouldn’t pack things away whilst they’re still damp – neither in winter nor in summer. Tarpaulins should be stored properly and cleaned, but not too thoroughly and not with cleaning products that are too harsh.

I also think it’s important to have your items serviced regularly. I’m not just saying that because it’s my job. Many customers drop their items off with us in the autumn and collect them again in the spring. That way, we can check everything over and repair any minor damage at an early stage.

A repair like this is usually still relatively inexpensive. If you wait four years, the damage can become significantly worse and may have caused further damage. Then it becomes expensive, and things break more quickly.

That’s why I’d advise checking things regularly. Autumn is the ideal time for this, when the boat is being put into winter storage. You can also have a look yourself: is there a seam that stands out? Are there any scuff marks? What do the buttons look like? Many people bring their items to us in the autumn. We take care of everything over the winter, and the season can continue in the spring.

Do you have enough space to store all the tarpaulins properly?

We have a winter storage facility. It was far too small in the first year, so we extended it. Now it’s bigger, and everything is stored in dry conditions in our warehouse. The items are kept on shelves.

When the tarpaulins arrive here, they’re often still a bit damp and musty. We usually leave them to dry on our tables over the weekend. After that, they’re neatly stowed away and repaired so that they’re ready for use again in the spring.

How did you find the right workshop and warehouse?

I previously trained at a sail-making workshop and later worked at another company. Naturally, the processes there were similar.

In the first year, my workshop and warehouse were far too small. Then we realised we needed more space, so we expanded bit by bit. Whenever a particular sewing machine proves to be good, we buy another one.

In the first winter, it’s impossible to know how many people will bring their belongings in for repair and storage. We’ll just have to see how things develop. The numbers are growing year on year. I think we’ll need a larger warehouse again next year, but at the moment we still have space.

As the business continues to grow, you’ll eventually need more staff. Are there people on the labour market who can make sails and tarpaulins?

That’s tricky. It’s a very small industry. If you look at vocational colleges, fewer and fewer people are training for this profession every year. That’s a shame, because it’s a really lovely profession. You have to distinguish somewhat between people who make sails and those who make tarpaulins. Although you’re supposed to learn both during your training, you can’t study both with the same level of intensity. People often end up specialising in one area.

It’s difficult to find good people who, in our case, can make tarpaulins. This involves not only sewing, but also taking measurements, making the pattern and, later on, assembling the tarpaulin. Finding someone who’s skilled in all these areas isn’t easy. The alternative is to train people ourselves and show them how we want it done.

Have you ever noticed that people spend an incredible amount of money on kit and boats, but skimp on the tarpaulin of all things?

Yes. Fortunately, many people are understanding about this and say they want good quality that will last a long time. Others, however, say: ‘We’ve just bought a sail for a lot of money’ or: ‘Our boat has been completely repainted. That was so expensive that we’re now cutting back on the cover.’

Many people then come back a second time. If you’ve spent a lot of money buying or restoring a boat and sails, it’s important to have a cover to protect the whole thing. If you skimp on this, you’ll end up paying double later on. People often realise this a little later on.

Do you find that, on certain boats, the sprayhood or cover is poorly made and doesn’t perform as you’d expect?

That happens quite often. However, you don’t always know what the customer originally wanted. At first glance, you can tell by the appearance and the fit. As sailmakers, we also spot details in the workmanship that sailors might not notice. On the whole, though, quality is evident in the durability. If, for example, a sprayhood falls apart completely after two years, the material can’t have been up to scratch. After a certain amount of time, you can tell how well something has been made.

How important are the threads you use for sewing? Might they even be more important than the fabric itself?

Both are very important: the thread and the material. The sun is getting stronger and stronger, and the thread needs to hold everything together as well as possible. That’s why it’s important to use good-quality materials. If something is well made but the material isn’t of high quality, it will still wear out more quickly. Then you’ll have to repair it sooner or buy something new sooner. That’s a shame.

What criteria do you use to decide whether something can still be repaired or needs to be made from scratch? Can boat owners tell this for themselves?

It can sometimes be difficult to tell this for yourself. It is certainly possible to repair items several times. Scuff marks are usually clearly visible and can often be mended. If something has been mended once before, it may be possible to mend it again.

However, you shouldn’t keep ‘patching up’ a tarpaulin indefinitely. If repeated repairs keep causing new holes, the fabric is being stretched and is already tearing, it’s no longer worth the effort. We often let customers know a year in advance if we suspect that a tarpaulin’s lifespan is drawing to a close. Even after a repair, something may tear again because the fabric is slowly becoming brittle and porous. At some point, the time comes when a new one needs to be made.

What are the three most common mistakes boat owners make when handling tarpaulins or sails?

One important point is moisture. Items should be stored in a dry place. Of course, after a heavy downpour, you can’t always wait until the sail is completely dry. However, you should do everything you can to spread it out again later and let it dry.

This also applies to the cake stand, which many people pack away whilst it’s still wet. It should be laid out again later and, if possible, left to dry in the sun. Even if this seems a bit of a nuisance at first, it’s very important.

The second point is regular checks. You should keep checking that everything is still in good working order. If anything is torn or damaged, you should have it repaired in good time.

It’s also a good idea to look after your belongings properly and clean them regularly – but avoid using harsh chemicals. These can damage the seams and the fabric. It’s usually enough to use a sponge and gently wipe away any dirt.

I’ve got an old sailing bag from a friend who makes sails, which I really love. Do you make things like that too? After all, you could make bags, jackets or trousers out of old sails.

Yes, the question always arises: what should you do with sails that can no longer be used? Can they be given a new lease of life? Depending on their condition, that is certainly possible.

It’s often worth making bags out of old sails or tarpaulins. We either make the bags ourselves or donate old sails to a local workshop. There, people with disabilities use them to sew bags, toiletries bags, pencil cases, lampshades and shoulder bags. It’s absolutely lovely.

If you could make one request of boat manufacturers, what could they do differently in future to make life easier for boat owners – and for you too?

Quality is very important. Things should be well made so that we can build on them properly.

The last thing we want is for every boat to be the same. It is precisely these differences that make our job interesting. There are always new shapes, challenges and designs. Nevertheless, it’s nice when we can build on a foundation of decent quality – for example, when the GRP is properly finished so that we can fit our buttons and attach our brackets.

Otherwise, we can actually fit any cover onto a boat. That’s no problem.

The world is undergoing a transformation because of artificial intelligence. AI is also making its way into the skilled trades. Is this already an issue for you?

I’ve heard from a few other sailmakers that it’s already an issue there. But I don’t think AI will lead to the extinction of our profession.

Accounting and similar tasks may be able to be partly replaced or streamlined by AI. AI may also be able to streamline processes for items produced in mass production, such as bags.

However, our craft almost always involves bespoke work. We have to travel to each boat. Even if one Hanse 31 is moored next to another Hanse 31, these two boats are not exactly the same, even though they’re supposed to be. That’s why we always have to take our own measurements. Everything is measured individually. In my opinion, AI cannot replace that.

Where do you see yourself in five or ten years’ time? Exactly where you are today, just a bit taller?

Exactly where I am now – but not necessarily much bigger. I like the fact that there are just the two of us. Perhaps there’ll be three of us one day. But I want to stay true to my craft.

I’d like to carry on going out myself to take measurements. I’d also like to build things myself. That’s why I don’t want the business to get too big.

My hope is that customers will leave our premises with a smile on their faces and take pleasure in the tarpaulins we make. I want our sail-making workshop to be synonymous with quality and durability – and perhaps also with a modern team.

For example, there’s a bright pink company sign hanging at the front of our premises. At first I thought: ‘Oh my goodness, what will the customers think? Was pink really the right colour?’ But lots of people come in and say: ‘How cool is that? Finally, someone young, someone modern.’

That is exactly the image we want to project to the outside world. Ideally, things will continue in this way. That is what I would like to see.

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