I have an old cast iron White (one of the original Whites, not the company that later bought it's name) that sews straight and reverse but has all sorts of wonderful attachments. Probably from the 1940s or 50s. I have a new White that I was assured would fit the old attachments, but it didn't. I've had the more recent White since about 1990, it uses cams, but it sews and sews. I had the cast iron machine refurbished years ago and every so often I take it in to be adjusted. My cousin gave it to me in 1978.

My daughter has a machine my next door neighbor was giving away - Singer Series 15-90 rotary, never used because it was a wedding gift and she never learned to sew, from about 1955 - a "farmer's sewing machine" that goes and goes. I gave it to Moonglow when she turned 14, she uses it all of the time (she's 23 now). It's a straight stitch, but she and her housemate who also makes costumes have other machines for zigzag and such.

I wouldn't use a regular home sewing machine for making a sail. You'll burn it out. That calls for an industrial machine.

SRS