Selecting breathable, woven, acrylic fabrics helps keep the boat dry and allows for ventilation. This is especially useful with a dark-colored fabric. There are many suppliers of fabrics in the marine industry. Upon researching just one of our suppliers, I discovered more than 4,000 fabrics, spanning 11 application categories, and each fabric was uniquely created [...]

Here’s an example of a rigid solar panel setup designed for DIY and professional marine solar installations. An increasing number of jobs at Gemini Marine Canvas & Marine Products (GMP) in Rockland, Maine, begin with clients bringing in rigid solar panels. Rigid panels remain a firm favorite among boaters looking to augment their onboard electricity [...]

The couch, chairs and window cornices of this 2005 Lazzara 80’ were reupholstered by former Northcoast Marine Specialties students Adam and Gail Gabriel of Land and Sea Upholstery in Willoughby, Ohio. The marine industry needs foam, and a lot of it, as do a hundred other industries that provide comfort and support. From exercise equipment [...]

Photo 1. Clients were initially reluctant to accept the horizontal frame because it was a drastic change from the standard ‘K’ frame. However, the added square footage of usable deck area overcame these doubts, and the demand for horizontal frame systems and cantilever support systems is strong. Following the typical 10-to-20-year delay that “new ideas” [...]

Photo 1. A photo of the original boat interior of a 70-foot Hatteras. The clients initially wanted to replicate the color and pattern of these Wayfair pillows in the main salon; something that proved especially challenging. For most fabricators, long-term success doesn’t come from the easy jobs, but from the challenging projects. Using two case [...]

The clients wanted to make adjustments and add to their current stainless steel dodger and bimini frames to create a more functional cockpit area for cruising. They asked that strong, high-quality materials be used so the final result would be suitable for offshore cruising. A significant challenge was using, adjusting and adding to the existing [...]

Designs don’t need to be radical to set you apart; just slightly different than all the others. Thinking outside the box by Russ Griffin Our company, Northcoast Marine Specialties LLC, has had two decades of great success due to our unfamiliarity with the outdated and unimaginative techniques many canvas shops fall into the habit of [...]

At Custom Marine Canvas, we are always looking for ways to improve our work. After 38 years, we’re still finding new ways to do things. In this article, we share some of our favorite tools and tips for improving your cushions. Photo 1. This clever jig clamps to the table edge to help get zipper [...]

Space was no longer a constraint in the new 7,500-square-foot building, but the larger shop presented other challenges. Now spread out across three floors, with the primary sewing area located on the third floor, employee communication challenges were immediately evident. In 2019, I moved Chicago Marine Canvas into a new 2,500-square-foot space, and by the [...]

Award-winning travel covers, such as this handsome line of rachet strap covers, require an array of thoughtful decisions and careful techniques including the correct fabric choice, close tailoring and proper reinforcing. Fabricating travel covers presents a unique set of challenges for the marine fabricator. The cover needs to withstand highway traveling speeds, crosswinds and road [...]