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Marine
Premier Product Showcase 2021 call for submissions
January 22, 2021
Reader surveys show that New Products are one of the most popular parts of Marine Fabricator magazine. Get your products in front of thousands of customers in the May/June issue of Marine Fabricator magazine, for free! Showcase your company’s most valued products and get maximum exposure. Deadline: Monday, February 15, 2021 NO COST TO PARTICIPATE …
Industry News
New powerboat retail sales reach record highs in November
January 21, 2021
According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA)’s latest New Powerboat Registrations Report, November was another historic month for new boat sales. Data shows new powerboat retail sales gained momentum in November for the third consecutive month, up 13 percent compared to October and up 60 percent compared to the same time period in 2019 …
Events
Miami boat and yacht shows to join forces
January 20, 2021
The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) has announced a partnership with Informa Markets to create the first joint production of South Florida’s winter boat shows—the Miami International Boat Show (MIBS), Miami Yacht Show (MYS) and Superyacht Miami. Set to debut Feb. 16-20, 2022, over Presidents Day weekend, the joint event will carry the Miami International …
Industry News
Michigan and Illinois sign invasive carp prevention agreement
January 19, 2021
The governors of Illinois and Michigan have agreed to work jointly to protect the Great Lakes from invasive Asian carp species, as reported by the National Marine Manufacturer’s Association. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Gov. JB Pritzker recently announced an intergovernmental agreement between the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the Michigan Department of Natural …
Marine
Glen Raven expands warranty for Sunbrella fabrics
January 18, 2021
According to a press release, Glen Raven Custom Fabrics has announced an enhanced warranty for Sunbrella® fabrics to include replacement labor costs in all categories, including residential and commercial upholstery, shade and marine applications in the rare instances when replacement fabric may be needed. With the inclusion of replacement costs, Sunbrella fabrics are backed by …
Industry News
US boat sales hit 13-year high in 2020
January 15, 2021
The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) reports that retail unit sales of new powerboats in the U.S. increased last year by an estimated 12 percent compared to 2019. More than 310,000 new powerboats were sold in 2020, levels the recreational boating industry has not seen since before the Great Recession in 2008. The following new …
Events
Additional changes made to 2021 NMMA boat show schedule
January 14, 2021
The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) says it is canceling this year’s Progressive Insurance New England Boat Show and Progressive Insurance Northwest Sportshow, and it is postponing the Progressive Insurance Atlantic City Boat Show to April 7-11, 2021, which was originally scheduled Feb. 24-28. The Association announced in the fall the cancelation of nine of …
Marine
Premier Product Showcase 2021 call for submissions
January 13, 2021
Reader surveys show that New Products are one of the most popular parts of Marine Fabricator magazine. Get your products in front of thousands of customers in the May/June issue of Marine Fabricator magazine, for free! Showcase your company’s most valued products and get maximum exposure. Deadline: Monday, February 15, 2021 NO COST TO PARTICIPATE …
Industry News
Paycheck Protection Program re-opens
January 12, 2021
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Treasury Department, announced that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) will re-open the week of January 11 for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers. To promote access to capital, initially only community financial institutions will be able to make First Draw PPP Loans on Monday, …
Conference
Schedule announced for January 28 session of MFA Virtual Series
January 7, 2021
The schedule is now available for the January 28 session of the free three-part Marine Fabricators Association (MFA) Virtual Series online event occurring Jan. 28, Feb. 18 and March 18. Each two-hour session is focused on bringing the industry together through face-to-face video networking, insightful educational sessions, vendor spotlights, video shop tours, MFA awards presentations, …
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Conference
Call for IFAI Expo 2021 speakers, topic ideas
January 5, 2021
IFAI Expo 2021 organizers are looking for presentation topic ideas and interested speakers for Expo 2021, which will be held Nov. 1–4, 2021, at the Music City Center in Nashville, Tenn. Expo organizers are looking for speakers and topic ideas for 50-minute classroom education sessions and 25-minute campfire education sessions. Submissions are being accepted for …
Expo News
Standard for active illumination developed in Europe
November 16, 2020
In a session at IFAI Virtual Expo 2020, “Smart Textiles Standardization, Active Illumination,” Dr. Jan Beringer, senior scientific expert Hohenstein Group, explained the new standard for active illumination that will soon be implemented in European Union countries. Organizations worked together to develop the standards. It is notable, he said that both textile and electronics industries …
Expo News
Rapid prototyping = faster market launch
November 16, 2020
A presentation at IFAI Virtual Expo 2020, titled, “Rapid Prototyping and Textile Product Development” urged attendees to use “sticks and glue … whatever method you have to get your idea out there.” The presenter, Dr. Andre West, director of the Zeis Textiles Extension (ZTE), Wilson College of Textiles, NC State University, may not have meant …
Expo News
Textile industry leaders call for policy changes to support U.S. production of PPE
November 13, 2020
The U.S. textile industry has stepped up to meet the demand for face masks, medical gowns, wipes and other products necessary to combat the coronavirus pandemic, but it needs policy changes from Washington so that the U.S. is not caught off-guard again in a future crisis, according to association leaders speaking at Industrial Fabrics Association …
Expo News
The larger issues in respiratory protection
November 12, 2020
Dr. Bryran Ormond, assistant professor, Wilson College of Textiles, NC State explained respiratory protection in an “Ask an Expert” session with Jing Liang, Medical PPE Consulting LLC. Dr. Ormand has typically worked in the area of chemical and biological protective equipment, but with the onslaught of the pandemic, began to focus on respiratory protection generally, …
Expo News
Rodgers: Textiles are the “T” in STEM
November 11, 2020
How do you create a channel from research to application? How do you create a pathway toward understanding complex human problems across supply chains and market sectors? STEM—a curriculum based on teaching science, technology, engineering and math—has branched out from basic chemistry and biology and physics classes, into collaborative efforts, including textiles, according to Stephanie …
Expo News
Partnerships in smart textile products
November 11, 2020
The second week of IFAI’s Virtual Expo 2020 advanced textiles educational sessions began with a presentation that illustrated the importance of collaboration. “Smart textiles for healthcare and wellbeing: a collaborative approach” had three presenters speaking from different perspectives, but with one, unified message about reaching across geographical distance and areas of expertise to create successful …
Expo News
Welding technology for your business
November 11, 2020
During IFAI Virtual Expo 2020, Jeff Sponseller, executive vice president of sales and marketing at Miller Weldmaster, led a campfire session titled “How to Select the Correct Welding Technology for Your Business.” “Essentially a good weld means that the fabric will tear before the weld does,” says Sponseller. Many types of different materials can be …
Expo News
Guidance offered in commercial insurance market
November 10, 2020
Wildfires, hurricanes, a pandemic and civil unrest have wreaked plenty of chaos on the commercial insurance market in 2020. Steve Christenson, with Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC, offered guidance to business owners Nov. 9 at IFAI Virtual Expo 2020. “The business insurance market has been going through several changes this year,” says Christenson, with U.S. …
Expo News
How to make your business attractive to a buyer
November 6, 2020
Thinking about selling your business—either to an outside party or the next generation? Then it’s time to start considering how your equipment and processes fit into your succession plan. Jonathan Palmer, the second-generation owner and CEO of equipment supplier Autometrix, and Autometrix director of global sales Truy Pham, led an educational session at IFAI Virtual …
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Supplier Spotlights
MFA Time Standards
2021 MFA Time Standards Manual
January 1, 2021
The Time Standards Manual was developed in 1996 by the Marine Fabricators Association (MFA), a division of the Industrial Fabrics Association International, to serve as a benchmark that shop owners can use to set fabrication times, with which they can generate competitive labor costs. The manual is an ongoing project that will grow and change …
Feature
Finishing Touches
January 1, 2021
Materials and techniques for marine trimmings that improve form and function. by Sigrid Tornquist It all matters. Fabric. Thread. Trimmings. They work together and depend upon each other. Skimp on one component and the whole project is compromised. For marine fabricators, trimmings are the critical details that refine and elevate a project. Read on for …
Industry News
Submission deadline extended for MFA Awards
November 27, 2020
The deadline to submit fabrication projects for a chance to win a Marine Fabricators Association (MFA) Fabrication Excellence Award has been extended to Dec. 1, 2020. The submission process has been streamlined, the MFA has added two new categories, and entrants have the option of uploading up to six photos of a project. Fabrication Excellence …
Awards
Submission deadline extended for MFA Awards
November 17, 2020
The deadline to submit fabrication projects for a chance to win a Marine Fabricators Association (MFA) Fabrication Excellence Award has been extended to Dec. 1, 2020. The submission process has been streamlined, the MFA has added two new categories, and entrants have the option of uploading up to six photos of a project. Fabrication Excellence …
Events
Submission deadline approaching for MFA Awards
October 20, 2020
With a submission deadline of Nov. 6, 2020, now is the time to submit fabrication projects for a chance to win a Marine Fabricators Association (MFA) Fabrication Excellence Award. The submission process has been streamlined, the MFA has added two new categories, and entrants have the option of uploading up to six photos of a …
Feature
Members only content
Company values that increase a company’s value
September 1, 2020
Your shop can be loaded with employees having outstanding skills, but without a supportive, positive environment, low morale and turmoil can thwart all efforts to succeed. by Pamela Mills-Senn Pre-pandemic, SewLong Custom Covers in Salt Lake City, Utah, focused on interior and exterior marine textiles and boat covers. But when the pandemic hit and the …
Feature
Members only content
Shade Solution Evolution
September 1, 2020
Design tips for removable shade structures that bring value to clients and profit to fabricators. by Sigrid Tornquist Boat enthusiasts have always sought shade solutions. It’s a matter of survival and comfort. And it’s also a matter of aesthetics. It’s been 30 years since Mike Erickson, CEO and owner of Canvas Designers® Inc. in Riviera …
Exterior
Imagining new ways to create shade
August 31, 2020
Whitney Carman relies on lateral thinking and relationship building to create innovative shade solutions. By Sigrid Tornquist “I think one of the reasons my projects are unique has to do with the ability for lateral thinking, which means seeing a variety of solutions to a problem or uses for an object, and not necessarily just …
Feature
Members only content
Digital determination
July 1, 2020
Adding automation can prove challenging, with costs to consider, processes to change and nervous employees to reckon with. Still, fabricators who have taken the leapsay there’s no other way to go. By Pamela Mills-Senn When Darren Arthur, owner of Nautilux Custom Canvas LLC in Hazlet, N.J., purchased a single-fly Aeronaut cutter eight years ago—his first …
Feature
Members only content
NECPA: A century of survival
July 1, 2020
Lessons from three canvas companies that have survived for a century and continue to thrive. By Cathy Broberg In January 2020, the North East Canvas Products Association (NECPA), a trade organization for the canvas and outdoor fabric industry, marked its 100th anniversary. Members celebrated at its annual conference with a gala and by touring a …
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Industry News
New powerboat retail sales reach record highs in November
January 21, 2021
According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA)’s latest New Powerboat Registrations Report, November was another historic month for new boat sales. Data shows new powerboat retail sales gained momentum in November for the third consecutive month, up 13 percent compared to October and up 60 percent compared to the same time period in 2019 …
Industry News
Michigan and Illinois sign invasive carp prevention agreement
January 19, 2021
The governors of Illinois and Michigan have agreed to work jointly to protect the Great Lakes from invasive Asian carp species, as reported by the National Marine Manufacturer’s Association. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Gov. JB Pritzker recently announced an intergovernmental agreement between the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the Michigan Department of Natural …
Industry News
US boat sales hit 13-year high in 2020
January 15, 2021
The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) reports that retail unit sales of new powerboats in the U.S. increased last year by an estimated 12 percent compared to 2019. More than 310,000 new powerboats were sold in 2020, levels the recreational boating industry has not seen since before the Great Recession in 2008. The following new …
Industry News
Paycheck Protection Program re-opens
January 12, 2021
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Treasury Department, announced that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) will re-open the week of January 11 for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers. To promote access to capital, initially only community financial institutions will be able to make First Draw PPP Loans on Monday, …
Conference
Call for IFAI Expo 2021 speakers, topic ideas
January 5, 2021
IFAI Expo 2021 organizers are looking for presentation topic ideas and interested speakers for Expo 2021, which will be held Nov. 1–4, 2021, at the Music City Center in Nashville, Tenn. Expo organizers are looking for speakers and topic ideas for 50-minute classroom education sessions and 25-minute campfire education sessions. Submissions are being accepted for …
Industry News
Minnesota DNR seeking advisory committee members
December 24, 2020
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking applications from Minnesota residents to serve on the Aquatic Invasive Species Advisory Committee, a 15-member committee established in 2013 by the Minnesota DNR to help guide the agency’s aquatic invasive species prevention and management activities. There are currently three appointments available for new members to serve …
Industry News
Report shows more diverse audience for boating and fishing
December 23, 2020
The national research study “Casting a Wide Net: Identifying New Anglers and Boaters and Determining Tactics for Retention” co-sponsored by the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) and global market-research firm IPSOS, projects millions of new and returning anglers and boaters thanks to a surge in interest during COVID-19. Key findings from the report include: …
Industry News
Take IFAI’s survey: COVID-19’s Business Impact in 2020
December 22, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic will be remembered as one of the most challenging and unprecedented periods ever for the specialty, technical and engineered textile industries. As 2020 comes to a close, Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) would like your help in understanding how businesses in our industries were affected by the events of this year and …
Industry News
October hits record for new powerboat retail sales
December 22, 2020
The National Marine Manufacturer’s Association (NMMA) reports that October was a historic month for new powerboat retail sales. Data shows new powerboat sales in October were up 18 percent compared to September, and up 30 percent year-over-year (YOY) on a seasonally-adjusted basis. Year-to-date (YTD) through October, more than 291,000 new powerboats were sold, surpassing cumulative …
Industry News
Driftnet Modernization Act sent to President Trump
December 15, 2020
The bipartisan Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act (S. 906) to phase out large-scale driftnet fishing in federal waters off California is on its way to President Trump’s desk for his signature. The act will align commercial swordfish fishing in California with other U.S. and international swordfish fisheries by ending the use of mile-long large-mesh …
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Supplier Spotlights
Products
Clever upholstery designs
January 1, 2021
The Clever Collection from Knoll includes four upholstery styles, all durable to 100,000 double rubs and all celebrating the clever geometry of spider webs. Created with an innovative and proprietary process, In Step’s graphic pattern is a translation of dew drops balancing on a spider web. Tempest is a dimensional texture with a mixture of …
Products
Wider patterning fabric
January 1, 2021
Polyfab USA has added 4-meter-wide (157-inch-wide) rolls to its line of Patternpro™ Ultra Stable Patterning Fabric, a clear HDPE woven scrim that is coated on both sides. It is also available in 2-meter-wide (78.7-inch-wide) rolls, and has applications for marine canvas and awning patterning, with excellent stability and good “lay-flat” properties. The material resists wind …
Products
Quilted mattress panels
January 1, 2021
The Luxe Collection is a line of premium fibers for quilted mattress panels that enhance the feel of a sleep surface with a luxurious layer of support and a high-end silky texture that foam cannot achieve on its own. The collection includes Luxe Bliss, the lightest at 12.5 ounces per square yard (osy), Luxe Plush …
Products
Storage-friendly cover textile
January 1, 2021
Lightweight Stamoid® Smart 1 is 60 percent more collapsible than standard boat and equipment cover materials, making installation and removal of covers easier as well as taking up less storage space. With a silicone coating on one side, the surface is very slick making it difficult for dirt, debris and pollution to adhere. Suited for …
Products
High-value polyester
January 1, 2021
Entry-level outdoor fabric Atlantis is 100 percent solution-dyed polyester that offers value with all the features you expect from a quality outdoor fabric, including a durable, waterproof PU backing, mildew resistance and excellent colorfastness. With minimal shrinking or stretching, it offers a five-year warranty, up to 1,000 hours of UV resistance and is available in …
Accessories
Last chance to get listed in the Marine Fabricator 2021 Buyer’s Guide
September 25, 2020
The annual call for listings in the Marine Fabricator 2021 Buyer’s Guide will close on Sept. 28. Thousands of companies turn to this annual guide to purchase products and services for their businesses. This comprehensive resource lists suppliers of fabric, film and foam; hardware and findings; end products and services; and equipment and tools. This …
Accessories
Get listed in the Marine Fabricator 2021 Buyer’s Guide
September 14, 2020
The annual call for listings in the Marine Fabricator 2021 Buyer’s Guide is now open. Thousands of companies turn to this annual guide to purchase products and services for their businesses. This comprehensive resource lists suppliers of fabric, film and foam; hardware and findings; end products and services; and equipment and tools. This year’s Buyer’s …
Accessories
Get listed in the Marine Fabricator 2021 Buyer’s Guide
September 2, 2020
The annual call for listings in the Marine Fabricator 2021 Buyer’s Guide is now open. Thousands of companies turn to this annual guide to purchase products and services for their businesses. This comprehensive resource lists suppliers of fabric, film and foam; hardware and findings; end products and services; and equipment and tools. Current advertisers and …
Products
Recycled upholstery fabric
September 1, 2020
Tessutica’s new Greencare fabric line is a collection of 100% recycled and recyclable upholstery fabrics created from pellets that come from marine plastic waste. The fabrics are engineered with recycled yarns from regular post-consumer PET bottles from the oceans, landfills and upcycled cotton from garments and are certified under the Global Recycle Standard (GRS) label. …
Products
Classic look, high performance
September 1, 2020
The Stamskin® One allure collection of indoor/outdoor upholstery fabrics offers the same performance of its sister collection, Stamskin One, with a new finish: an understated leather-like grain suited to classic designs. The fabric pairs a supple, luxurious hand with abrasion resistance of more than 665,000 double rubs (ASTM D4157), inherent resistance to pink mold and …
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Awards
Marine Fabricator wins publishing awards
November 12, 2019
The Minnesota Media and Publishing Association recognized Marine Fabricator magazine, led by senior editor Elisa Bernick, with a Bronze Award and a Silver Award in publishing excellence for how-to articles, “Seam finishing for marine cushions and covers” and “Zipper basics and helpful sewing techniques.” Both articles were written by Terri Madden, owner of Sand Sea …
Interiors & Upholstery
Window Treatment Trends
July 1, 2017
Interest in window coverings for marine applications has experienced a rebirth of sorts and more consumers, fabricators and designers are using innovative window treatment designs. When Krisha Plauché, owner of Onboard Interiors in Marblehead, Mass., is fabricating drapery for a stateroom, she often uses blackout applications, but Plauché has found that lining drapery with a …
In the Shop
Fresh updates for older vessels
January 1, 2017
Most interior fabrication projects occur on fixer-uppers. The vessel might be vintage or it might be less than ten years old. While I always welcome the challenge of doing a better design than the original, there is a fine line between aesthetics and practicality. After all, the boat needs to be both comfortable and secure …
How-To Articles
Constructing snow flies for the Alaskan climate
January 1, 2017
Our winters in Fairbanks, Alaska, can be cold or very cold with lots of snow or little snow; it all depends. One condition we don’t see often is wind. In my 26 years of living here, I can remember only one time when the wind blew and the snow flew. Most of our snow falls …
How-To Articles
Meticulous prototyping leads to attractive cylinder cushions
September 1, 2016
Over the years I have been asked to fabricate several unusual items. I never know if that item will be a one-hit wonder or will become a customer favorite. In most cases, I create prototypes that help me creatively solve design challenges. I charge a prototype fee of a few hundred dollars to develop and …
How-To Articles
Marine fabricators meet customers’ window wish lists
August 1, 2016
When making boat windows for customers, marine fabricators often have a specific set of requirements of their materials. “Our fabricators require a sheet that is easy to handle, durable and can be cut and sewn easily without fear of damaging the product,” says Lyle Shipley, product manager at O’Sullivan Films, Winchester, Va., for O’Sea and …
How-To Articles
Complex and compound frame bending
July 1, 2016
Incorporating unconventional design into dodgers and biminis. I often suggest that my customers try to think out of the box when envisioning what their boats can look like. I tell them, “If I have done my job properly, the cover will become part of the boat.” Take a spray dodger, for example. I generally recommend …
Interiors & Upholstery
The art of project management on contour cushions
July 1, 2016
Marine fabricators are a unique group of craftspeople and business owners. Many of us are familiar with the notion that creative pursuits are right-brain activities, while math and logic are left-brain activities. As marine fabricators, we utilize the right sides of our brains for design solutions that meet customers’ aesthetic and practical expectations. At the …
Interiors & Upholstery
Restyled sleeping cabins
May 1, 2016
Interior sleeping cabins on a vessel have always been my favorite projects. I enjoy researching options and ultimately providing customers with tidy solutions that offer easy accessibility. Cabin spaces and mattresses come in all shapes and sizes. One of my clients claims to sleep 14 people on his 54-foot Bertram with only three interior cabins, …
How-To Articles
Lazy Jack – stack pack sail covers
March 1, 2016
These names are some of the descriptions for a process of suspending sail covers. I started making these Lazy Jack covers 20 years ago, as a progress/advance of the Lazy Jack rope system, designed to help flake a main sail as it is put away. The idea was to connect the rope to a sail …
