SureShade from Rodan Enterprises is a power-driven, retractable canvas boat top that extends and retracts horizontally via motor-driven telescoping “tubes.” Providing hassle-free shade at the touch of a button, SureShade elminates side support poles to provide boaters with unobstructed views and easy boarding. The next-generation top gives fabricators an innovative product offering for their customers. [...]

Last September, former President George W. Bush signed an amendment to a 1995 Executive Order to protect recreational boating and fishing access on federal waters and marine protected areas. The amendment ensures that fishing will be managed as a sustainable activity in national wildlife refuges, parks, marine sanctuaries, marine protected areas or any other relevant [...]

North Winds Canvas, Portland, Ore., is offering services to marine fabricators, including pattern digitizing, nesting, automated fabric cutting, technology consulting, 3-D digitizing, and pattern creation. “If you’re considering making the technological leap, we can help you accomplish your goals, start growing your shop and increase your profits without making a huge capital investment,” says Amy [...]

The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), and the Outdoor Fabric Products Association of New Zealand (OFPANZ), announced that the New Zealand-based organization has merged its organization into IFAI. OFPANZ recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. Its membership is comprised of the leading companies in New Zealand involved in the manufacture of end products that use specialty [...]

Skier’s Choice, the official towboat of the World Wakeboard Association, chose WeatherMax 80 from Safety Components for mooring covers for their entire line of Supra and Moomba towboats. Fabricated by Great Lakes Boat Top Co. in Vonore, Tenn., covers made of WeatherMax 80 combine strength and beauty to shield Supra and Moomba boats from the [...]

The performance fabric brand Sunbrella underwent a brand identity update, including a new logo, to acknowledge its 50-year heritage, while focusing on innovation and enhanced styling for today’s consumers. Sunbrella’s yellow, red and blue umbrella has morphed into a stylized, deep orange umbrella. The type face has been updated with a cleaner, more contemporary look. [...]

On Nov. 4, Florida voters passed a constitutional amendment that provides fair taxation to waterfront businesses. Amendment 6 received more than the 60 percent of votes required to make it state law. Prior to Amendment 6, Florida’s waterfronts were taxed at their “highest and best use,” meaning that businesses were taxed for the potential use [...]

Taylor Made Products has acquired the rights to the Boat Misters product line. The new Comfort Zone Boat Misting System attaches to the boat’s bimini or T-top and emits a cooling mist. The mid-pressure pump delivers 150 psi of misting power at the rate of about one gallon of water per hour, while only drawing [...]

SodaBlast Systems appointed nine new contractors in the United States for its eco-friendly boat hull cleaning systems, raising the total to more than 180 worldwide. The SodaBlasting process uses a non-destructive stream of air-driven baking soda to strip the paint and open the blister. The affected area is feathered by split-second, swirled “micro-blasting,” which finishes [...]

The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is offering grant funds up to $4,000 each for community non-profit groups to develop projects that address environmental problems on local waterways. Since 1997, the BoatUS Foundation Clean Water Grant program has awarded over $300,000 to improve the marine environment, funding 149 projects in 35 states. [...]