Outstanding Achievement Award | Signature CanvasMakers | Hampton, VA This project won a 2012 MFA Outstanding Achievement Award in the full exterior canvas powerboat 27 feet and up category. Full enclosure that is both durable and functional. Outrigger access flaps are incorporated into the design to accommodate access. Project data Designer: Michael Charlton Fabricator: Sally [...]

Approximately 160 executives and leaders from the recreational boating community gathered in Chicago, Ill., last December for the Recreational Boating Stakeholder Growth Summit. Hosted by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and facilitated by the Consensus Center from Florida State University, the Summit discussed how to grow the recreational boating industry. Presentations addressed topics such [...]

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) is on the right path in asking for guidance on how to best prevent recreational boating casualties caused by propeller strikes and carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). In response to the USCG’s release of an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM), the NMMA encouraged [...]

Winning a government contract is not easy, but they offer tremendous revenue opportunities that should not be ignored. By Barb Ernster Despite all the focus on cutting government budgets, including across-the-board military cuts, Uncle Sam still needs good contractors. Winning a government contract is not easy, but once you learn how to navigate the system, [...]

“It’s usually after I’ve banged my head a few times when facing a problem that I think: There’s got to be an easier way,” says Keith Purves, MFC, owner of Riverside Covers in Ft. Myers, Fla. “And then I just try it.” Keith Purves, MFC, owner of Riverside Covers in Ft. Myers, Fla. [...]

Two new Hood California- style dodgers cross paths in Beverly, Mass., Harbor. Our side reinforcing method is used in the dodger top panels. At Hood Canvas we developed a method of folding in the sides of our California dodger top panels to reinforce the edge. We did not like the look of binding [...]

This is a zipper for a 3-inch foam seat cushion. When someone inspects a piece of furniture, such as a chest of drawers, they remove a drawer to see how it was constructed. What are they looking for? Dovetail ends, of course. Even though these are not visible from the outside, the craftsmanship [...]

By Pat Hayes, CPP During a recent management meeting, our vice president of marketing presented an updated global business plan. In the process, he did an analysis of our competition over the past 10 years. Interesting to note was the number of businesses that went by the wayside. I would say the majority failed due [...]

Product focus Because Charleston is home to so many large pleasure yachts, we tend to focus on those types of jobs. We do some smaller trailer boats, but most of our work centers around the many large yachts that call Charleston home, and the constant stream of transient yachts that like to stay in Charleston [...]

Award of Distinction | Bennett Custom Canvas Inc. | Toronto, Canada This project won a 2012 MFA Award of Distinction in the full exterior canvas sailboat 27 feet and up category. The customer wanted a waterproof fabric for the roof, sturdy framework and easy functioning panels for the front window, entry points to the cockpit [...]