Nationwide sales of recreational boats were up more than 5 percent in July according to data compiled by Michigan-based Statistical Surveys Inc. The statistics were based on “estimates from 30 states representing 70 percent” of the boat market. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports the popularity of personal watercraft and jet boats are fueling some of [...]

Marlen Textiles Top Gun fabric, the company’s premium line of acrylic-coated polyester, now comes in 2-meter widths and in 10 stock colors. The wider width allows for fewer passes of material in applications where 60# width is not wide enough, using less material and saving time, labor and scrap. Top Gun utilizes a proprietary formula [...]

It seems like, in the wake of big corporate scandals, a heightened awareness of business ethics pervades organizations of every size. Most ethical dilemmas, however, aren’t that momentous or dramatic. They’re rooted in commonplace business activities you and the people around you encounter every day. How do you manage the ethical dilemmas you face? A [...]

Components in these Marinco charging systems are completely sealed in waterproof thermal epoxy to prevent damage and corrosion. Three-stage charging cycles for fast recovery, overload protection with automatic resets, LEDs to indicate charging status and “Smart” technology to prevent battery damage even when the charger is left on. All models can be left on for [...]

Top Gun 1S, a single-sided acrylic-coated polyester fabric from Marlen Textiles, is now available in three new stock colors: Sunset Red, Royal Blue and Taupe. The addition of these colors brings the total number of available Top Gun 1S colors to 11. Top Gun 1S uses the same coating as two-sided-coated Top Gun, but coats [...]

Even when piloting the boat, the needs of children present a new kind of opportunity for marine fabricators. Kid-friendly boat interiors balance durability, safety and plenty of fun. Kids are fun and adorable. They’re also clumsy and messy. So when boat owners decide to spend time on the water with their children and [...]

Golight Inc. introduces model GXL 4021 fixed-position LED work light. The light’s fascia measures just 4½ inches wide by 4 inches tall, has a depth of only 3½ inches and comes with a 2-inch stainless steel mounting bracket. The GXL 4021 represents the company’s expansion of its permanently mounted, manually adjustable LED work lights and [...]

Fabricators take a dim view of extending credit to customers... sort of. On the surface, it sure seems like a slam-dunk decision for a marine fabrication shop to not extend credit. “Let’s see, when you write off thousands and thousands of dollars—maybe even $100,000 over the 30-year life of the company—you start to think about [...]

Indoor work, alternative income streams help fabricators get through the off-season. Boating in many locations is seasonal, but the need for income is constant. How do marine fabricators handle that conundrum? A variety of strategies offer ways that canvas shops can use to get ready for seasonal slow-downs in business. ‘The Great Shrink-wrap Race’ “We [...]

How did you get started? My mother put me in every art class imaginable. In high school I learned correspondence pattern design on my own, which led to a degree in fashion design. I worked for a costume designer and also did custom clothing sewing jobs from home. After six months on a 30-foot live-aboard [...]