The first in-person regional MFA workshop since 2019 was held over two days in February at Charlton’s Marine Canvas in Yorktown, Va., and provided the 34 participants an enjoyable way to advance their fabrication skills, grow their networks and connect with exhibitors. 

The education sessions included two led by event host Mike Charlton: a hands-on banded top installation session that taught the attendees how to install a banded top from start to finish and a session on polycarbonate enclosure construction and techniques. Charlton says that hosting his first regional event was an enormous learning experience for both himself and the attendees. “It helped me understand how I can give back to my fellow canvas makers, and participants took home fresh knowledge and skills to apply to their businesses. Hopefully, it opened their minds to different ways to fabricate marine canvas.”

The workshop also included a hands-on session on patterning center console enclosures led by Mike Johnson of Mike’s Marine Custom Canvas. Charlton says the intensive nature of regional workshops helps fabricators think outside the box so they can take their fabrication skills to the next level. “Because these workshops are usually smaller groups, it means more questions can be asked and answered, which results in a more personal and better learning experience.”

Exhibitors at the 2022 MFA Regional Workshop included Continental, Herculite, IMAR Products LLC, Marlen Textiles, Serge Ferrari, Sunbrella^® and Trivantage. Plans for the 2023 MFA Regional Workshops are underway, and more news about them will be available soon.