Sponsored by the Marine Fabricators Association (MFA), the Fabrication Excellence Awards contest is designed to recognize excellence in marine fabrication. The entries are judged by a panel of certified marine professionals. Awards of Excellence and Outstanding Achievement Awards are given in each category.

The MFA recognizes two Awards of Distinction, chosen from the Award of Excellence winners. All winners receive a press release and an award plaque to celebrate their achievements. All of the winning projects, including photos and descriptions, are available on marine.textiles.org, MarineCanvas.com and at MarineFabricatorMag.com.

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Hybrid Enclosures — Sailboat & Powerboat

 Award of Excellence

Charlton’s Marine Canvas
47-foot Freeman

Materials: Stamoid Open by Serge Ferrari North America Inc., TUFFAK^® Marine 5 polycarbonate by Plaskolite Inc., O’Sea^® polished 40-gauge vinyl by O’Sullivan Films Inc., SolarFix^® thread by SolarFix, 18-ounce vinyl-coated polyester 

Project Description: This massive center console enclosure consists of eight panels. The client wanted wind and spray protection to transform this boat into a much more comfortable ride while cruising at speeds up to 80 mph. The vessel’s high speed meant everything had to be seriously reinforced. This included the Stamoid Open on the outside, and double layers with double stitching of 18-ounce vinyl-coated polyester on the inside. The zippers were stepped up from the usual #10 to #12 to ensure they held up. Battens were installed in pockets in the back edges of every panel to stiffen them to keep them securely rigid in the high winds. Extra straps were added in the front corners for reinforcement. The front two wings have J-zippers for easy access to the bow. Classy diamond stitching was added in the wings to take it to the next level.

Charlton’s Marine Canvas
Yorktown, Va.
charltonsmarinecanvas.com

Outstanding Achievement

Top Stitch Marine Canvas
Blue Skies, Gray Top

Materials: Tempotest^® Marine Fabric by Miami Corporation, Aqua-Lite^® polycarbonate by Manart-Hirsch Co. Inc., Strataglass by Strataglass LLC

Project Description: This project was a cantilever camper enclosure for longtime clients on their new 450 Sundancer. They requested a light, bright enclosure with a skylight. The suggestion to build a two-tone top with light blue on the inside and gray on the outside delighted the clients. The camper frame is built from 1.25-inch tubing that had to be extended because the total length exceeded the 24-foot lengths of tubing available for purchase. The fabric the clients selected was only available in 46-inch widths, so 26 pieces of fabric (13 gray, 13 blue) were cut for the camper top, 12 pieces of fabric (6 gray, 6 blue) were cut for the bimini top, and additional pieces were cut for the visor, zipper pockets and reinforcements. The pieces were laminated together and staystitched to ensure they remained in place during fabrication. The new two-bow bimini frame using 1-inch stainless steel allowed the operator to stand while running the boat. The end result was a beautiful project and incredibly happy clients.

Top Stitch Marine Canvas
Middle River, Md.
topstitchmarinecanvas.com

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Marine Exterior Upholstery

 Award of Excellence

Southern Stitch Canvas & Upholstery LLC
Fisherman and Fish Love Diamonds!

Materials: Sunbrella^® Horizon^™ by Glen Raven Custom Fabrics LLC

Project Description: The client wanted to update his Yellowfin to match his style. The design was subtle yet eye-catching and complemented the boat and flooring. The double diamond design set it apart from the SeaDek flooring with gray contrast stitching. The gunnel pads had panel breaks with matching welting. The contrast stitching used two colorful threads to have contrast flow on the white and gray panels. The factory welting on the gunnel ran onto the tops of them. Due to time and client use, the cord started busting out. With the re-cover, the welting ended just before it rolled onto the top, so the client will not have that issue again.

Southern Stitch Canvas & Upholstery LLC
Gulfport, Miss.
southernstitch.com

Outstanding Achievement

Lake Shore Boat Top Company Inc.
“Back to the Future Pt. II”: 26-foot Hacker Craft Cockpit Upholstery 

Materials: Sunbrella^® Horizon^™ by Glen Raven Custom Fabrics LLC, SolarFix^® thread by SolarFix

Project Description: This boat was carefully and expertly brought back from 1985 and into 2024 with all the sleek bells and whistles. It required a complete revamp that included replacing all the wood and boards, and completely redoing the rear engine cover sunpad. A diamond-stitch accent quilting pattern made this vessel as picturesque as it was when it first hit the water 40 years ago. The attention to detail and precision ensured that this boat not only looked stunning but was ready to hit 88 mph on the open seas. The upholstery team expertly removed each piece while avoiding any damage to the pristine structure of the boat. Once removal was complete and the rebuild commenced, unique plush diamonds were added to each seat to provide a comfortable experience for all passengers. The green accent above all the seats ensured a matching theme throughout the boat and trailer to truly showcase its nature and refinement.

Lake Shore Boat Top Company Inc.
St. Clair Shores, Mich.
lakeshoreboattop.com

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Marine Interior Upholstery

Award of Excellence

Canvas Designers Inc.
Restoring Timeless Grandeur

Materials: Rough ‘n Rowdy Denim by Perennials and Sutherland LLC, Sunbrella^® Horizon^™ by Glen Raven Custom Fabrics LLC

Project Description: The project was restoring the Honey Fitz, a 93-foot wooden yacht steeped in American history. Built in 1931 and named after President John F. Kennedy’s grandfather, this vessel carried five U.S. presidents. The mission was to revive the yacht’s historic elegance, focusing on both aesthetic and functional elements. The restoration started in the master stateroom, where the headliner was replaced with Voyager Vinyl to echo the elegance of the Kennedy era. For the seating, Rough ‘n Rowdy Denim was paired with Blanca welt for a sophisticated finish, ensuring both historical accuracy and modern comfort. The project centerpiece was the iconic JFK blue chair, a piece of American history. Fitted snap-on slipcovers preserved the legacy of this presidential seat. Additional seating areas throughout the yacht were reupholstered with the same materials, ensuring a cohesive look. The scale of the project required precision in both material selection and installation, and the use of 3D technology for design and planning helped preserve this presidential legacy.

Canvas Designers Inc.
Riviera Beach, Fla.
canvasdesigners.com

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Powerboat — Rigid Enclosures

Award of Excellence

Marine Tops Unlimited
(Ocean) Alexander the Great  

Materials: Stamoid by Serge Ferrari North America Inc., TUFFAK^® Marine 5 polycarbonate by Plaskolite Inc.

Project Description: With a short time frame and at a marina two hours from the shop, this customer wanted an overall refresh and a new enclosure made for his 2010 58-foot Ocean Alexander. The sheer size of this boat and the window panels made this project a challenge. The rear panels were built using a triple-track PVC piece that would enable all the windows to slide to one side, similar to a home sliding patio door, to allow an open-air design when desired by the owners. Additional track was installed in certain areas to improve design and keep out water. The center front window hinged up and fastened to the underside of the hardtop, and a new screen panel for that area and the rear doorway helped keep the bridge area cool on hot days. The customer was very happy with the outcome of this project, and it was a great sales tool to bring in several more jobs from the same marina.

Marine Tops Unlimited
Omro, Wis.
marinetops.com

Outstanding Achievement

Hayden Island Canvas
Carver Yachts C52

Materials: Stamoid Open by Serge Ferrari North America Inc., TUFFAK^® Marine 5 polycarbonate by Plaskolite Inc., Costa Track^® by Costa Marine Canvas and Enclosures, SolarFix^® thread by SolarFix

Project Description: The client requested a clean-looking rigid enclosure on the bridge of this Carver C52 for year-round boat use. The client also wanted an easy-to-clean, durable white fabric with a two-panel layout at the front and easy ventilation and opening of the front and side panels. The bracing and curves on the hardtop required careful planning for the U-zip placement on the fore panels to allow them to fold back to the hardtop. The front two panels were constructed of three pieces of clear to accommodate the U-zip with minimal breaks in the clear, and the side panels hinged up to the hardtop. For future maintenance, the track needed to be removable on the metal Venturi windshield. Each hole holding the track was drilled and tapped in the stainless cap rail, filled with an anticorrosion gel and attached with stainless steel machine screws. A full-length flap around all three sides was patterned and sewn to the keder welt to keep water intrusion at the keder/track interface from being a problem.

Hayden Island Canvas
Portland, Ore.
haydenislandcanvas.com

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Powerboat — Soft Enclosures

Award of Excellence

Bootssattlerei Hallier
ZAR Formenti 75

Materials: Sunbrella^® Plus by Glen Raven Custom Fabrics LLC, Renolit Prime Crystal Clear rolled vinyl by Renolit, Gore^® Tenara^® thread by W.L. Gore & Associates Inc., Soltis 86 by Serge Ferrari, YKK Zippers by YKK^®

Project Description: This was a complex and time-consuming project. The customer’s requests included full use of his rigid inflatable boat under all weather conditions, a 360-degree view from inside at the steering position, and a long bimini together with Soltis 86 shade panels for sun protection. He also wanted a large and easy entrance on both sides to provide accessibility for his elderly mother, and he wanted the enclosure to be designed so the ZAR 75 could run at full speed. The framework, which can lie flat if necessary, was designed with three bows in the back (tensioned with a strap that could be fastened to the frames to allow side entry to the boat) and two separate frames in the front. The bimini in the front, together with the front and side panels, could be used as a separate sprayhood. The 12 Soltis 86 panels could be combined with the enclosure for fresh air and mosquito protection or as full sun protection.

Bootssattlerei Hallier
Bad Abbach, Germany
bootssattlerei-hallier.de

Outstanding Achievement

K1 Marine Trimming
Riviera 51 Flybridge Clear Enclosure

Materials: Flexlight 6002 by Serge Ferrari, Strataglass by Strataglass LLC, FlexiTrack by WA Textiles, YKK Zippers by YKK^®

Project Description: The client requested a flybridge clear enclosure that provided the maximum possible unobstructed vision and clarity; a sleek and smooth aesthetic; easy access to the rear flybridge fishing rod holders; and a durable, high-quality product. This involved a complete redesign of the enclosure. The complexity of this project centered around providing maximum vision (designing the enclosure with as few panels as possible) while navigating the changes in angles associated with corners and attachment points for both the ceiling and deck. Reducing the number of panels to four avoided creating joins over high-stress areas, weak points and opportunities for leakage, as well as significantly increased visibility. UV-rated PTFE thread was used across the entire project to ensure longevity. All edges were double reinforced using high-quality material with a 10-year UV rating. Weatherproof external covers protected all zippers and track. The client was thrilled with the perfect fit, near 100 percent visibility, 100 percent clarity, improved weathertightness and ease of use.

K1 Marine Trimming
O’Connor, Australia
K1mt.com.au

Outstanding Achievement

Mike’s Marine Custom Canvas
Jump Thru Wings

Materials: Sunbrella^® by Glen Raven Custom Fabrics LLC, Strataglass by Strataglass LLC, Costa Track^® by Costa Marine Canvas and Enclosures, YKK Zippers by YKK^®

Project Description: The client wanted maximum comfort and protection from the weather on a new center console. He also needed easy access to the bow for the seating and, most importantly, the potty. This new center console boat had a glass windshield and a black powder-coated T-top. Black track was used on the top and white track on the fiberglass. The slick design continued with a candy-cane-shaped coil zipper in the wings, which fold flat against the console. The rest of the enclosure rolled up to the hardtop with straps.

Mike’s Marine Custom Canvas
Virgina Beach, Va.
mikesmarinecanvas.com

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Sailboat Dodgers & Biminis

Award of Excellence

Bespoke Boat Covers
Italia Yachts 12.98

Materials: Sunbrella^® Plus Cadet Grey by Glen Raven Custom Fabrics LLC, vinyl by Achilles USA Inc., Gore^® Tenara^® thread by W.L. Gore & Associates Inc.

Project Description: This project consisted of a full canvas and frame design, installation of a sprayhood, a cockpit tent, frame and extra awning to protect sailors from rain and sun. The easy detachment of the sides made the tent and awning accessible to use as a bimini top. The owner requested as many windows as possible. He also wanted the storage cockpit tent and awning to be very easy to remove. This is why the cockpit tent and awning were hung on only one support tube, making it possible to take them down in less than five minutes. The seven-window sprayhood provided sailors with very good visibility while underway.

Bespoke Boat Covers
Nærum, Denmark
bespokeboatcovers@gmail.com

Outstanding Achievement

Signature CanvasMakers LLC
Jeanneau 440

Materials: Sunbrella^® by Glen Raven Custom Fabrics LLC, TUFFAK^® Marine 5 polycarbonate by Plaskolite Inc., SolarFix^® thread by SolarFix

Project Description: Clients wanted a dodger that would stand out. They requested large view lines, and they wanted it to flow with and complement the modern lines of their new boat. The frame style, with the struts forward and the double-crowned forward bow, made this dodger not only fun to build but challenging as well. The large window design provided maximum visibility. A full valence provided the customer with flexibility to remove the three large panels independently for maximum airflow or to be removed and stored easily over the winter months. The forward center panel also could be tied up in place to the frame if the customer chose. The client was very happy with the finished product.

Signature CanvasMakers LLC
Hampton, Va.
signaturecanvasmakers.com

Sailboat Enclosures

Award of Excellence

Yachtsman’s Canvas
Hardtop Wannabe

Materials: Sunbrella^® by Glen Raven Custom Fabrics LLC, TUFFAK^® Marine 5 polycarbonate by Plaskolite Inc., Strataglass by Strataglass LLC

Project Description: This project was a complete redesign for a Hunter 45, consisting of a full custom frame and custom grab rail system. This unique and complicated project was intended to provide the look and openness of a hardtop and enclosure. The bimini top spanned approximately 11 feet from arch to forward. This frame was designed to mimic a hardtop with no additional framework outside of a primary bow. A single 1-foot stainless-steel tube was mounted to the arch to a single primary forward bow with three intermediary mid-bows. The enclosure consisted of seven panels: two each side and three in the aft. Track was installed along the arch to support the aft panels, keeping them independent from the side panels. This allowed the opportunity to create wings on the side panels, extending them farther aft, which was a design feature and provided additional protection for the aft cockpit seating. The minimalistic custom frame design, extended wings and clean finishes set this project apart, and the single-length custom grab rails were the jewelry needed to really make this stand out.

Yachtsman’s Canvas
North Wales, Pa.
yachtsmanscanvas.com

Award of Excellence

Hayden Island Canvas
Hunter 336

Materials: Sunbrella^® by Glen Raven Custom Fabrics LLC, Top Gun^® by Marlen Textiles, TUFFAK^® Marine 5 polycarbonate by Plaskolite Inc., O’Sea^® polished 40-gauge vinyl by O’Sullivan Films Inc.

Project Description: The clients wanted a handsome custom enclosure to provide extra room on the boat during the winter and to make it easy to get in and out of the cockpit. They also wanted the bimini top to extend over the aft seating for summer when the enclosure was not in use, but didn’t want a big, bulky enclosure over the aft railing. The dodger was fabricated with Marine 5 panels and a seven-panel enclosure with O’Sea marine vinyl. Easy-access zippers with overlapping flaps that fold back and fasten were installed at the aft entry and at the port and starboard locations. Careful planning of the bimini and its mid-bow were required to get proper support in the right spot for the aft panels to zip to. Window lines were maximized with clean, flowing lines to match the boat. The panel split locations were carefully chosen on the sides so the panels behind the dodger could fold back using the access zippers instead of rolling up the doorways.

Hayden Island Canvas
Portland, Ore.
haydenislandcanvas.com

Outstanding Achievement

Yachtsman’s Canvas
Cozy Classic Comfort

Materials: MarineTyte^® by Cooley Group, Strataglass by Strataglass LLC, YKK Zippers by YKK^®

Project Description: The project consisted of a new seven-piece cockpit enclosure on a classic 1988 Sabre 36 sailboat. The project’s goal was to provide additional comfort to extend the sailing season for an early-spring start and a late-fall end. The challenge was to provide an enclosure for this classic vessel (small cockpit compared to modern boats) without adding the heaviness and bulkiness of an enclosure. To accomplish this, a contrasting white fabric was used to lighten up the enclosure and to seamlessly blend in or disappear as much as possible. Narrow, vertical panel facing was incorporated to provide maximum viewing area. The interior included clean finishes of masked vertical and horizontal zippers and the elimination of corner gaps.

Yachtsman’s Canvas
North Wales, Pa.
yachtsmanscanvas.com

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Tops & Sunflys

Award of Excellence

SewLong Custom Covers
Expanding Shade Sail

Materials: WeatherMAX^® 3D by Safety Components Fabric Technologies Inc.

Project Description: The goal of this project was to create a shade sail system that provided full shade coverage without interfering with watersports like wakesurfing. The system needed to be easy to expand or collapse based on the clients’ needs, while still being strong enough to use while the boat was in motion for surfing. Using custom carbon fiber poles that extended horizontally from the boat’s tower rather than vertically from the transom ensured that the tow rope would not get in the way, providing obstruction-free shade. Custom aluminum billet mounting brackets were designed to seamlessly connect the carbon fiber poles with the boat tower, ensuring durability and a sleek appearance. Additionally, webbing and integrated pockets were added to allow the front half of the shade sail to be bunched up, giving users the ability to collapse or extend the shade quickly and easily. This feature offered extra flexibility, allowing the user to adjust coverage based on sun exposure or the activity on the boat.

SewLong Custom Covers
Salt Lake City, Utah
sewlong.com

Outstanding Achievement

Mike’s Marine Custom Canvas
Re-Cooper-8

Materials: WeatherMAX^® 80 by Safety Components Fabric Technologies Inc., Carbiepoles^™ by AMC Poles Corp., YKK Zippers by YKK^®, Lift-the-DOT^® fasteners by Morito Scovill Americas

Project Description: The client wanted to cover the cockpit when docked in the slip and also wanted a sunfly when rigging and fishing in the heat. The majority of the cover can remain in use all the time, so the owner doesn’t have to stow away all of that material. The top and bottom skirt simply zip on and off for easy use.

Mike’s Marine
Custom Canvas
Virginia Beach, Va.
mikesmarinecanvas.com

Transformations (Before & After)

Award of Excellence

Hayden Island Canvas
Tiara 

Materials:  Soltis 86 and Stamoid Open by Serge Ferrari North America Inc., TUFFAK^® Marine 5 polycarbonate by Plaskolite Inc.

Project Description: The owner wanted a new enclosure for a Tiara that was well-fitting, easy to enter and had clear panels that matched the quality of the rest of the boat. The overall crisp look of this enclosure, along with the shade sail for the aft deck, really transformed the usability of this boat. The large width and height of the panels, with nothing to secure them but the track at the top and the snaps at the bottom, presented several challenges. The edges of the panels were curved where the port and starboard panels met to pull out as much of the looseness in the center of the panels as possible. Stamoid Open was chosen for its dimensional stability. The shade sail was designed with minimal hardware, necessitating careful selection of a hardware location that was both robust and worked with the design. The forward edge next to the cabin top was curved even more than normal to avoid obstructions and to pull tight properly.

Hayden Island Canvas
Portland, Ore.
haydenislandcanvas.com

Outstanding Achievement

Boatman Marine Canvas
2005 Sea Ray^® Sundeck 240

Materials: Thatch Quartz AquaMat^® AquaWeave^™ by Corinthian Marine, MarineMat Titanium over Charcoal flooring by MarineMat, Sunbrella^® Charcoal by Glen Raven Custom Fabrics LLC, WeatherMAX^® 3D Light Gray by Safety Components Fabric Technologies Inc., Carbiepoles^™ by AMC Poles Corp.

Project Description: The client wanted a full transformation of his 2005 Sea Ray Sundeck 240. This included new snap-in flooring, EVA foam on the swim deck, snap-on cockpit and bow covers, a fully reskinned bimini top and re-covered seat bases. To top it off, he wanted a custom 12-foot shade sail over the bow for extra comfort and style. One of the most exciting aspects of this project was incorporating the new 1-inch fiberglass shade sail poles, originally designed for smaller lake boats. This required detailed planning and precision, especially in determining how and where to drill into the boat for the new poles. Due to the size of the 12-foot shade sail, four poles were used to ensure maximum stability. WeatherMAX^® 3D allowed the shade to stretch beautifully over the bow. The stunning transformation not only elevated the boat’s look but added more than 20 feet of shade. The client was thrilled with the update, and the boat is a true reflection of custom craftsmanship meeting functionality.

Boatman Marine Canvas
Oklahoma City, Okla.
boatmanmarinecanvas.com

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Travel/Full Covers

Award of Excellence

Marine Tops Unlimited
Undercover Donzi

Materials: Softouch^™ by Marlen Textiles

Project Description: The customer was looking for a full travel cover to protect this Donzi 38 ZR performance boat from the elements while sitting on the trailer outside and while traveling down the highway at 70 mph. To protect the expensive custom paint job, the material had to be something with a soft inside lining. The cover was designed and fabricated to also protect against road grime and rock chips on the lower nose of the boat, which meant having this cover reach well below the waterline. This cover took more than 60 yards of material, which made it challenging to move around the sewing tables and get it onto the boat. Extremely detailed measurements were necessary to ensure the cover fit snugly and that all the straps were sewn in the correct places at the correct length and angle. The cover also had to split in the front to get around the trailer bow pads and bow eye, then it had to attach back together and fasten at the bottom using hook-and-loop to put some tension on the bottom edge of the cover.

Marine Tops Unlimited
Omro, Wis.
marinetops.com

Outstanding Achievement

Bootssattlerei Hallier
ZAR Formenti 75

Materials: Texout Capemarine Waterproof by Giofex, Gore^® Tenara^® thread by W.L. Gore & Associates Inc.

Project Description: The project was a cover for trailering this fully restored ZAR 75 at high speeds and having it totally UV-protected when being stored on land. The customer wanted everything to be protected, including the outboard motor and teak bathing platforms, and also wanted easy access to the boat via zippers in the back. The German-made polyester fabric Texout Capemarine Waterproof has a PU coating on the underside, making it waterproof on the German Autobahn. Due to its light weight, the cover could easily be folded and stored. The enclosure framework was used to support the fabric. The actual cover used RIB hooks together with Stayput Fasteners and bungee cords in the back. The anchor area below the bow was made waterproof and windproof since the ZAR had quite a large opening there. The overlap there could be opened, allowing use of the anchor and cover when on the water. The cover also had two large roll-up entries in the back. When stored, two additional zip-on covers could be used to fully protect the tubes and hull.

Bootssattlerei Hallier
Bad Abbach, Germany
bootssattlerei-hallier.de

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Powerboat — Uniquely Different

Award of Excellence

Hayden Island Canvas
Ranger Tug 30 CB

Materials: Sunbrella^® by Glen Raven Custom Fabrics LLC, Strataglass
by Strataglass LLC

Project Description: The customer wanted a rigid-style top and enclosure for the aft deck of his Ranger Tug. It needed to have zipper access to the command bridge in the top with a stable and taut fit. In addition, the panels needed to be split and lined up to the fold-out gunwale side seats. Since the top and enclosure couldn’t extend to cover these side seats in most mooring situations, the owner wanted an awning that zipped onto the new rigid top and had an adjustable angle awning off the sides of the boat for use on the water. One challenge was attaching it to a cabin that was not symmetrical. Others were that it had to mount to a fiberglass awning over the doorway to the interior with an inverted U-shape to the canvas; provide clearance for the stairs with a leak-free zippered hatchway; and be stabilized with minimal vertical struts. Using two vertical supports to hold up the top and two trussed horizontal struts made the top very stable along with a crowned middle support. The unique side awnings requested by the customer took it to the next level.

Hayden Island Canvas
Portland, Ore.
haydenislandcanvas.com

Outstanding Achievement

Boatman Marine Canvas
1928 The Roof is on Fire 

Material: Connection vinyl by Keyston Bros., Raylon loop pile carpet, original Ford seat fabric from 1974, vintage wooden rulers

Project Description: When it came to restoring the interior of this 1928 Ford Model A, the client sought a design that was clean and simple yet had distinct elements that would stand out. This included custom-crafted new door panels featuring raised bead internal outlines and inlaid pockets for a subtle yet refined detail. The original front-seat frames were restored, while the back seat was built from scratch, preserving the vintage feel via modern craftsmanship. Drawing inspiration from old Woody wagons, a headliner was created using vintage wooden rulers, evoking the iconic wood-slat design. The client was so thrilled with the unique look that he decided to leave the metal roof off, allowing the open-air design to showcase the craftsmanship from above as well. The result was a head-turning hot rod that seamlessly blended boat-building techniques with automotive craftsmanship. This project embodied the perfect blend of tradition and innovation, where timeless design met modern creativity.

Boatman Marine Canvas
Oklahoma City, Okla.
boatmanmarinecanvas.com