This issue of Marine Fabricator might spark some jealousy. We spend a lot of time recapping the 2026 Marine Fabricators Conference in Savannah, Ga.; if you didn’t attend, you really missed out.

In addition to show coverage, you’ll find the roundup of all the Marine Fabricators Association (MFA) Fabrication Excellence Award winners. This program is a great opportunity to showcase your best work and enjoy peer recognition—congratulations to all the winners!

We also have a feature on handheld cutting tools and a how-to column on sailboat dodgers, both of which represent the type of education offered each year at MFA events. As fond as I am of the written word on a page, it’s hard to deny the appeal of live demonstrations and asking questions in the moment.

I don’t want to spark too much “FOMO” (fear of missing out, for those who haven’t been as chronically online as this millennial), but it’s a challenge. So much of what makes the MFA great comes down to the in-person connections and learning experiences the advisory board facilitates. 

Luckily, you don’t have to miss out forever. Later this year, we’ll announce the 2026 MFA regional workshops, where you can enjoy hands-on education in another fabricator’s shop. We’ve already opened the awards submission window for the 2027 Fabrication Excellence Awards, so MFA members should start thinking now of the projects they want to submit and collecting high-res photos of that work—the deadline is Sept. 30, which is earlier than previous years. 

And of course, we’ll be waiting for you at next year’s Marine Fabricators Conference in Nashville, Tenn. Maybe it’s because of the location’s country music roots, but I can’t help thinking of Shania Twain: The best thing about being a member “is the prerogative to have a little fun.”