TEXTILES.ORG 
2026 MFA Fabrication Excellence Awards
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.
Hybrid Enclosures — Sailboat & Powerboat
Award of Excellence
Canvas Designers Inc.
Baby on Board
Materials: Sunbrella® Crest Ash by Glen Raven Custom Fabrics LLC, 40 mil by Strataglass® LLC
Project Description: The object for this project was to create a truly unique and functional onboard experience for a young family with a newborn baby to enjoy their time on the water in comfort, safety and style. The result is a fully customized ridged and 40-mil vinyl soft-combo enclosure system paired with a low-profile dodger shade, designed with precision, versatility and user-friendliness at its core. Every detail of this project was driven by the client’s vision of a comfortable, shaded space that allows a parent and child to spend quality time on the boat without compromising on visibility, safety or aesthetics. The low dodger shade provides ample coverage from sun and spray while maintaining a cozy, welcoming space. The structure is designed with ideal proportions tall enough to sit upright in comfort yet low enough to maintain clear forward sight over and through the rigid glass.
Canvas Designers Inc.
Riviera Beach, Fla., USA
canvasdesigners.com
Outstanding Achievement
Charlton’s Marine Canvas
43 Silverton Flybridge Enclosure
Materials: Recacril®, 18 oz. PVC, SolarFix® Thread
Project Description: Charlton’s Marine Canvas took on this project for a full flybridge enclosure because co-owner Mike Charlton thought he would be able to use his creative mind to redesign it and make it much more up-to-date and functional. For starters, the third bow back was removed from the back bow and moved forward, and now stands perfectly vertical from port to starboard. This allows for two large side-opening panels for airflow and also leaves room for the two side doorways to function very easily. There are also horizontal struts to support the bow, and they double for a location for the side U-zippers to swing up to and attach to. The entire enclosure is 60 polycarbonate, other than the two side door panels, which are 40-gauge flexible glass. All the exterior snaps at the bottom of the enclosure are hidden. The fasteners are installed on an extra piece of fabric sewn to the inside of the enclosure. This makes for a much cleaner and professional look.
Charlton’s Marine Canvas
Hampton, Va., USA
charltonsmarinecanvas.com
Marine Exterior Upholstery
Award of Excellence
Marine Tops Unlimited
Eliminator 25 Daytona
Materials: Marine vinyl by Keyston Bros., marine vinyl by The Miami Corporation
Project Description: The customer brought this Eliminator 25 Daytona to Marine Tops Unlimited with the all-white upholstery badly faded, ripped and torn in some areas. The customer wanted a little more than just a plain white interior but still wanted to keep a simplistic, clean look. Marine Tops Unlimited played around with several ideas to introduce a little bit of color and design to the project and the customer ultimately selected a design that introduced the colors and design in a more subtle form. The shop removed the upholstery in the fall and installed all the newly reupholstered items in the spring. Marine Tops Unlimited fabricated all the seats, side panels, rear hatch pad and a couple of trim pieces that were also upholstered around the dash area. The customer was very happy with the finished product.
Marine Tops Unlimited
Omro, Wis., USA
marinetops.com
Outstanding Achievement
Top Stitch Marine Canvas
Touch of Blue
Materials: Morbern™ Seabrook and Spradling Beluga by The Miami Corporation, SolarFix® Thread by Keyston Bros.
Project Description: The client wanted to refresh the look of his boat with clean white vinyl and diamonds. Top Stitch Marine Canvas approached him with the idea of adding blue accents to make the seating pop and to tie in better with the blue canvas on his boat. The combination of the smooth Seabrook Chalk—accented with diamonds—with the textured Spradling Beluga resulted in a beautiful blend of color and texture. The diamonds are done in Top Stitch’s signature style, where the shop ensures that the tops of the diamonds all intersect the seam at the pulldown. This is challenging to get right because the process requires skewing the diamond shape as it wraps through the curves without visibly deforming the diamond itself. The boat is kept at the end of a long dock, and it was exciting carrying all of the pieces to the boat with other people seeing the work and complimenting it. The client was blown away by the result.
Top Stitch Marine Canvas
Middle River, Md., USA
topstitchmarinecanvas.com
Marine Interior Upholstery
Award of Excellence
Alfred’s Upholstery
“Syntax” Wheeler 55
Materials: Caldwell Ash by Pindler and Pindler Inc., Tierra Acquifer by Holland and Sherry, Brisa® by Ultraleather®
Project Description: Founded in 1910 by Howard E. Wheeler Sr. in Brooklyn, N.Y., the Wheeler Shipyard Corporation closed its doors in 1965. Decades later, Howard Wheeler’s great-grandson, Wes Wheeler, was brought in to consult on building a replica of Ernest Hemingway’s 38-foot Playmate named Pilar® for a biopic. Inspired by this experience, Wes and his wife reignited the Wheeler legacy and in 2020, the modern-day Wheeler Yacht Company® was reborn. The company sought a high-end upholstery partner capable of delivering interiors and exteriors that reflect the same level of artistry and refinement. Alfred’s Upholstery’s collaboration with Wheeler Yachts resulted in interiors that blend old-world techniques with modern materials. Deep button-tufted upholstery, genuine leather and premium Pindler fabrics grace the salon and custom tufted headboards. Interior cushions were crafted using Carpenter’s foam, the industry’s highest-quality foam engineered with a proprietary layering formula to deliver unmatched comfort and longevity. For exterior applications, Alfred’s Upholstery used Ultraleather® and multilayered reticulated foam to ensure durability and comfort in marine environments. The shop created a seamless fusion of heritage and innovation, producing an interior and exterior that are as luxurious as they are enduring.
Alfred’s Upholstery
Alfred, Maine, USA
alfredsupholstery.com
Outstanding Achievement
Signature CanvasMakers LLC
Ignore the Mess—Salon Refit
Materials: Softside PermaGuard® Pro
Project Description: This project involved the design and fabrication of a fully custom, wraparound lounge for the salon on a Dixon 57. The goal was to create a seamless, contemporary seating area that complemented the vessel’s interior while providing maximum comfort, durability and ease of maintenance in a marine environment. Pictures were taken before the salon construction was completed. The seating was precisely contoured to fit within a complex, multi-angled cabin corner with tight clearances and curved walls. This couch was templated by scanning technology (Polycam) and CAD modeled to ensure perfect alignment and proportional transitions throughout the corner radius. The backrests and seat cushions were designed to maintain a consistent visual rhythm while following the changing geometry of the bulkheads. The finished salon seating presents a refined, tailored appearance that elevates the entire interior aesthetic. The crisp lines, flawless curves and premium feel transformed the cabin into an inviting, high-end social space. The owner was thrilled with the results. This project required innovation in marine upholstery design through a careful balance of craftsmanship, ergonomics and functionality.
Signature CanvasMakers LLC
Hampton, Va., USA
signaturecanvasmakers.com
Powerboat — Rigid Enclosures
Award of Excellence
K1 Marine Trimming
Viking 65 Acrylic Clear Enclosure
Materials: Clear acrylic, acrylic canvas by Ricky Richards
Project Description: The client wanted a new set of rigid clears designed to optimize the visual expanse of a large flybridge, prioritizing clarity and durability. In a departure from standard designs, the client did not want a U-zip in the front panel to facilitate uninterrupted views because they wanted to feel like there wasn’t an enclosure; they would rely on air-conditioning for climate control. The client requested that the side rear panels of the enclosure contain rollable windows so they could lean out to monitor docking procedures. They also specified an open rear (not a fully enclosed flybridge), requesting only a removable storm sheet for when the vessel was not in use. They further requested acrylic clear quarter panels for both sides of the rear deck for additional weather protection, with handrail cutouts for ease of maneuvering. This project was K1 Marine Trimming’s biggest flybridge enclosure to date and required a new level of problem-solving, which resulted in unique designs for the finish of the handle cutouts of the quarter panels and the mesh ventilation windows of the clear enclosure. The design fully meets the client’s criteria, serves as a beautiful and functional flybridge enclosure that provides crystal-clear views, and exemplifies aesthetic functional design.
K1 Marine Trimming
O’Connor, Western Australia
k1mt.com.au
Outstanding Achievement
Mike’s Marine Custom Canvas
Well Albie Darned!
Materials: Stamoid Open and polycarbonate UV by Keyston Bros., YKK® zippers by Trivantage® LLC
Project Description: The client requested a fully rigid enclosure that could go up and stay up, because they had recently installed a new air-conditioning system. The back three curtains needed to be more like a back porch; no snaps—just slide and lock, open and shut. Mike’s Marine Custom Canvas made a “header panel” that hangs from the track on the curved/arched roof. It’s as wide as all three back panels. The lower edge of that flap is a perfectly level welt to hang the triple track from. The corner panels go in one groove; the door goes in the outer groove. Patio doors are simple, so the redesign needed a simple approach to a stylized solution. Track across the top needed to be perfectly level from port to starboard. The center door has 2-inch flat steel battens inside the vertical edges. They overlap the corner edges that have rare-earth magnets sewn inside to close when the edges overlap. The center door can open both ways, inside or out.
Mike’s Marine Custom Canvas
Virginia Beach, Va., USA
mikesmarinecanvas.com
Powerboat — Soft Enclosures
Award of Excellence
Ready-About Canvas Works LLC
Call Me Ishmael
Materials: Seamark and Sunbrella® Marine Canvas by Sunbrella®, Tuffak® AR2 by Plaskolite®
Project Description: “Call Me Ishmael” is a Hylas 49 center cockpit. It previously had a partial dodger and a bimini, but both frames were indeterminately defined by adjustable straps. The owner wanted the same look and shape, but in an enclosure designed for all-season cruising. Ready-About Canvas Works LLC made the frames determinate using stainless steel tubing struts. The top is actually three pieces: one part over the dodger, one part over the helm and a connector, which is easily removable. The center side panels are Strataglass® clear vinyl and feature integrated hoods for the aft winches. The aft center panel is also Strataglass, and these three can be rolled up for sailing. All the other panels are .060-inch Tuffak® AR2 polycarbonate. All the enclosure panels are two layers of Sunbrella® with a folded edge inside and out where the view line is revealed. Anywhere there’s a fastener, there’s a layer of Top Gun™ between the main layers. Top Gun reinforcement zones are also added anywhere the fabric might rub against some other part of the boat.
Ready-About Canvas Works LLC
Seattle, Wash., USA
readyaboutcanvasworks.com
Outstanding Achievement
Afton Marina & Yacht Club Inc.
Camper Enclosure 48-foot Sea Ray® Hardtop
Materials: 1 and 1/4-inch stainless steel tubing by Trivantage® LLC, Strataglass® by Strataglass® LLC, Sunbrella® Plus by Glen Raven Custom Fabrics LLC
Project Description: The client wanted a camper enclosure on his 48 Sea Ray® Sundancer hardtop with no obstruction that a traditional frame mounted low would do. Owner Greg Smith designed a horizontal frame mounted high to the inside of the hardtop out of 1 and 1/4-inch stainless steel. It was double crowned; it had a normal crown as well as crown going up. The frame took a full 24-inch stick of stainless steel to make. Afton Marina & Yacht made three panels in the back split symmetrically and one panel on each side had a U-zipper and screen on the middle panel in the back and one on each side. The company used Sunbrella® Plus for the material on the top, 3/4-inch acrylic binding, 40-gauge Strataglass® for the clear on the enclosure, YKK® zippers and Flex-A-Rail® for the track.
Afton Marina & Yacht Club Inc.
Afton, Minn., USA
aftonmarina.net
Sailboat Dodgers & Biminis
Award of Excellence
Oyster Creek Canvas
Clearly Visible
Materials: Sunbrella® by Glen Raven Custom Fabrics LLC, Stamoid by Serge Ferrari North America Inc., Tuffak® AR
Project Description: The client wanted to replace his old dodger with something updated and new, and more importantly, something that gave him a better line of sight and more window. He also wanted a nice way for the sail reefing lines to come through the front of the dodger, and grab handles as he is often solo sailing. He didn’t need anything to be easily removable as he indicated that he never takes the dodger off and does a lot of sailing in inclement weather from Washington state up to British Columbia and Alaska. Oyster Creek Canvas doesn’t do a lot of one-piece dodgers, but it seemed that this one would be a good candidate for the one piece. What sets this apart is contouring, look and open visibility of the dodger. The wraparound windows really open things up and give a lot of visibility when sailing.
Oyster Creek Canvas
Bellingham, Wash., USA
oystercreekcanvas.com
Outstanding Achievement
Yacht Canvas Inc.
Oyster on Oyster 655
Materials: Oyster Sunbrella® by Glen Raven Custom Fabrics LLC, polycarbonate by Plaskolite®, #10 zippers by YKK®
Project Description: The owners of this Oyster 655 came to Yacht Canvas Inc. seeking a complete redesign of their bimini and dodger. Their existing bimini frame lacked adequate support and was collapsing under tension points, creating both functionality and safety concerns. They wanted a sturdier, better engineered frame that would maintain its shape and durability while allowing for easy movement in and out of the cockpit without obstructions. In addition, their dodger had aged and begun to craze, so it was time for a full refresh. The goal was to restore both the form and function of the canvas, providing strength and style while ensuring the new design complemented the Oyster’s graceful lines. Redesigning a bimini frame on a vessel of this caliber required balancing strength and functionality while maintaining the graceful lines of the Oyster 655. The result is a system that complements the vessel’s design, enhances comfort and preserves the elegance expected from an Oyster yacht.
Yacht Canvas Inc.
Annapolis, Md., USA
yachtcanvasinc.com
Sailboat Enclosures
Award of Excellence
SALTY BUOY Marine Canvas Inc.
Seasons of Amavi, a Cockpit Enclosure Renewal for a Hunter 356
Materials: Sunbrella® Canvas and Sunbrella® Seamark by Glen Raven Custom Fabrics LLC, O’Sea® 30-gauge clear vinyl by O’Sullivan Films Inc.
Project Description: “Amavi,” Latin for “I have loved,” is more than a name etched on the transom. It reflects the owner’s deep connection to sailing, to the Pacific coast and to the vessel that has carried them through seasons of adventure. When they approached SALTY BUOY Marine Canvas Inc. to replace the aging canvas enclosure, the goal wasn’t just restoration, it was renewal—a chance to preserve the spirit of Amavi while enhancing comfort, visibility and durability for years to come. The original enclosure had reached the end of its service life, showing signs of wear, distortion and compromised weather protection. During initial consultations, SALTY BUOY discussed opportunities to improve visibility, access and long-term durability while preserving the vessel’s clean lines and the sentimental value embedded in its existing arrangement. The enclosure included multiple interconnected components: dodger, bimini tops attached fore and aft from the traveler arch structure, a connector panel, and full cockpit enclosure. Patterning was sequenced to ensure precision; the coverage components were templated first, followed by the enclosure system. This strategy resulted in a perfect-fit delivery with every fastener landing on its mark without adjustment.
SALTY BUOY Marine Canvas Inc.
Vancouver, B.C., Canada
saltybuoy.com
Outstanding Achievement
Oyster Creek Canvas
Wild Spirit Special
Materials: Sunbrella® by Glen Raven Custom Fabrics LLC, Tuffak® AR, Strataglass® by Strataglass® LLC
Project Description: The project was a full enclosure on a Catalina 36. The client wanted to sail while being out of the elements for their trips from Washington north to British Columbia and Alaska. They wanted to be able to put up rigid solar panels, to sail without having to take panels off, and they wanted it to look good and not leak. Since water intrusion was of concern, Oyster Creek Canvas created a reinforced covered piece for the lines to come through at the front of the dodger that is expandable and flexes outward when it needs to accommodate the sail lines and cam buckles lever up. The shop also had a challenge with the aft corner seats and actually made cutouts that go around them to keep a nice, clean line on the aft panels. Oyster Creek Canvas used 1.25-inch-thick wall stainless for the framework and did a lot of shaping on the hard legs so they wouldn’t interfere with the aft corners. The shop used track along the bottom edges of side enclosure panels as they had to attach to a flat surface and also could be easily zipped back for ventilation.
Oyster Creek Canvas
Bellingham, Wash., USA
oystercreekcanvas.com
Tops & Sunflys
Award of Excellence
Chicago Marine Canvas
Big Top Engineering—Bluewater 68 Coastal Cruiser
Materials: Stamoid Top – Pearl Grey by Serge Ferrari North America Inc., SolarFix® PTFE Thread 2000 by Quality Thread and Notions
Project Description: The client wanted a permanent structure for their 1999 Bluewater Coastal Cruiser 68 that would provide protection, durability and a polished aesthetic suited to the yacht’s distinctive silhouette. The new top measured 17 feet long by 12 feet wide, requiring careful planning and precision to ensure strength and symmetry. To support the large span, Chicago Marine Canvas constructed the frame from Schedule 40 aluminum tubing 2-inch for the main structure and 1 and 1/2-inch for cross supports and reinforcement. The structure was welded in-house and engineered for rigidity and minimal flex. For the cover, all seams were double stitched using seam tape to provide a watertight seal. Velcro® flaps were added on the underside of the canvas across the frame to secure the top under high winds. The top was built as a banded-style installation, secured using a stainless-steel rub rail system. To prevent galvanic corrosion between the stainless screws and aluminum tubing, Chicago Marine Canvas applied LanoCote® before tapping the screws directly into the frame. Once the frame was installed, the shop carefully stretched and tensioned the Stamoid cover across the frame using tie lines to the surrounding rail system. After achieving the perfect tension, Chicago Marine Canvas installed the rub rail trim and finished the edges for a seamless, professional appearance.
Chicago Marine Canvas
Chicago, Ill., USA
chicagomarinecanvas.com
Outstanding Achievement
SugarHouse Industries Inc.
A Bimini Top Reinvented
Materials: Sunbrella® Fabric by Sunbrella®, SugarHouse Design Surf Pockets by Top Gun™ 9, SugarHouse Design Surf Pockets by WeatherMAX 3D
Project Description: This client wanted to increase shade coverage on a boat with a reverse arch tower. To achieve the desired look and function, SugarHouse Industries designed a completely new frame that extended the top forward without compromising the tower’s fold-down capability. The frame was constructed using a full 24-foot length of 1-inch stainless steel tubing from MD Building Products, supported by hardware from King Marine. The frame included horizontal supports at the center that attached back to the tower, as well as forward supports mounted to the deck in front of the windshield. This layout provided an additional 9 inches of shade while maintaining only 1/4-inch clearance for the tower to fold neatly past the windshield. The top was crafted from Sunbrella® marine fabric from Trivantage®, with surf pockets sewn from Top Gun™ 9 and WeatherMAX 3D by Keyston Bros. integrated into the design. The canopy attaches securely using YKK® zippers.
SugarHouse Industries
Midvale, Utah, USA
sugarhouse.us
Transformations (Before & After)
Award of Excellence
Canvas Designers Inc.
Rising From the Storm
Materials: Promessa® Aqua Marine by Ultrafabrics® Inc., Whippersnapper Breakers by Perennials®, Brisa® Navajo Ivory by Ultrafabrics
Project Description: This vessel had suffered catastrophic damage during Hurricane Ian off Florida’s west coast, requiring full interior and exterior reconstruction and reimagining that took 17 months to complete. The vessel was found after the storm, hung on the Boca Grande Sandbar. Windows were blown out and most of the entire interior was permeated with blown saltwater. This destroyed all areas. Canvas Designers Inc. stripped the entire inside of the boat, including all walls and headliners. Once the mold remediation was complete, the process of creating a whole new vessel began. Inside the vessel, every space was renewed. This included custom carpet and runners, reupholstered headliners, wallpaper, lambrequins, blinds, headboards, and custom bedding for all staterooms. All interior upholstery was re-covered, including the sofa, dinette and barstools, with each piece tailored to harmonize with the refined new design aesthetic. On the exterior, the project continued with a complete suite of handcrafted cushions, from the mezzanine seating to the flybridge port and starboard lounges, helm seats, and U-shaped settee, all precision-fitted for comfort, durability and aesthetic cohesion. The transformation was completed with a custom enclosure, bringing both function and elegance to the vessel’s redesigned exterior.
Canvas Designers Inc.
Riviera Beach, Fla., USA
canvasdesigners.com
Outstanding Achievement
Mike’s Marine Custom Canvas
Worst/Best Thing Ever!
Materials: Sunbrella® by Trivantage® LLC, Strataglass® by Keyston Bros., polycarbonate UV by Performance Textiles
Project Description: ’Twas a cold night with a full moon on Friday the 13th. The client dropped the boat at the shop and howled off. The morning plans were shattered in the literal sense as the vessel’s glass exploded everywhere. After a weekend of sleepless nights and the complete trust of one lucky client, Mike’s Marine Custom Canvas came up with a complete overhaul. The shop pulled the old 3/8-inch snaps out of the windshield frame and planned to use 3/8-inch screws in the same holes to hold track across the front of the windshield. Mike’s Marine removed the windshield and frame and covered the footprint exactly. However, now the panels could come up from the base instead, and the shop could make it like a mini express flybridge on this old walkaround cuddy cabin. The team narrowed the perimeter at the top with Costa Track® to avoid any abrasion with all the exterior legs/reels/rod holders. Mike’s Marine added custom openings for the side U-zips in line with the legs and a vent mesh zipper across the top of the front/center. The door aft can roll up, swing sideways and clip, or zip all the way out. The top corners have flaps that flip down to reel the outriggers and teasers from inside too.
Mike’s Marine Custom Canvas
Virginia Beach, Va., USA
mikesmarinecanvas.com
Travel/Full Covers
Award of Excellence
Ready-About Canvas Works LLC
Suite B
Materials: Sunbrella®
Project Description: The client wanted a shaped cover for their RIB while on the davits of their big boat. It must be installable by one person with access only from the swim step. This cover features a zippered access panel that allows it to be draped over the inflatable tubes, then closed up around the davit arms. A ratcheting block draws the skirt tight under the tubes, securing the cover. A flap with a mesh portion protects the boat from the hardware while allowing it to drain. The cover is Sunbrella® marine canvas and has Top Gun™ internal reinforcements in hard contact areas. Ready-About Canvas Works LLC also built the flybridge enclosure of the big boat.
Ready-About Canvas Works LLC
Seattle, Wash., USA
readyaboutcanvasworks.com
Outstanding Achievement
Lake Shore Boat Top Company
“Quick-Silver”—Nor-Tech® Full Cover
Materials: Smoke Sunbrella® by Glen Raven Custom Fabrics LLC, SolarFix® Thread by Quality Threads & Notions, YKK® zippers by YKK®
Project Description: The client wanted their Nor-Tech® to stand out with a sleek, skintight enclosure that would cover the entire boat while preserving its high-performance profile. To achieve this, Lake Shore Boat Top Company designed a custom full cover using Smoke Sunbrella® marine fabric, chosen for its durability, UV resistance and ability to complement the boat’s striking blue and silver finish. Every cutout around the poles was tightly sealed and precision-fitted, ensuring a flawless, aerodynamic look that hugged the vessel’s lines. The result is an enclosure that not only enhances protection and comfort but also elevates the Nor-Tech’s already bold presence into a true showcase of engineering and design.
Lake Shore Boat Top Company
Saint Clair Shores, Mich., USA
lakeshoreboattop.com
Uniquely Different
Award of Excellence
Len’s Awning and Canvas
Mastering the Elements: Crafting the Ultimate Custom Hunting Blind
Materials: True Timber Camouflage (200D) by Rochford® Supply Co., Strataglass® 60 mil by Strataglass® LLC, YKK® #8 by Trivantage® LLC
Project Description: A customer came to Len’s Awning and Canvas for a fully enclosed hunting blind 18 feet long, 5 feet wide and 6 feet tall that could withstand the harshest winter conditions, keep out every wisp of cold air and snow, and still be easily removable once the season wrapped up. It needed four zip-off shooting flaps, a dedicated dog door for retrieving birds, allow natural light in, and have the ability to attach natural weeds and grass for camouflage. Len’s Awning and Canvas’s welding shop got to work on a sturdy yet lightweight frame, using 2-foot-by-3-foot aluminum for the floor and 1-foot-by-1-foot tubing for the exterior walls; the shop also added a convenient front shelf. Len’s Awning and Canvas designed a C-channel system paired with a zippered Keder that sealed tightly around the bottom of the frame, creating a fully enclosed, weatherproof barrier. The shop incorporated four zippered roof sections and installed 60-mil Strataglass® along the entire back wall to let in natural light without sacrificing insulation. Both end caps featured zippered doorways that could snap off for easy access or ventilation. The shop added a zippered dog door with a bungee strap to hold it open when in use. Finally, the team sewed in four rows of elastic along the entire front and back with 4-inch openings, allowing the client to tuck in natural grass and weeds for unbeatable concealment.
Len’s Awning and Canvas
Sioux Falls, S.D., USA
lensawningcanvas.com
Outstanding Achievement
Marine Tops Unlimited
Honey, I Shrunk the Boat
Materials: Sunbrella® by Glen Raven Custom Fabrics LLC, Tuffak® AR2 by Plaskolite®, Strataglass® by Strataglass® LLC
Project Description: This mini boat acts as a display boat in Marine Tops Unlimited’s showroom and the various events and boat shows where the shop displays. Marine Tops Unlimited built the three-bow stainless steel frame, then fabricated a Sunbrella® bimini top and enclosure panels that zip to the top first. The front window panel is made with Tuffak® AR2 polycarbonate and the side windows are Strataglass®. The rear aft curtain has a screen in it to show that option to customers as well. Marine Tops Unlimited also fabricated a bottom windshield cockpit cover for this boat made of Tempotest® material, as well as a full boat travel cover made using Softouch™ material, with the soft inside lining that also doubles as the way the team straps the boat down to the cart for transport. Marine Tops Unlimited designed and installed some various GatorStep EVA flooring pieces on the rear swim step and bow areas of the boat with some cool designs. The shop also built several different woven vinyl floor mats for the inside of the cockpit area of the boat using flooring from Infinity LWV and Corinthian Marine. Co-owner Kyle Van Damme custom fabricated a floor in the boat as well as a little seat and deck over what would be the motor compartment.
Marine Tops Unlimited
Omro, Wis., USA
marinetops.com
