© Mrtwister| Dreamstime.com The Tools, Tips and Tricks contest, sponsored by the Marine Fabricators Association (MFA), is an annual feature at the Marine Fabricators Conference. Attendees submit ideas that have improved their shop life and fellow conference-goers vote for their top three to win prizes. At the 2026 conference, submitters shared additional details about their [...]

Polyester fabrics, such as the HarborTime® Edge Marine Fabric from Trivantage®, are often made into full covers because of their easier handling and smaller storage requirements. Photo: Trivantage Today’s plethora of textile options may seem like a godsend. However, having such abundance may be confusing or worrisome, given how important finding the right solution for [...]

© Andrii Yalanskyi | Dreamstime.com People often use digital devices to work, communicate, entertain themselves, get directions, and shop for goods and services. While there are always exceptions to the rule, a business’s success and growth are now connected to reaching potential or existing clients on their smartphones, tablets, laptops or smartwatches. “Ten years ago, [...]

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 [...]

Right-handed blades allow right-handed users to see their line/pattern because the top blade does not block the user’s sightline. Photo: Fiskars® Brand Inc. There is no one-size-fits-all cutting tool. The right option needs to fit the hand using it, whether it is large or small, left or right. The blades must be sharp and durable, [...]

© Milllda | Dreamstime.com The marine fabrication industry encompasses a wide range of businesses, from multinational corporations to small mom-and-pop and one-person operations run out of garages or basements. Regardless of size, there are hardworking people everywhere with a passion for making products and/or providing services to customers. The work is rewarding, but it often [...]

Owner Mike Charlton moved to this 2,000-square-foot space in 2025 from his first shop, which was just 500 square feet and where he also had to share a table. Photo: Charlton’s Marine Canvas There are many routes to take when it comes to opening a fabrication business, and no one way is necessarily better—or easier—than [...]

The Time Standards Manual was developed in 1996 by the Marine Fabricators Association (MFA), a member group of Advanced Textiles Association, to serve as a benchmark that shop owners can use to set fabrication times, with which they can generate competitive labor costs. The manual is an ongoing project that continues to grow and change [...]

The heavy-duty umbrellas installed on this mega yacht are made from Recacril®, a premium-quality, solution-dyed acrylic fabric from RECASENS USA, LLC. Photo: RECASENS What makes a finish or fabric “high-end?” For Mike Erickson, owner and president of Canvas Designers Inc., one of the most important factors is how the material feels—although price factors in as [...]

Sailrite® DBA JustWholesale’s drill cutters utilize a mallet to pound the cutter through the fabric into a rubber block. Photo: Sailrite DBA JustWholesale Marine fabricators are always looking for ways to make their jobs simpler, safer, and more efficient and cost-effective. Precise, compact handheld tools and equipment—including snap-fastener installers, hot knives, foam cutters and upholstery [...]