The 2016 State of the Industry

May 1, 2016  |  Features, Industry News, New Markets, Resources

Positive outlook projected for marine businesses. Six years after the world economy emerged from the Great Recession of 2009, a return to a strong global expansion remains elusive. The downside risks to the world economy appeared more noticeable than ever in 2015. Economic growth has improved in the…
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The romance of the water

September 2, 2014  |  Features, New Markets

On-water repairs aren’t for everyone, but some fabricators are finding business to be lucrative. Question: Do you respond to your customers’ repair needs by hopping in your boat and going to their boats to do the work? Range of answers: “Sounds like fun” to “Nope” to “Oh my God!” Cha…
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Taking the show on the road

July 1, 2014  |  Features, New Markets

Mobile shops are an increasingly popular option for onsite repairs. In today’s fast-paced world, what could be better than having your marine fabrication projects done on site? These modular, mobile structures are an excellent solution for a world that craves quick, convenient service but is still…
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The Woven Revolution

May 1, 2014  |  Features, New Markets

New vinyl flooring options have become wildly popular in exterior marine applications in just a few years. Will the trend last? When Bob Dylan sang “the times they are a’changin’,” he probably didn’t have exterior marine flooring fabrics in mind. Regardless, the times are a’changin’ fo…
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Going hi-tech

January 1, 2014  |  Features, New Markets

Faster, better, smarter: Is there always a way to get there? Maybe. And yet it’s not easy to determine what is faster, better or smarter for any one marine fabrication shop. Technological advancements in three-dimensional software and hardware engineering are changing the way many fabricators do b…
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On-site repair work on the rise

September 1, 2013  |  Features, Interiors & Upholstery, New Markets

When John Kissel of Kissel Boat Cover, North Olmsted, Ohio, steps onto a marina to do on-site boat cover work, he does so quietly. “I keep a low profile,” Kissel says. “When boat owners see me there, I’m inundated with work.” An improving economy and a taste for convenience are driving on-…
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Off-season options to keep up on downtime

September 1, 2013  |  Features, Interiors & Upholstery, New Markets

Turn on the radio, read the newspaper, or watch the evening news and you’d be hard-pressed not to find articles and news segments discussing the ongoing financial woes our nation is facing. Many financial aficionados will agree the past two years will go into the economic history books as unforget…
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Luxury ships offer design challenges and opportunities

July 1, 2013  |  Features, Interiors & Upholstery, New Markets

When you think about ocean, lake or river cruise lines, what comes to mind? Luxury travel, certainly. Beautiful, natural surroundings, definitely. And the ships themselves: large, luxurious liners, with dining, entertainment and staff that attend to your every need, allowing you to enjoy your experi…
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