The wonderful (confusing) world of foam

March 1, 2023  |  Interiors & Upholstery, Projects

The marine industry needs foam, and a lot of it, as do a hundred other industries that provide comfort and support. From exercise equipment to airplanes, cars and furniture in our homes, there is foam available for nearly every use.
Read More
Horizontal and cantilever frames

January 1, 2023  |  Exterior and Cover, Projects

Following the typical 10-to-20-year delay that “new ideas” seem to take to catch on in the canvas industry, the popularity and demand for horizontal frame systems and cantilever support systems has finally arrived everywhere. Sea Ray actually offered a horizontal aft frame option in 1999 on its …
Read More
Tricky client design challenges

January 1, 2023  |  Interiors & Upholstery, Projects

For most fabricators, long-term success doesn’t come from the easy jobs, but from the challenging projects. Using two case studies, I’ll present a few design challenges I’ve encountered in the hope that my experiences will help you work more smoothly with clients and shorten your learning curv…
Read More
Inspiration

January 1, 2023  |  Awards, Projects

The clients wanted to make adjustments and add to their current stainless steel dodger and bimini frames to create a more functional cockpit area for cruising. They asked that strong, high-quality materials be used so the final result would be suitable for offshore cruising. A significant challenge …
Read More
Tools and tips for better cushions

September 1, 2022  |  Interiors & Upholstery, Projects

At Custom Marine Canvas, we are always looking for ways to improve our work. After 38 years, we’re still finding new ways to do things. In this article, we share some of our favorite tools and tips for improving your cushions.
Read More
Thinking outside the box

September 1, 2022  |  Exterior and Cover, Projects

Our company, Northcoast Marine Specialties LLC, has had two decades of great success due to our unfamiliarity with the outdated and unimaginative techniques many canvas shops fall into the habit of re-creating endlessly.
Read More
Award-winning travel covers

July 1, 2022  |  Exterior and Cover

Fabricating travel covers presents a unique set of challenges for the marine fabricator. The cover needs to withstand highway traveling speeds, crosswinds and road debris without rubbing or otherwise damaging the boat. The correct fabric choice, close tailoring and proper reinforcing all play a part…
Read More
Adjusting to a bigger shop

July 1, 2022  |  Interiors & Upholstery, Projects

In 2019, I moved Chicago Marine Canvas into a new 2,500-square-foot space, and by the summer of 2021, customer projects were piling up on top of one another. An additional sewing table had been made under a low storage loft, we were constantly moving projects in the middle of production to complete …
Read More