Selecting breathable, woven, acrylic fabrics helps keep the boat dry and allows for ventilation. This is especially useful with a dark-colored fabric. There are many suppliers of fabrics in the marine industry. Upon researching just one of our suppliers, I discovered more than 4,000 fabrics, spanning 11 application categories, and each fabric was uniquely created [...]

The couch, chairs and window cornices of this 2005 Lazzara 80’ were reupholstered by former Northcoast Marine Specialties students Adam and Gail Gabriel of Land and Sea Upholstery in Willoughby, Ohio. The marine industry needs foam, and a lot of it, as do a hundred other industries that provide comfort and support. From exercise equipment [...]

Photo 1. The original boat interior of a 70-foot Hatteras. The clients initially wanted to replicate the color and pattern of these Wayfair pillows in the main salon; something that proved especially challenging. 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 [...]

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. Photo 1. This clever jig clamps to the table edge to help get zipper [...]

Space was no longer a constraint in the new 7,500-square-foot building, but the larger shop presented other challenges. Now spread out across three floors, with the primary sewing area located on the third floor, employee communication challenges were immediately evident. In 2019, I moved Chicago Marine Canvas into a new 2,500-square-foot space, and by the [...]

At Interiors by Dawn, the ultimate cushion design—which provides increased drainage and airflow, reduced mold and mildew growth and longevity—is always evolving. This is not for every customer or project; we tailor and customize our cushions to fit each individual project. However, we make sure to discuss these options with customers so they understand what’s [...]

Onboard Interiors LLC, located in Marblehead, Mass., has been cultivating its marine fabric library since 1984. Collecting fabrics from large mills and small boutique collections, the company updates its collection each year by going through all its fabric books and logging in each fabric. We marine fabricators love fabrics. In fact, most of the conversations [...]

This dash and helm pod cover was a 2021 MFA Award of Excellence winner. Helm pod covers are padded with a very thin layer of foam, if any. This one has foam with 1.5 density and a 70 ILD. Foam is everywhere. It is in engines, rugs, mattresses, boat seats and most things we interact [...]

The unique graphics fabricated by Fabric Tattoo add some decorative zing to the headrests of the custom bow cushions on this project by Mike Charpentier at Paul’s Custom Canvas. Photo: Paul’s Custom Canvas. By Terri Madden and Alayna Wool What do you do when a customer requests something that is outside your realm of experience? [...]

Padded bumper side wall panels create a cozy setting, and the large horizontal vinyl wall panels in the main salon of this Bertram 50 give it a modern touch. Photo: Bertram Yachts. By Terri Madden and Alayna Wool Wall panels and headliners make a statement when entering the saloon of a yacht. Much like the [...]