I love going to boat shows, especially to investigate how all of the new boats keep their cushions attached. Traditionally cushions were snapped or screwed through boat rails and/or secured via T-nuts or spider bolts to wood bases. Now there are such options as ridged plastic Velcro found in industrial-supplies stores. Meanwhile, top-of-the-line vessels push [...]

Faithful restoration brings back the style of the roaring '20s. Back in the 1920s and ’30s, large, luxurious cruising yachts were status symbols—often produced for the wealthy who sought to entertain and delight their guests in these elaborate vessels. When built, they earned accolades aplenty—even The New York Times published articles touting the ordering and [...]

Marine fabricators emphasize durability, health and safety when designing kid-friendly boat interiors. Designing boat interiors with families in mind requires special attention. Marine fabricators first must understand how customers intend to use their boat before making suggestions on fabric choice, lodging and storage solutions that will meet all of their needs for having children onboard. [...]

Restoration of a sofa on a 1996 50-foot Bertram features reshaped arms to match the larger sofa frame. Photo by Alayna Wood. By Terri Madden The waters of San Juan, Puerto Rico, have been home to many Bertram yacht enthusiasts ever since Richard Bertram opened a 25-acre plant in 1962. I have had [...]

Multiple door panels require extra attention to measuring and hardware placement for a smooth appearance and proper operation. By Terri Madden Most likely, you will be reading this article as warmer weather streams across your state and your customers delight in contacting your marine-fabrication business with new challenges. If you have never had [...]

Photo 1: From left: The author's grandmother, Elizabeth "Nana" Granewitsch, sisters Abigail Granewitsch and Henrietta Granewitsch, and rowing companions Frank Felkner and Robert Bruce Crisswell. Whether these are your early years as a fabricator or you are a seasoned “salty dog,” we all are walking a road with a unique language and set [...]

With access to better fabrics and accessories, fabricators are crafting boat cushions that look great and perform well. Boat cushion design is leaving the Dark Ages, where basic vinyls, color and patterns have reigned supreme. “Over the past 10 years, fashion and design have become more prevalent in the marine industry,” says Patty Mastrandrea, a [...]

Photo 1: Seating area before As a general upholstery shop that also does marine work rather than a marine canvas specialist, Trevor and I are constantly asked to do all types of jobs, which can be nice for handling the off-season or weathering recessions. One week we can be working on custom helm [...]

Fabricators have seen growth in on-site repair work and see it as more than just a trend. Moving large boats from the marina to a shop can be prohibitively expensive, and many small shops don't have room for a large vessel. Shop owners have also seen a greater willingness among owners of smaller boats [...]

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 unforgettable, as progress toward a renewed [...]