In March of 2010, we received a phone call from the City Marina and Boatyard in downtown Charleston asking if it was OK to give our company’s name and email address to the owners of a boat that would be arriving in Charleston in a few weeks. I was told that it was a sailboat [...]

An arrangement of hair-on leather trunks makes a stunning centerpiece in a lounge area of the 147-foot motor yacht "Africa," made by Sunrise Yachts. Interior design by Franck Darnet. Hair-on leather can evoke an exotic setting or the American West, depending upon the overall "look" of an interior. Photo: M.Carlin, LuxMedia Group/Sunrise Yachts. [...]

An investment in new canvas above and below deck is a cost-effective way for boat owner to have the feeling of a new boat at a fraction of the cost. In today’s business climate, everyone is looking for growth opportunities, including marine fabricators who have felt the effects of consumers holding on to [...]

After Project: Fabric re-cover of cabin V-berth. The customer wanted some color in the small cabin. I used a sunburst pattern to give the appearance of the space being larger than it really is. The bolsters had sew foam applied to the fabric, and were top-stitched to create a quilted look. The plastic [...]

This fabric was selected for its ability to blend with the other elements. Winter is here and many shops have been shoveling snow. How could that be good for the boat repair business? Well, if you have been planning ahead, it means good things. Throughout the year, as customers come into our shop [...]

After Project: Updated helm chairs on a 35-foot Viking Sport Fisher. Two considerations involved were integrated lumbar support, and a rolled front bolster for leaning purposes. Materials: Dri-Fast foam and starboard for easy maintenance; marine-grade vinyl for durability. Fabricator: Trevor Kennedy Shop: Kennedy Custom Upholstery, Somers Point, N.J. Before Show off [...]

This piece required a little extra help with a heat gun, but notice how nicely it makes the curve. While we modify what we can, sometimes by design, we find that we have to follow the original upholstery design and just get through it as best as we can. From my particular point [...]

It’s time to sit down at your sewing machine and begin to put the pieces of the fabric puzzle back together. You may have one or two machines to choose from, or several. Regardless of how many choices you have, you generally have a favorite. And, more than likely, the number-one reason for your choice [...]

Marine, hot rod and aircraft upholstery accelerates profits by capitalizing on customers' custom needs. By Abbie Yarger In a world of mass production and one-size-fits-all, the factory-made box isn’t suitable for everyone. People are constantly transforming themselves or the things they own to stand out from the masses and make a lasting visual impact. Some [...]

North Beach Marine Canvas, San Francisco, Calif. This project, which one an Award of Excellence in the salon/dinette upholstery category of the 2009 MFA Awards, involved the complete new upholstery for the interior of this Hylas 40 for the live-aboard couple. The couple wanted perfection in every detail, way beyond the factory standard. They requested [...]