In our shop, we fabricate bimini top visors to a finished width of 2 1/2 inches. The actual finished width a particular shop uses does not matter for the purpose of this article. Visors are a relatively basic component in the fabrication of all tops that require the attachment of another top or enclosure panel. [...]

You got the upholstery job on the customer’s boat, and the new material is in the shop. All you have to do now is make the patterns. Before You may be doing a restoration of an older boat, and your customer wants it to look like it did in its glory days. This [...]

Customize widths, eliminate clutter and save money by cutting Velctro strips. Problem Stocking all sizes, colors and styles of Velcro is costly and space prohibitive. Solution Make a simple Velcro slitter to customize 2-inch Velcro to any width. You can easily customize the Velcro into 1/2-inch, 1-inch and 1 1/2-inch strips by placing the razor [...]

A finished bimini enclosure from the inside. Note the clean look with no zippers, the "smile" zippers showing and the "no gap" corners. This is just one way of many to fabricate enclosures that produce quality results. My wife Deb and I have run Hood Canvas for the better part of 30 years. [...]

Semi-rigid enclosures have become a growing market over the past 10 years. The majority of these enclosures are bonded panels that are fabricated by EZ2CY and Rainier Industries. These enclosures are usually sold to the upper tier of boat owners and are generally out of reach, price wise, for the average customer. In recent years, [...]

When planning your design, keep in mind that you want the lines of the upholstery to look like they have been well thought out from the beginning, not thrown in as an afterthought. There are three types of customers. Those that have very specific ideas of what they want done; those that have [...]

Use a clear storage tote to hold and dispense zipper chain easily. Proble Zipper chain, sold in 100-yard lengths, is packaged on a cardboard sleeve that is hard to use and store. Solution Store zipper chain, with the cardboard sleeve removed, in a clear storage tote with a hole cut into the lid. How Purchase [...]

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 [...]

The frame is the foundation of your boat top. It supports the canvas top and all other canvas that will be attached to the top. The frame adds tightness to the canvas, which helps water runoff and the tight look of a good top. A strong frame shapes your top and counteracts the effects of [...]

Industry experts tell their procedures for keeping fabric and equipment clean and functioning properly. Quality-conscious fabricators demand top-quality components for their end products. Boat owners will insist that fabricators use high-quality, durable materials. The weakest link in any marine product is the quality of the materials that go into making it. With a little investigation [...]