• Factors for choosing fabric

    Published On: July 1, 2011Categories: Features, In the Shop

    Fabricators know that successful marine products are made from many components. But, for their customers, the finished product is all about the fabric. Does it look good? Does it keep water out? Will it last? It’s up to the fabricator to select the best fabric for the project and the customer, based on the fabric’s [...]

  • Customer satisfaction: deciding to fix, replace or throw

    Published On: May 1, 2011Categories: In the Shop

    New foam is good insurance that the upholstery looks its best and the customer is comfortable. The first rule in selling a product or service is to listen to the customer’s wants and needs. Then try to figure out a way to satisfy those wants and needs. This seemed to be a much [...]

  • Window materials enhance enclosures

    Published On: March 1, 2011Categories: Features, In the Shop

    When it comes to fabricating a clear window for a boat-owning customer, canvas shops who are experienced in both soft vinyl and semi-rigid materials maintain a competitive advantage. The keys to becoming a successful fabricator include understanding the materials, identifying ideal applications and, of course, plenty of practice. Understanding soft vinyl Soft boat enclosures, made [...]

  • Spool tool

    Published On: January 1, 2011Categories: How-To Articles, In the Shop

    Build a tangle-free cradle for binding and bungee. Problem Narrow goods, like binding, bungee and line, sold on spools, can be difficult to work with, and can tangle while working. Solution Build a simple cradle out of plastic or plywood to hold various size spools. Process Cut cradle pieces to the size and shape, as [...]

  • Simple, convenient storage

    Published On: September 1, 2010Categories: How-To Articles, In the Shop

    Organize multiple rolls of webbing and Velcro. Problem Storing different sizes, colors and types of webbing and Velcro takes up a lot of space, and can be messy. Solution Build a simple storage tower out of scrap materials that will organize multiple rolls of webbing, and will allow you to take your webbing to the [...]

  • The hard facts on marine hardware and components

    Published On: September 1, 2010Categories: Features, In the Shop

    While it may seem like a proportionally small detail for an overall marine fabrication project, finding the best hardware can significantly prolong the lifespan of an end product and tailor it to a specific customer’s needs. The technology for marine hardware is always changing, and it can be hard to keep up with the new [...]

  • Fabric technology

    Published On: September 1, 2010Categories: Features, In the Shop

    This enclosure is made of Herculite Riviera Marine fabric - Herculite's new exterior vinyl textile. It was developed to meet market demand for waterproof enclosures to protect climate controlled areas on larger boats. Photo: Canvas Experts, Ocean City, Md. Life in 21st century United States is dominated by technology—new technologies, as well as [...]

  • Versatile marking tool

    Published On: July 1, 2010Categories: How-To Articles, In the Shop

    Draw even, neat and accurate seam allowances and cut lines. Problem Drawing even seam allowances and sew lines on curved or odd-shaped pieces can be difficult and inaccurate. Solution Make a simple marking tool that has fixed pencil positions for predetermined seam allowances and cut line widths. This tool can be used with a straight-edge [...]

  • Small jobs, big profits

    Published On: July 1, 2010Categories: Features, In the Shop

    More than just patches and stitches, fixes and repairs can build your business. by Jay Hanks Most canvas shops offer repairs but sometimes underestimate the value of them. Unfortunately, due to the tight economy, many fabrication shops are looking to shore up their business. By offering an alternative to new canvas, repair work can not [...]

  • 3-D software and hardware for marine fabrication

    Published On: May 1, 2010Categories: Features, In the Shop

    Few words captivate the technology sector more than the word “change.” This digital image, created in Rhino CAD software, shows the finished model of an ARG 31-foot Ocean Master. This model was used to prototype various tower designs. Anyone with even a casual understanding of the technology marketplace recognizes that change is constantly [...]