Quilt stitching and CNC sewing

July 1, 2021  |  Exterior, Shop Techniques

By Mike and John Erickson In the last few years, quilt stitching on cushions has become very popular in the marine upholstery industry. The trend started with high-end car interiors and has made its way into the marine industry over time. Quilt stitching adds an elegant decorative effect to any rout…
Elevate your canvas skills

May 1, 2021  |  Exterior, Shop Techniques

Think outside the box. By Mike Charlton At Charlton’s Marine Canvas in Yorktown, Va., my wife, Rachel Charlton, and I are a two-person team, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. In our shop, we like to think of our work as creative art projects rather than products. Every project is different.…
Technology is no longer the future—it’s now

March 1, 2021  |  Exterior

By Darren Arthur So, what is all this buzz about technology within the marine canvas industry? Some use it, some don’t, but within the next few years most of us will. Tech is having a big impact on our industry, and you should be aware of how it impacts you. Past, present, future Looking back &hel…
Track-to-track enclosure fabrication

January 1, 2021  |  Exterior, Shop Techniques

By Mark Hood, MFC At Hood Canvas, we fabricate rigid panels frequently. We have devised a method of fabricating these panels that is more mainstream than our usual method of fabrication where we face zippers to hide them. In this article, we will fabricate a pair of sample enclosure panels start to …
Smarter upholstery patterning

September 1, 2020  |  Exterior, Shop Techniques

By Steven Wayne Upholstery. It’s a funny word, isn’t it? Even unique. Most people, as it happens, do not know how to spell it. Others lump everything from canvas products to apparel in the word’s meaning. For marine fabricators like ourselves, we know there’s a difference between canvas and …
Imagining new ways to create shade

August 31, 2020  |  Exterior, Features, Industry News, Shop Techniques

Whitney Carman relies on lateral thinking and relationship building to create innovative shade solutions. By Sigrid Tornquist “I think one of the reasons my projects are unique has to do with the ability for lateral thinking, which means seeing a variety of solutions to a problem or uses for an ob…
Cockpit cover fabrication tips

July 1, 2020  |  Exterior, Shop Techniques

By Leo Pohlmann, in collaboration with Zach Pohlmann Throughout my 30 years of marine canvas experience as the owner of Uncharted Marine Canvas, I’ve seen many trends come and go. One that has emerged within the past five to 10 years is the creation of cockpit covers on sportfishing boats. Located…
Simple, leak-free U-zip

May 1, 2020  |  Exterior, Shop Techniques

By Keith Purves, MFC One of the most useful, purposeful and absolutely frustrating features on a clear vinyl enclosure is the simple U-zip. A properly built U-zip looks good, opens and closes easily, and allows boaters the freedom of having the wind in their hair or the full protection of an enclosu…