The tradition of making New Year’s resolutions is thousands of years old—possibly stretching back to the ancient Babylonians. The word resolution means being purposeful; intentionally deciding to do or not do something and then following through.  Resolving to do more of what works and less of what doesn’t may sound obvious, but it requires an [...]

Kathryn Maisto mastered her marine canvas skills over a lifetime and across oceans, and now she’s training a new generation. By Jill C. Lafferty I’m always looking for ways to enhance our product line,” says Kathryn Maisto, owner of Fairwinds Canvas LLC, Racine, Wis. “In what we do and what we offer, we have truly [...]

Admiral CanvasWarren Cooper www.admiralcanvas.comFort Lauderdale, Fla.   American Boat Top Co.Red Bickerstaff www.americanboattop.comFlat Rock, Mich.    Bramble’s Canvas & UpholsteryDaniel Bramble www.dantheupholsteryman.comPottsboro, Texas    Canvas SolutionsTaylor Dosier www.yourcanvassolutions.comSpring Lake, Mich. Custom Boat CoversBrian Thompson www.customboatcovers.usAurora, Ohio    Eqodry USADerek Robinson  www.eqodryusa.comElon, N.C.    George Givens & SonRichard Givens www.geogivensandson.comMobile, Ala. Lakeside Canvas & UpholsteryMs Beth VanLente www.lakesidecanvas1.comMuskegon, Mich.    Lawless Designs LLCKate [...]

Built to outlast portable work light standards and expectations, the Big Ass Light Bar checks in at nearly 5 pounds and 2 feet long, and features a waterproof IP67-rated design, shock-absorbing components and chemical-resistant materials. With six brightness settings reaching a 5,000-lumen maximum output, it’s a tool, not a flashlight. Every piece of the light [...]

Follow these four steps to increase shop efficiency and boost your bottom line. By Sigrid Tournquist The secret to an efficient shop boils down to understanding chargeable time versus non-chargeable time—and then doing whatever possible to decrease non-chargeable time. How the workspace is arranged, whether or not workers can easily find and access what they’re [...]

By Terri Madden Stylish, durable hi-lo/knee-rise contour cushions have become extremely popular. Translating a customer request for durable, comfortable and impressive contour cushions when you’re starting with a blank canvas can be quite challenging. Stylish, durable hi-lo/knee-rise contour cushions have become extremely popular. Executing these successfully can elevate your company. However, a project with contour [...]

By Rob Kotowski At Lake Shore Boat Top Co. in St. Clair Shores, Mich., we fabricate custom marine canvas year-round. Our customers come to us for high-quality marine fabrication, and we depend on our staff to help provide new ideas to make every boat truly a work of art. We treat our flooring the same [...]

By Larry Oxenham Succession planning can be a tricky matter, especially if you’re passing your business on to a family member. Sometimes keeping it in the family is viable, but not in every case. If it comes time to sell the business instead, you should be armed with some strategies for getting what it’s really [...]

Durable Coolshade stands up to the sun and meets harsh climate conditions head on. It is recommended for awnings, shade structures, pool covers, athletic divider curtains, marine applications, boat tops, tents and tension structures. Easy to clean, weldable, mildew-resistant and UV-resistant, this premium outdoor fabric has a wick-resistant scrim and accepts many types of graphics [...]

Surf and Bayside marine vinyls are designed to handle all the challenges that long exposure to sun and water bring. Both employ Splash construction, a pink stain-resistant vinyl formulation. With UV protection, crack resistance and four-way stretch, the vinyls for boat interiors and exteriors feature a cold crack rating of -25 degrees Fahrenheit and 1,000 [...]