I watched an online presentation recently about how to keep your personal feelings from intruding on professional situations. I followed it with a discussion about how to deal with difficult people. I was trying to keep myself calm during thorny contract negotiations with a publisher over a book I wrote. My desire to be published [...]

The first MFA Virtual Series session included an emergency preparedness panel discussion with Chandler Clark, Signature CanvasMakers; Rob Kotowski, Lake Shore Boat Top Co.; Ron Paratore, Trivantage LLC and Darren Arthur, Nautilux Custom Canvas. The three-part Marine Fabricators Association (MFA) Virtual Series wrapped up successfully in March with each of the two-hour sessions averaging nearly [...]

CYA Canvas LLC Jason Gallowaywww.cyacanvasllc.comWoodbridge, Va. Gloucester Canvas Jarratt Quailwww.gloucestercanvas.comHayes, Va. Hyducks Marine Canvas & UpholsteryJohn Hyduckwww.hyducksmarine.comPhiladelphia, Pa. K1 Marine TrimmingKi-Raphael Sulkowskihttp://k1mt.com.auO’Connor, WA Australia

We asked marine fabricators to tell us about the “must-have” tools in their shop. The variety and creativity of submissions we received told us what we already knew—fabricators are a resourceful and innovative lot! By Cathy Broberg Hercules 1575 foam cutter with Bosch blade “A good quality foam cutter makes shop life so much easier,” [...]

Marine fabricators discuss their best forms of defense By Michelle Miron Most businesses have encountered these people at least once: impossible-to-please customers who make life miserable for everyone who has to work with them. Maybe they are disrespectful to you and your employees. Maybe they demand price breaks where none are due. Or perhaps they [...]

Michael and Rachel Charlton in their Yorktown, Va.-based shop, Charlton’s Marine Canvas. Having been in business for four years, their projects have won Awards of Excellence, Awards of Achievement and Awards of Distinction in both the 2020 and 2021 MFA Fabrication Excellence Awards contest. Think outside the box. By Mike Charlton At Charlton’s Marine Canvas [...]

By Mark Hood, MFC This photo shows the shell pattern salon cushions on an old Jarvis Newman powerboat. This Downeast classic style boat was owned by the author’s brother for many years. Compartment cushions can be challenging to fabricate. In this article, we will go step-by-step to fabricate a sample compartment cushion with a knee [...]

By Clint Halladay Four years ago, the fabric of our organization, SewLong Custom Covers, was held together by cheap cotton thread. Our company was growing and doing well financially, but our culture was in crisis. Our leadership was fractured and distracted, employees were frustrated, some were leaving. As the “second-in-command,” I wasn’t sure what to [...]

High-quality products to help you create durable, attractive and successful projects. For this feature, we asked our contributors to send us information about their high-performing products. The product information was submitted by the participating manufacturers and suppliers by the established deadline. The products are organized into three categories: Fabric, Film, & Foam; Equipment, Tools & [...]