Keri Ames of Yachtsman’s Canvas operates in a 1,200-square-foot shop. Her creative space solutions include a small, wheeled tool cart that can be rolled between stations, shelving and file cabinets built above and beneath tables, and she has equipped two of her four sewing machines with wheels so she can move them out of the [...]

Antonio, one of SewLong Custom Covers’ youngest team members, hones his sewing skills on a cinch cover. Photo: Laura Kinser, Kinser Studios It’s not easy. Attracting, hiring and keeping sewers is perhaps one of the most challenging issues facing marine fabrication shops today. But the good news is that it is not an insurmountable challenge. [...]

A dual-feed electric grommet machine from Stimpson is used to install grommets in vinyl banners. The operator simply places the banner material into the machine, uses a laser pointer to position the material, and steps on a pedal to actuate the machine. Photo: Stimpson The “right tool for the job” has long been a maxim [...]

If we humans are good at anything, it’s adapting to change. You might think I’m talking about pandemics, but I’m actually talking about business in general. Running a business means continuously adapting to forces both within and outside of your control. It’s about remaining flexible while having a strategic vision of your goals and constantly [...]

The Marine Fabricators Association (MFA) provides resources and programs for marine fabricators and establishes standards of excellence for business practices, products and craftsmanship. The MFA is a division of the Advanced Textiles Association, formerly known as IFAI. Join the only trade association today that represents the entire specialty fabrics and advanced textiles industry in the [...]

Sept. 16–17, 2022 MFA Southeast Regional Workshop Canvas Designers Inc. Riviera Beach, Fla. textiles.org/marineworkshops Oct. 12–14, 2022 IFAI Expo 2022 Charlotte Convention Center Charlotte, N.C. ifaiexpo.com Jan. 26–28, 2023 MFA Conference 2023  Sheraton New Orleans New Orleans, La. textiles.org/marineconference Sept. 9–11, 2022 North Coast Harbor Boat Show  North Coast Harbor Marina Cleveland, Ohio northcoastharborboatshow.com Sept. [...]

Made to withstand harsh outdoor conditions, Agora® fabrics are made of 100% solution-dyed acrylic that incorporate treatments to cope with the most demanding environments, ensuring excellent performance. The fabrics’ qualities include strength, durability, easy care and top-notch resistance to fading and degradation. They have a five-year warranty against fading due to exposure to sunlight. covinsales.com

DuraWax is a heavy-duty waxed canvas that is an economical, environmentally friendly leather alternative for bags, packs, work aprons, tool rolls, pouches and more. The waxed coating ages beautifully to give the fabric a unique, worn-in look the more the fabric is handled and used. It does not stain easily and water rolls right off [...]

IDEAL Earth™ Zippers are made from recycled polyester using special processes that convert recycled water bottles into zippers. Available in metal, Delrin, invisible and coil with more than 600 colors and in various sizes. idealfastener.com

Dimensionally stable and opaque, Vicar Patterning Fabric is weatherproof, lightweight and reinforced for strength, yet it will lie flat for easy use. The material received a stamp of approval from Autometrix for use on its cutting tables because its proprietary camera system can pull out the pattern automatically without having to digitally trace it for [...]