Metal work on a boat is both a functional and an aesthetic decision. Here, Lakeside Marine Canvas of Buford, Ga., installed a “hoop back” frame on a cruiser to extend the bimini past what the manufacturer offers. Photo: Lakeside Marine Canvas Inc. Fabricating frames, tubing, hardware and other items can present a quandary for marine [...]

Photo: Dreamstime. When you’re a marine fabricator with a mobile unit, you’re often at a competitive advantage. Not only can you offer customers fast, convenient repairs and service, but you’re often able to recruit business from other boat owners who notice you at their marinas. Vendors who are fully mobile can save money on brick-and-mortar [...]

As a writer and editor, I prefer to do most of my work alone in the quiet of my home office. But during the dark days of a Minnesota winter, working alone gets lonely and my ideas feel thin and uninspired.  That’s why I attend literary conferences and classes each winter. The creative spark that [...]

As shown in this photo from the 2022 MFA Conference, attendees at the 2023 conference will find plenty of opportunities for hands-on education. Don’t wait to register for the annual Marine Fabricators Conference being held Jan. 26-28, 2023, at the Sheraton New Orleans in New Orleans, La. The conference features three full days of education [...]

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 [...]

Jan. 26–28, 2023 MFA Conference 2023  Sheraton New Orleans New Orleans, La. textiles.org/marineconference Feb. 20–21, 2023 Fabricators Conference and Showcase 2023 Manufacturing Solutions Center II Conover, N.C. textiles.org/event/fabricators-conference-and-showcase-2023 Jan. 19–21, 2023 NECPA Expo 2023 Sheraton Monarch Place Springfield, Mass. necpa.org Feb. 15–19, 2023 Miami International Boat Show Miami Beach and Downtown Miami Miami, Fla. miamiboatshow.com

Photo 1. Clients were initially reluctant to accept the horizontal frame because it was a drastic change from the standard ‘K’ frame. However, the added square footage of usable deck area overcame these doubts, and the demand for horizontal frame systems and cantilever support systems is strong. Following the typical 10-to-20-year delay that “new ideas” [...]

Photo 1. A photo of the original boat interior of a 70-foot Hatteras. The clients initially wanted to replicate the color and pattern of these Wayfair pillows in the main salon; something that proved especially challenging. For most fabricators, long-term success doesn’t come from the easy jobs, but from the challenging projects. Using two case [...]

I majored in marketing in college. I thought I was great at “packaging an idea” and running with it. Now that I have owned Onboard Interiors LLC in Marblehead, Mass., for almost 20 years, I understand that marketing changes with the world, and the marine world is a unique market for sure. Are boat shows [...]

The clients wanted to make adjustments and add to their current stainless steel dodger and bimini frames to create a more functional cockpit area for cruising. They asked that strong, high-quality materials be used so the final result would be suitable for offshore cruising. A significant challenge was using, adjusting and adding to the existing [...]