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Choosing the right window materials
May 1st, 2023
This craft has acrylic windows, one of the most popular material choices. But for many boat owners, the decision is not always easy because each choice has pros and cons. Photo: Chicago Marine Canvas Selecting boat windows for customers might be the hardest thing a fabricator can do—or the easiest. Most customers have two primary […]
Adjusting to a bigger shop
July 1st, 2022
Space was no longer a constraint in the new 7,500-square-foot building, but the larger shop presented other challenges. Now spread out across three floors, with the primary sewing area located on the third floor, employee communication challenges were immediately evident. In 2019, I moved Chicago Marine Canvas into a new 2,500-square-foot space, and by the […]
Managing difficult clients
May 1st, 2021
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 […]
Upholstery: draping vs. digital
March 1st, 2019
At Chicago Marine Canvas, our MFA- and IFAI-award-winning canvas and upholstery shop, we have fully integrated digital methods into our canvas work. There are many benefits to implementing a digital measurement and design process, including speed and accuracy. During the past four years that we’ve been measuring and designing in 3-D, we’ve found it works […]
Zipper tricks and techniques
March 1st, 2018
Advanced tips and techniques for choosing and working with zippers in your projects. Providing an excellent end product is paramount to marine fabricators, and zippers play a vital role in the long-term functionality of everything from covers to cushions. But zippers can be tricky. Choosing the right one can be confusing, and working with zippers […]