Working with pattern angles
September 1st, 2015
This article is a preview of our hands-on presentation at the Marine Fabricators Conference this coming Jan. 14-16 in Clearwater, Fla. I want to talk about manipulation of pattern angles for both better quality and less time spent patterning. I will attempt to simplify and not talk about one-step patterns here. Most really large jobs […]
Window materials enhance enclosures
March 1st, 2011
When it comes to fabricating a clear window for a boat-owning customer, canvas shops who are experienced in both soft vinyl and semi-rigid materials maintain a competitive advantage. The keys to becoming a successful fabricator include understanding the materials, identifying ideal applications and, of course, plenty of practice. Understanding soft vinyl Soft boat enclosures, made […]
Fabricating a California dodger
March 1st, 2011
In the last article (Jan/Feb issue), we covered patterning a California dodger on the boat. Then we went back to the shop and developed the raw pattern into a workable version for cutting out the dodger pieces and parts. (Refer to our “Fabricating an enclosure” article from the Jan/Feb 2010 issue for instruction on how […]
Patterning a California dodger
January 1st, 2011
At Hood Canvas, we use a 10-inch radius bender for our California dodgers. This produces a squarer frame than our more rounded 18-inch radius traditional dodgers. The style provides more room under the dodger, as well as superior ventilation and visibility for the helmsman. At the sailboat, set up your frame, install the deck fasteners […]
Covered smile windows
September 1st, 2010
At Hood Canvas, we put a storm flap over all our “smile” windows. This is important because if you do not, they will leak, especially if they are on an angle. We use a #10 coil zipper on all our smile windows, as they are self repairing. We also use double sliders on each smile […]
Cutting tips for semi-rigid enclosures
January 1st, 2010
Semi-rigid enclosures have become a growing market over the past 10 years. The majority of these enclosures are bonded panels that are fabricated by EZ2CY and Rainier Industries. These enclosures are usually sold to the upper tier of boat owners and are generally out of reach, price wise, for the average customer. In recent years, […]
Using track-to-track installation for enclosures
May 1st, 2008
Tips and techniques from a veteran fabricator for flawless track-to-track enclosures. When using track-to-track installation for enclosures, step-by-step instructions are helpful to achieve a proper fit, which creates a high-quality-looking job. Utilizing a track-to-track technique is necessary for today’s marine fabricator. A standard “snap” enclosure may take away from the look of today’s beautiful, sleek […]
Semi-rigid windows offer profitable opportunities
January 1st, 2008
It didn’t take long for Jeri Perillo to get hooked on working with semi-rigid windows and enclosures. Perillo’s company, Custom Canvas of Charleston in North Charleston, S.C., installed its first semi-rigid enclosure four years ago on a boat at the request of Rainier Windows. Custom Canvas started fabricating the windows for Tiara yachts, and other […]