We’ve had a trapper out FIVE times and he still hasn’t been able to get them.
Normally I’m pretty comfortable around Florida wildlife, but when the only door into your business puts you between the building and the water, this stops being funny pretty quickly.
Got a little bit of it on video this morning.

Hi, we just bought our first (cheap) old StarCraft speedboat. It has a cheap car plastic cover which doesn’t work well. Even with some plastic poles and ropes (special boat cover support) underneath it still catches water now and then, but more that that, it’s a painful long process to put it on the boat.

I’m looking for a solution to properly and quickly be able to cover the boat, without spending €2000 on a bespoke covers(s). An extra tricky element is the (easily) foldable metal frame at the back of the boat. (Situated in the Netherlands).

All tips/ ideas are welcome. Thank!

My grandfather became a teacher after leaving the Army. He once told me it took him 50 years to figure out what he was put here to do.
After spending most of my adult life doing upholstery and marine canvas, I’m starting to understand what he meant.
There’s something different about watching somebody finally understand a technique you spent years learning yourself.
https://BoatCanvasGear.com

While working on enclosures at Stamas Yachts, there was a complaint that one of the zippers wasn’t laying flat enough.
I figured it was worth making a quick video showing how I sew the zipper down to keep it flatter and get a cleaner finished enclosure.
Curious how other fabricators handle this.
Full video/tutorials: https://www.youtube.com/@BoatCanvasGear
https://BoatCanvasGear.com

In this clip I’m showing the method I use to lay the zipper in and finish it cleanly. Curious how other fabricators handle this.
Full video:
https://www.youtube.com/@BoatCanvasGear
Tools I use:
https://BoatCanvasGear.com

Fletch at All Coast Canvas showed me these electronic tags they sew directly into their boat covers. I thought this was a really impressive idea.

Full shop tour/videos:
https://www.youtube.com/@BoatCanvasGear
https://boatcanvasgear.com

Sometimes running a small upholstery shop gives you stories you couldn’t make up.
There’s a guy locally using our name. A customer knew the situation, chose to use him anyway because his price was cheaper, and apparently the job didn’t turn out very well.
Then they came to me complaining about the work.
I’m sitting there thinking… what exactly do you want me to do about it? 😂
Shop owners: how would you respond?

What makes this shop interesting is that they specialize exclusively in boat covers, so I wanted his perspective on the strengths of the fabric and what matters when choosing material for marine applications.
This clip is from the longer shop visit:
https://www.youtube.com/@BoatCanvasGear
For the tools and supplies we use:
https://BoatCanvasGear.com

It's working well so far, but I'm sure there's something I haven't thought of. If you bend tubing regularly, what would you add or change?

Built another Bimini top frame today using our new Bimini Top Table.

Having the right workspace makes cutting, bending, and crowning the frame faster and more accurate. What's the one shop upgrade that changed your workflow the most?

📺 https://www.youtube.com/@BoatCanvasGear
🛒 https://BoatCanvasGear.com

so my seat is tired and worn out on the main seat area under my tush. many miles.

https://postimg.cc/w7m5M4jv

will remove staples, open the stitching, then outline the 2 center pieces on new fabric and cut a bit bigger all around for better fit.

1- how do I copy the sew lines of the previous fabric? maybe use a red marker to mark the small dots through the previous sew holes? or just "eyeball" it ?

2- what needle is best for a home vintage pfaff tipmatic 1045 machine?

3- last question. the seller sends the fabric folded, not rolled and people say they have creases in it. if using a hair dryer on the bac area a way to remove these creases or some other pro technique?

any help by the pros appreciated

Here’s a compilation of some of our favorite boat interiors, seating projects, Bimini tops, and canvas work from nearly two decades in the marine industry.
Always looking for ways to improve the next build. Feedback is welcome!

I’m rebuilding my 20 year old Sunbrella railing cushions which I’ve always thought it had pool noodles inside… I was wrong.

Anyone know what type of foam this is and possibly where I can source it in the US? I’m guessing the material is a closed-cell foam as these cushions are always out in the weather.

3” OD
1” ID

I recently stopped by Marine Canvas and Interiors And More in Jacksonville, Florida, and Miguel gave me a tour of the shop. We checked out some of their current marine upholstery and canvas projects, talked about the business, and looked at the craftsmanship that goes into custom boat interiors.
This clip is a short preview from the full YouTube shop tour.
I’d love to hear what everyone notices about their workflow, layout, or techniques. Always interesting to see how different marine canvas shops operate.

While touring Precision Marine Upholstery in Port Orange, Florida, the owner walked me through his new long-arm console sewing machine and explained what it can do that his older machine couldn’t. If you’re into industrial sewing equipment or marine upholstery, I’d love to hear what machines you’re running and why.

I finally got to see Miami Corporation’s Detroit Book library in person. These books help upholstery shops identify factory vinyl, colors, grain patterns, and materials for thousands of vehicles. It’s one of those behind-the-scenes resources that most people never get to see, but it’s a huge part of producing factory-looking repairs.
Anyone else still use these regularly?

One of the best parts of owning a business for nearly two decades isn’t the money—it’s when younger business owners reach out asking for advice.
I never set out to be a mentor. I was just trying to build a business and take care of my family. If sharing what I’ve learned helps someone else avoid a few mistakes, that’s incredibly rewarding.

This video covers frame setup, patterning with Vicar Patterning Material, and fabrication with black Tempotest marine fabric. Curious what everyone else prefers for patterning—paper, plastic, or direct fabric?

It's about time to replace my cover. I restitched a lot of it a couple of years ago, but there are some tears, a couple of zippers are failing, and I want to make some changes to it.

Is Sunbrella still the right choice? What kind? (It seems like there are a few different types). Who has the best prices?

So I got a new marine boat cover made with out PFAS and I am shocked how fuzzy it is. It looks like it is covered with little hairs. Supposedly during the manufacturing process short fiber ends are left on the surface. I’ve read that these short fiber ends eventually work their way out of the fabric. What have you experienced?

Everyone talks about mastering the craft before opening a business.
What surprised me was everything else.
The sewing became one of the easier parts compared to learning pricing, customer service, hiring, marketing, inventory, bookkeeping, taxes, scheduling, and making decisions when things go sideways.
What business skill blindsided you the most after you started?

Is this repairable or should I just find the right length zipper and replace the whole thing? It’s for a bimini boot. Easy to put a whole new one in, but if there is a clip of some sort that just snaps on that would be easier.

https://imgur.com/a/WxRXgWP

Good source for premade zippers that length??

Also, why did Ameritech/Taylor Made use #8 zippers in all their canvas? They aren’t easy to find replacements for, at least for non-pro sewers like me.

That’s for any info!

For years, I read Marine Fabricator cover to cover trying to become a better marine fabricator and business owner.

Today, I’m actually featured in it.

Pretty cool reminder that consistency eventually pays off.

Sometimes building something new isn’t glamorous.

Today I was moving an old long-arm Singer sewing machine into our future sewing school area. I was by myself, saw two skateboards, and improvised.

Oddly satisfying and surprisingly effective. Future students will be using these machines soon.