A high quality product must start with the best materials, and at the very base of the chain is our thread. Except for special applications, we use Heminway & Bartlett 138 "Anti-Wick" thread on all our canvas and upholstery projects. The standard for the industry is 92. The number indicates weight. 92 feeds better and is less costly, but 138 has a longer life and fills the needle holes better. The "Anti-Wick" property blocks water migration through the seams and meets MIL SPEC V-T-285 TYPE II.
FABRICS - We use Sunbrella brand woven acrylic fabrics for most of our canvas products. It has a wide selection of colors, is colorfast, water repellent, mildew and stain resistant. It's best quality is that it "breathes". Moisture under a cover can escape yet rain or spray is repelled.
There is a wide selection of other marine fabrics that are laminated, do not "breathe", but are suitable for some cover applications and as reinforcement and chafe on Sunbrella jobs.
Boat upholstery fabrics need to be durable. Many "designer" fabrics have a cotton or wool component that can break down quickly in a marine environment. We maintain a large selection of all-synthetic fabrics and offer the wonderful Fusion Designer Collection from Sunbrella Upholstery fabrics.
The new "softside" leather like vinyl, Ultrasuede, or quality European leather can be used to create the look and feel you want for your interior.
OTHER MATERIALS - All upholstery foam is HR (High Resiliency). Zippers are #10 YKK with plastic sliders for canvas work and #5 for the closures on upholstery. All Stainless 1" tube and SS fittings for bimini bows, dodger frames, and rails. 40ga scratch resistance Strataglass for new product clear vinyl windows and 30ga roll stock Achillies glass for replacement and special applications. Snaps and fasteners are all stainless with some nickel/bronze.
CONSTRUCTION - Our basic hem is the "double fold". Material is cut 4" past the finish line and folded twice. Two lines of stitching produce a hem with three layers of cloth. Often laminated material is added inside, the number of layers determined by the anticipated load. We do not use the common "faced and gimped" construction where one layer of backing material is sewn down and the finish edge is capped. Depending on materials used this type construction is weak and prone to shrinkage.
Clear vinyl windows get a covering tape added to the inside of the window. This covers the raw glass edge and adds strength to the construction.
Laminate material is used on areas with potential to chafe the canvas. Leather is used to protect and reinforce the canvas in high stress areas and to cap the hem at high wear spots.
FABRICS - We use Sunbrella brand woven acrylic fabrics for most of our canvas products. It has a wide selection of colors, is colorfast, water repellent, mildew and stain resistant. It's best quality is that it "breathes". Moisture under a cover can escape yet rain or spray is repelled.
There is a wide selection of other marine fabrics that are laminated, do not "breathe", but are suitable for some cover applications and as reinforcement and chafe on Sunbrella jobs.
Boat upholstery fabrics need to be durable. Many "designer" fabrics have a cotton or wool component that can break down quickly in a marine environment. We maintain a large selection of all-synthetic fabrics and offer the wonderful Fusion Designer Collection from Sunbrella Upholstery fabrics.
The new "softside" leather like vinyl, Ultrasuede, or quality European leather can be used to create the look and feel you want for your interior.
OTHER MATERIALS - All upholstery foam is HR (High Resiliency). Zippers are #10 YKK with plastic sliders for canvas work and #5 for the closures on upholstery. All Stainless 1" tube and SS fittings for bimini bows, dodger frames, and rails. 40ga scratch resistance Strataglass for new product clear vinyl windows and 30ga roll stock Achillies glass for replacement and special applications. Snaps and fasteners are all stainless with some nickel/bronze.
CONSTRUCTION - Our basic hem is the "double fold". Material is cut 4" past the finish line and folded twice. Two lines of stitching produce a hem with three layers of cloth. Often laminated material is added inside, the number of layers determined by the anticipated load. We do not use the common "faced and gimped" construction where one layer of backing material is sewn down and the finish edge is capped. Depending on materials used this type construction is weak and prone to shrinkage.
Clear vinyl windows get a covering tape added to the inside of the window. This covers the raw glass edge and adds strength to the construction.
Laminate material is used on areas with potential to chafe the canvas. Leather is used to protect and reinforce the canvas in high stress areas and to cap the hem at high wear spots.
