Custom Marine Canvas Training Workshops is the most comprehensive marine canvas training program in the world! Our associates come from all parts of the globe, from the USA and Canada to Australia, the United Kingdom, Spain, and beyond! Our boat canvas instruction courses features a hands-on training approach. Our team of experts have instructed students from all across the US and internationally to successfully fabricate quality marine canvas products, and to set up a profitable marine canvas & upholstery business.
Now and then a local canvas shop may offer some type of limited training class, simply to suppliment their income. Custom Marine Canvas Training Workshops is a dedicated marine canvas training facility, successfully training other canvas shop owners for the past 30 years.
Additionally, we operate a canvas shop for the purpose of creating new designs for the ever-changing marine industry and passing that knowledge onto you. Our canvas shop projects are hand-picked and limited.
BASIC CANVAS WORKSHOP:
Our boat cover instructional training course is designed for a beginner with little or no experience, or for the canvas maker who wishes to improve their fabrication techniques.
Curriculum includes becoming familiar with a commercial sewing machine, how to measure, cut, fit, sew, and install basic canvases such as Cockpit Covers, Travel Covers, and Mooring Covers. Many canvas sewing techniques will be taught including those essential for making marine canvas. Canvas-cut windows, canvas & window repairs, and zipper repair & installation are also taught in this class. You'll also learn about hardware & fasteners, canvas making tools, types of fabrics & threads, basic canvas estimating, canvas shop marketing, canvas & upholstery product resources, and more! You will learn how to set-up shop and get started! Students will sew their own Cockpit Covers in class and take these projects home for reference along with a free roll of practice fabric! Each student will have their own sewing machine to use during the course.
*NOTE: Sewing Machine Repair Seminar follows this course and is held on Saturday.
ADVANCED CANVAS WORKSHOP:
This Workshop is for the student who has taken the Basic Workshop, but would like more 
canvas training, or for someone who has worked in a canvas shop and needs to learn shortcuts and easier methods of producing a quality custom canvas product. We encourage the Advanced Workshop for those who are serious about marine fabricating as a full time profession. Curriculum includes more difficult items such as, zippered bow pockets, leak-proof aft window, fitting and patterning methods, frame bending, and a continuation of fitting and sewing on more difficult projects. Frame construction, fitting, sewing, and installing a Boat Top, Side Curtains, and Aft Curtain will be the main focus in this class. Students will sew their own Boat Top, Side Window-Curtain, and Aft Curtain to take home as a reference! Each student will have their own sewing machine to use during the course. You will also work on an actual customer job in our workshop. The ADVANCED Workshop follows the BASIC Workshop.
ENCLOSURES WORKSHOP: this series includes covers the essentials for fabricating Bimini Enclosures, Bridge Enclosures, Aft Enclosures, and Camper Enclosures. If you are serious about being a full service shop, you need this course! The Enclosures Workshop is a six day course and includes the Estimator Software Seminar and the Tracks-N-Tricks Seminar.
We begin with Variable Frame Systems and their design. We teach you how to improve a current design, or how to start from scratch and design enclosures that are leak-proof, functional, easy to use, and pleasing to the eye. We’ll also instruct the planning, placement, and installation of snapless Track Systems. We’ll teach you how to create tops and Enclosure panels for that ‘perfect fit’ and protection from the elements.
Enclosures Workshop includes these Training Modules:
• Variable Frame System Design- Learn how to plan,
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Bimini and Aft Enclosures |
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Horizontal Aft Frames and Enclosures to the arch |
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High trim levels and advanced pockets |
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Track valances and zipper systems |
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Bridge Windshields and Connectors |
start, and implement your design. Design frames for arch applications, sport-fishing frames, California dodgers, camper-back, horizontal aft enclosures, and more!
• Bimini Tops- perfect and wrinkle free, featuring the highest trim techniques such as: sculpted, zippered, and snapped bow pockets and multi-directional patterning & fitting. You’ll make one and take it home with you!
• Enclosure Window Systems- learn how to plan and produce the highest quality enclosure panels including inner-faced and canvas-cut window panels. You’ll make your own leak-proof ‘smile’ with screen to take home with you!
• Camper, Sun Top, Horizontal-Aft Tops- learn how the experts make the transition from a wide-beam camper frame to a canvas-top. Learn to make a flat-pattern rain flap too! Perfect for Camper Tops!
• Windshields & Connectors- Learn the proper way to plan, fit, and sew, multi-panel Windshields with zipper flaps and Connectors.
Two Seminars are also included:
• Track &Tricks Seminar- Track Systems and Valances- everything you need to know about making track systems and attaching to them! We’ll show you how to make and market the 'Arch Conversion'. Learn how to plan, install, and fit to track systems; build track valances and contoured (bat-wing) flaps. We'll cover horizontal frames and Aft Enclosure Tops too! This Seminar is held Saturday.
• Quick Canvas Estimator & Quick Frame Calculator Seminar- take a tour of our computer generated canvas Estimator and Frame Calculator! This Seminar is held Friday evening.
Other course features include:
• Each student will sew an advanced Bimini Top and Enclosure Panels to take home!
• Each student will have their own sewing machine to use during the course.
• Step-by-step Enclosure & Camper Training Manual included
NOTE: The Enclosure Workshop is reserved for students who have taken the Basic and Advanced Workshops. It is also available to experienced canvas fabricators who desire to increase their quality or to tackle even the most difficult design challenges. Complete class curriculum requires the attendance of Friday evening and Saturday full-day seminars.
MARINE UPHOLSTERY WORKSHOP:
This 5-day Workshop boat upholstery training course teaches how to pattern, measure, cut, and sew basic and advanced upholstery, including these techniques:
- zippers
- welt (piping)
- striping
- multi-colors and patterns
- track-welting
- cutting, shaping, & bonding foam
- seating design
- bucket seats
- and more!
Each student will fabricate and take home with them:
- boat cushion
- bolster cushion
- multi-paneled cushion cover
- contoured V-berth cushion
Each student will have their own sewing machine to use during the course. A great class for both beginner and upholstery veterans! Completion of the Basic Workshop, or prior sewing experience, is required for this class. Students will take home their finished products!
SEMI-RIGID ENCLOSURE WORKSHOP:
Patterning fiberglass Hardtops and fabricating semi-rigid Enclosure Panels is the focus of this ultimate workshop! Learn about the most current products available today! This course is reserved for experienced fabricators or for students whom have completed the Basic & Advanced Workshops.
Class Topics include:
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Wavestopper Dodger and polycarbonate windows |
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• Creating zipper valances for 'Snapless' track
• Fabricating polycarbonate enclosure windows
• Creating 'Swing-up' windshield panel, rigid 'Smiles', and leak-proof soft 'frowns'.
• Multiple methods of fitting fabric with track systems
Class Features include:
• Step-by-step Rigid Enclosures Training Manual
• Manufacturer sources for rigid and semi-rigid products
• Statistical data on semi-rigid products
• Each student will fabricate their own sample semi-rigid window panel to take home!
• Each student will have their own sewing machine to use during the course.
*NOTE: TRACKS-N-TRICKS Seminar follows this course and is held on Friday.
Download the complete Information Packet including Workshop descriptions and Registration Form.
Canvas Training To Go!
When travel is out of the question, we can help! Fabricators, boat builders, and canvas associations can benefit from our full five-days consultation on design, frame systems, fitting methods, fabrication, installation, and other topics of your choice! We work side-by-side with manufacturing teams and fabricators. Our hands-on approach provides vital knowledge while seeing visual progress. Certain restrictions apply. Contact us to discuss specific details and to schedule Canvas Training To Go.
Summary of Workshops:
Whether you are a beginner with no sewing experience or a veteran fabricator desiring to learn the latest techniques, we have a marine canvas training course for you. Our workshops are geared for the individual who would like to learn to make the highest quality custom canvas in the shortest amount of time.
