FAQ & Links

We are a full service interior design studio, we can help you choose the style, design & colors you would like as well as fabricate them in our shop. We custom fabricate everything with close attention to design and detail.

Projects can range from something small like a set of cushions to redesigning an entire layout. No job is too big or too small.

We can work both ways. Sometimes it is nice to view the other style elements onboard the vessel in order to get a better idea of the exact shades of the wood tones and other fixed elements. We will visit you at your boatyard, marina or dock with a truck filled with a "boat-load" of fabrics! You can also visit our library in Marblehead with walls full of fabrics, carpeting and other accessories.

Call or email us with your project. We will assess your projects needs. We will try to pull from our database of previous work to give you an idea of costs. If a visit is necessary for further information, we will meet with you onboard. Our design consultation onboard is $150. This amount will be applied / deducted from your final invoice.

We get this question a lot. In most cases, no, we don't use your old foam. We use a rule of thumb, that if the cushions are more than five years old we recommend new foam. In this case, there is still a clause that we will put into our estimate that each piece of foam will be assessed for mold and mildew damage. The new marine grade foam on the market today has many qualities that will extend the life of your cushions. We also apply an underlining that will help the foam breathe. The foam is the least expensive part of a cushion project and well worth the investment.

This is an ever changing schedule. Of course we try our best to turn around projects when you need them. The best time to schedule projects is in the Fall when we will have the winter months to work onboard without having time constraints. As Spring approaches, we work with holiday deadlines, such as Memorial Day, July 4th weekend and then with customer's vacations / cruises. We do our best to make those deadlines happen. A lot of times we have materials (like fabrics & foam) that we need to get in stock as everything is custom ordered before we can start a project so we are at the mercy of these coming in on time and vendor availabilities.

We normally require 50% down and balance due upon delivery of items. We accept checks and credit cards -- we charge a small handling fee for credit card transactions.

Store dry and clean in a well ventilated area, not a musty basement. Clear vinyl windows should be cleaned and polished to remove atmospheric residue prior to storage. This is extremely important to avoid unpleasant surprises in the spring. Also store large panels flat if possible with padding between individual pieces. It is OK to roll a top or dodger, but be careful not to fold and put a crease in the windows or fabric.

It involves an extra step in fabrication, but well worth the end results of a tight and wrinkle free top. We use Tyvek exclusively, as it is the best medium for perfect results. When a pattern gets back to the shop it goes through a development phase of cutting, taping, marking windows and divisions before any Sunbrella is cut. We store it with the customers name for future use.

Generally, not a good practice. At best, the top will be as good as the original fit. You eliminate guess work by making a new pattern on the boat that will fit perfectly the first time. Exceptions being sail covers or other non-tensioned canvas items.

Again, not a good practice, unless we have the original pattern of your top. We like to build from the top down, not the other way around. We would rather help a customer repair his top until the top and sides can be done together. This way we can design an engineered system of top and enclosure panels with no compromises.

Improper care is the quickest degrader of marine windows. Cared for properly, you should get many years of service. This includes regular rinsing of salt spray, cleaning with soap, water, and sponge, and applying a Cleaner/Polish. We recommend using Sun Socks on frames to protect marine windows. We use 40 GA Strataglass or 40 GA O'Sea as our standard window material as they have the best clarity and feature a durable urethane finish to prevent scratching. 60 GA Makrolon Polycarbonate and 80 GA Acrylite Bonded Acrylic rigid windows are extra cost options.

From the first day, the plasticizers embedded in the vinyl to keep it soft and pliable begin to migrate to the surface, where they leech out into the atmosphere. This causes the clear vinyl to dry out, discolor, and become brittle. A Cleaner / Polish will seal these plasticizers in, protect against atmospheric pollutants, reduce scratching, and extend its useful life.

Seven to ten years, seems to be typical, provided it is fit properly and under the proper tension. Baggy tops that flutter in the wind tend not to last as long. We have had tops last as long as 18 years with proper care and maintenance.

It is water repellent, not waterproof. Sunbrella has a waterproof finish applied at the factory that repels water. Over time this deteriorates and needs to be reapplied. The proper procedure is to remove the top, clean, and apply a sealant to restore water repellency. Sealants will not work on a dirty top. We stock 303 Fabric Guard as it is recommended for Sunbrella.

Yes, it is sold under the name Seamark and it is a converted product. They take Sunbrella and add a heavy vinyl backing to make it waterproof. The colors are the same as regular Sunbrella and we will typically use Seamark on bimini tops and make the enclosure out of regular Sunbrella.

We use SolarFix PTFE 2000 denier thread exclusively in all our fabrications. It is superior to the other PTFE threads on the market. It is impervious to Ultra Violet Rays and is guaranteed to last the life of the fabric without breakage or fading. You will never need to worry about thread breaking or restitching.