Specialty Marine Canvas
Words by Steve Fennell
The current options of marine canvas packages and Bimini designs are no longer the style that was once on your grandfather’s Larson. Sure, those fabrics did the job in their day but the current offerings from custom marine canvas outfitters offer optimal function, easy maintenance, and most importantly, excellent protection in a variety of weather conditions. They look sharp, too.
While the choices are impressive and can accommodate a variety of boat models and sizes, it’s important to understand what is available and how the right package can add more comfort and convenience for you and your guests on the water throughout the season.
Specialty Marine Canvas
Clean cutting - the precise work from Specialty Marine Canvas.
Canvas Enclosures and Boat Covers
There are many reasons to opt for a new custom canvas package. Whether your bowrider has a basic canvas top over the cockpit or you run a larger cruiser with a full aft enclosure, shrinkage, failed parts (like when the snaps no longer hold or zippers are split), and overall wear and tear are common over the course of many boating seasons.
“When boaters are looking for a new canvas design, they’ll not just replace the canvas that came with the boat, but they will purchase an entirely new package for more function,” says Tim Nairne, the owner of Kelowna-based Specialty Marine Canvas. “In any case, a custom package is the way to go as people can get what exactly they need.”
Regardless of the design and/or package, the benefits are two-fold. While the quality, protection, and a new, clean look are pretty much guaranteed, certain custom canvas packages (like those found on larger cruisers) not only extend the time of the water but extend the boating season altogether – from late spring through to the fall, thus providing additional value.
Specialty Marine Canvas
Canvas options are available for a wide range of recreational boats.
Although some research is required before a final decision, it’s important to first understand what is needed to get the most out of a custom design. Weight of the fabric, the quality of stitching, the durability of fasteners and components, and understanding the benefits of fabric choices are all important details.
“How an enclosure, boat top, or a cover is designed and manufactured makes all the difference when it comes to constant use,” says Nairne. “While we use and honour the ten-year warranty with acrylic fabrics from Sunbrella, we take the process of designing and fitting the boat with the fabric a few steps further for added longevity. We take exact specs and use exact cutting processes to offer a perfect fit. We also apply high-quality fasteners, fittings, and even high-quality Teflon-reinforced stitching to offer a quality product that will last many boating seasons.”
Specialty Marine Canvas
Packages are also offered for wakeboard towers, which are streamlined to better handle higher speeds when needed. Yet, any Bimini should be designed to match a boat’s average cruising speed.
Bimini Tops
From large yachts to runabouts of all sizes, Bimini tops are one of the more popular choices that offer excellent protection against the sun. They are easy to maintain, can raise and extract effortlessly, and offer the ability to provide the ideal shade – and cooler relief – when needed. While different models require different specs and installation methods, there are many custom options available for a variety of boating applications.
“We do a lot of custom Bimini tops, especially during the busy season when the real heat of the summer hits the Okanagan,” says Nairne. “One of the bigger demands is Bimini tops for pontoon boats. They are very unique in the sense that there’s a lot of deck space to cover, they are based on a square tubing design, and there are a lot of different preferences among boaters.”
While some may request a Bimini to offer only partial shade (i.e around the helm or aft deck), others will request an add-on to an existing OEM Bimini. In this instance, Nairne mentioned there are options to meet this demand and it is quite a versatile design as boaters can be provided with on-demand shade when the sun is at its peak.
Where designs get really interesting and unique, however, is fitting custom canvas options on waketowers for wakeboard boats, which requires its own set of specs, tubing, and a little ingenuity due to the size, height, and contours of the different tower designs.
Specialty Marine Canvas
Designs can also be simple yet functional that will last many seasons.
“We often build tower-mounted Biminis, and it’s a really custom design,” says Nairne. “They need to look a certain way and are commonly mounted differently than other Biminis. But, again, we do offer a variety of options. One includes using welded tube frames (rather than the conventional folding-style frames), which are mounted high on the tower for a more streamlined look and to better handle higher speeds when needed.”
Even though Nairne explains to customers that Biminis are rated for 48 to 65 km/h (30 to 40 mph) for any boat, his team can install more permanent designs with aluminum and stainless steel welds for a more durable structure with tighter, higher-quality fabrics.
“Wakeboards boats are capable of speeds of more than 65 km/h (40 mph), which is not that fast compared to other boats,” says Nairne. “But any Bimini should be a certain quality that can handle its ideal cruising speed.”
Boat upgrades can easily breathe new life in most types of models. And when it comes to the variety of custom canvas packages or style of Biminis available, the function is not only increased but comfort is as well, affording more enjoyable and relaxing moments on the water.
Add More Sole to Your Boat
Comfort and durability are the basis for many aesthetic upgrades and reflecting the recent trends of home décor, flooring has become a popular addition on boats due to its clean fit and finish, comfort, optimal function, and good looks.
“Flooring has really taken off in recent years as the options are very appealing, whether it’s for their home or boat,” says Nairne. “What our customers find is new onboard flooring (for the cockpit, sunpad, and other high-traffic areas) increases their enjoyment and is an upgrade that’s always appreciated.”
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Specialty Marine Canvas
Flooring is also popular and adds an entirely new look to interiors, swim platforms, and decks.
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Specialty Marine Canvas
Flooring is also popular and adds an entirely new look to interiors, swim platforms, and decks.
Although a variety of materials are available – from fresh marine-grade snap-in carpeting and vinyl to classic teak (if your budget allows for it) – a popular option at Specialty Marine Canvas is what is called foam decking, a closed-cell foam that’s non-skid, UV-resistant, and doesn’t absorb water/moisture compared to carpeting. It’s also digitally patterned and available in more than 35 two-toned colours. Since a combination of two colours is used, the colour choices to match exteriors and interiors are practically unlimited.
According to Nairne, installation entails digitally scanning the designated onboard area to achieve the exact shape and fit, and the material is cut using a CAD process for precise cuts and is then attached to the sole using a marine-grade adhesive.
“Basically, it’s a .6 cm (.25 in) inch foam floor (thicker sizes are available) that’s comfortable to walk on, resistant to heat, and incorporates small grooves to effectively channel water to eliminate pooling,” says Nairne. “Most of all, it can modernize and even change the whole profile of the interior.”