Recent Projects Archives | Page 3 of 11 | Chicago Marine Canvas

June 13, 2022December 4, 2023

Exterior Upholstery

For this Sea Ray Sundancer we did a full boat of exterior upholstery. The cushions and chairs were made using Polari sand Dollar and Beluga Mocha fabrics. Along with ActiveFoam Vinyl.

A diamond pattern can be found throughout the pieces to add extra details.

Chicago Marine Canvas uses the best upholstery fabrics, vinyls and faux leathers. Which are all certified for marine use. All fabrics are not only comfortable but also highly durable.

The customer wanted Sea Ray embroidered onto different pieces. Since embroidery is fully custom, any words or logos can be embroidered.

June 10, 2022December 4, 2023

For this Searay Sundancer we made a rigid enclosure using Tuffak (Markolon) polycarbonate material for the windows. This material does not shrink or stretch in the sun, which keeps it looking as good a new for years.

We used SolarFix thread for these windows. SolarFix is a PTFE (PolyTetraFlouroEthylene) thread because of what it is made out of it has a lifetime guarantee. It is UV resistant and resistant to chemicals too, so this means that this customer will never need any re-stitching repairs. For zippers we used Lenzip plastic molded zippers which also have a lifetime guarantee on them.

May 26, 2022December 4, 2023

Custom Sun Pads

These sun pads were installed just in time for Memorial Day at the Hammond Marina in Indiana. This project was customized to perfectly fit the costumer’s boat and vision.

These sun pads were made using Sunbrella’s Adaptation Indigo fabric, which comes with a 5-year warranty. It was also made with Dri-Fast Foam that causes it to dry very fast. Since Drifast foam is a firm open celled foam that is very porous, it allows water to run through it easily, instead of absorbing it like other closed cell foams.

These sun pads have built in headrests help with max comfort while relaxing. Sunpads are made with 3″ tampered foam, whereas the head rests are elevated to 6″. It has integrated pockets and cup holders in the headrest to hold drinks, phones, and other valuables. No more having to worry about your phone sliding into the water while you’re relaxing.

May 20, 2022December 4, 2023

Custom Embroidery

Chicago Marine Canvas offers custom embroidery for all of your boating needs. We can embroider on upholster, canvas and other items. All we need is a picture of your boat name or design and let our experts take it from there.

What is embroidery? Embroidery is a way to decorate fabric using thread and a machine similar to a sewing machine. Since the designs are custom, we are able to add any words or images that you want making your boat more personalized. We have many color options of thread to perfectly match your design. And no design is too simple or too complicated. Embroidered designs are highly durable and should last a lifetime. It can withstand pressure, damage, and doesn’t fade. Which is perfect to withstand wear and tear that may occur on a boat, or when washing.

What can I embroider? Almost any fabric project can be personalized using embroidery. Such as boarding mats, that can be placed down moments before a guest boards and be easily cleaned at the end of the day. Another popular option is boat chairs, where people often put a unique design. We can also embroidery on a wide range of hats, sweatshirts, towels, polos, activewear and everything and anything apparel. This is a great way to show off your personal brand while boating!

Please contact us if you have any questions about embroidery or want to get started on your own customized project.

Custom Embroidered Boat Chair w/ Boat Logo

May 19, 2022December 4, 2023

Custom Sunpads / Bow Pads Features

The Sunpads are made with a Dri-Fast foam, that causes it to dry very fast. Since Drifast foam is a firm open celled foam that is very porous, it allows water to run through it easily, instead of absorbing it like other closed cell foams. After a hard morning rain, Sunpads will be dried out by the afternoon which means no more soggy Sunpads!

Nothing is better than built in pockets, which is why Custom Sunpads have pockets along the sides to hold your valuables. No more having to worry about your phone sliding into the water while you’re relaxing.

Built in headrests help with max comfort while relaxing on Sunpads. Sunpads are made with 3″ tampered foam, whereas the head rests are elevated to 6″. We also have custom foam cutting which is able to level the pads on a convex bow.

The Sunpads are made with a high-quality fabric from Sunbrella. When using a fabric with a pattern, fabric pattern matching is done to keep the Sunpad’s design visually aligned and flowing at the seams and edges. Little details like this are important to ensure that the product is not only high quality, but visually appealing. The image pictured shows our commonly made Sunpads. But we are able to make all different types which are featured on our Bow Pads page.

We all know that Chicago is known for being windy, that’s why we make sure that the Sunpads are securely attached to the boats.

October 28, 2019December 4, 2023

Azimut 39′ Flybridge

A great way to update your boat is to update the flooring. This summer, while working with Crowley’s Yacht Yard, we got a job working on a Azimut 39′ Flybridge that involved all new interior and exterior flooring. As well as a new folding seat on the bridge. Crowley’s allows us year round access to all their customers boats in storage, allowing us to do work even when snow is around! This way your boat is ready to go when boating season is back!

For the exterior aft area, swim platform and interior bathrooms, we used Dockside Decking in cream over black. This flooring was chose for this area of the boat because it is non-slip, shock absorbent, and reduces deck temperatures. It is also easy to clean and is stain resistant. Dockside decking is put on your boat, with an adhesive 3M backing, so its there to stay!

Up on the flybridge we did some upholstery work. These customers wanted more seating on the flybridge when using the boat. They needed a seat that would fold down when the canvas was up on the boat. So we made a custom folding seat, that could be folded down when not in use. For the frame of this seat we used stainless steel tubing and hinges. For the base of the seat and the backrest, we used starboard. Starboard is a marine grade plastic that we love to use on new upholstery work. It is non absorbent, which means that it won’t get water logged when it rains so it wont rot like wood. We did a full back upholstered bench seat with Ship 2 Shore vinyl. We did double needle stitching, to make sure that the new custom seat matched the existing seats on the flybridge.

October 23, 2019December 4, 2023

Sea Ray Sundancer 460 Hardtop

We created five custom forward semi-rigid windows for this Sea Ray 460 Hardtop this summer. These windows flip up and attach to the hard top with a fastener. It allows the windows to stay up, but for extreme airflow if needed while out on the water.

For this forward enclosure, we used Tuffak (Markolon) polycarbonate for the window materials. Polycarbonate is a semi-rigid material, that is more stiff then Strataglass. Tuffak does not shrink or stretch in the sun, it stays the same size. This ensures that your canvas will always fit as perfectly as it did on the first day of install.

For the fabric the customer chose Sunbrella for their new enclosure. This fabric has a 10 year warranty. It is fade resistant and lasts while exposed to harsh weather elements. Sunbrella helps provide good protection from the sun. You can enjoy long hours out on your boat. It is breathable and allows air to pass through it. Sunbrella fabrics are also mold and mildew resistant. If exposure to certain debris cause this to happen, it can easily be cleaned with a simple bleach solution, without the canvas loosing its color.

We used SolarFix thread for these windows. SolarFix is a PTFE (PolyTetraFlouroEthylene) thread because of what it is made out of it has a lifetime guarantee. It is UV resistant and resistant to chemicals too, so this means that this customer will never need any re-stitching repairs. For zippers we used Lenzip plastic molded zippers which also have a life time guarantee on them. Here at Chicago Marine Canvas, we suggest you allow us to use the highest quality materials, that way your new cover, stays new for a long time, and you never need to get repairs!

October 23, 2019December 4, 2023

Outdoor Kitchen Cover

Winter is just around the corner, which means it’s time to get a custom outdoor kitchen cover created. Here at Chicago Marine Canvas, we do custom covers, for any outdoor area, to protect it from the elements during our seasonal changes.

We partnered with EDG Patio & Shade to help protect one of their recent jobs here in the Chicago area. EDG Patio & Shade does custom commercial, or residential spaces for people looking to spend more time outside!

For this outdoor kitchen cover we used Seamark in Toast Tweed. Seamark fabric, is Sunbrella fabric with a marine grade vinyl coating on the inside, this helps make it extra waterproof ensuring that no water, gets through the weave of the fabric.

We used Lenzip zippers on this outdoor kitchen cover which have a lifetime guarantee. We added zippers, so that the cover can allow easy access to different parts of the kitchen area. This way the customer can use the kitchen still, while the cover is still on other parts not

December 16, 2018December 4, 2023

Winter Sailboat Cover – Cal 25 Sagatuck, MI

The owner of this Cal 25 contacted us to have a winter sailboat cover made for their boat which was being moved to Sagatuck, MI. The winters on the great lakes can be cold and snow fall totals can be in excess of 12″ per event. Instead of draping canvas over the boom and the rest of the hull we fabricated a heavy galvanized steel frame that would sit over all of the rigging and then rest outside of the lifelines. This would ultimately keep the cover off the Cal 25 sailboat itself but also allowed over 6′ of headroom underneath the cover to perform any maintenance or prep work before next season began.

The frame itself acts as a skeleton on top of the boat with a spine and then ribs supporting the winter sailboat cover. For practical purposes of installing and removing, the spine is broken into multiple pieces and joined. Each rib is fitted to spine with a through joint tightened down via screws. The equally spread out weight of the frame assists in stabilizing itself making it an extremely solid support structure. With rubber tips at the bottom of each rib the hull is protected from scratching.

The cover is split into a large forward and aft section adjoining together with a doubled up zipper and velcro flap. With the mast remaining up, we made small collars for each line, nine collars in total. The aft has an oversized access door that fully zippers down allowing large items to be moved in and out with the cover in place.

The beauty of our designs is the ease and quickness that the frame and cover can be installed. The frame is marked as to which pieces goes where and can be reconstructed in 30 minutes. The cover is then unfolded with all of the zippers securing around the mainstay lines. The collars to take time to zipper up and tie off but the install of the canvas should take another 1 hour. The bottom of the cover has connectors for lines made of webbing and not grommets which can scratch up the hull. It may take another 30 minutes to completely tie down the cover to the sailboat’s cradle. The goals is to have an easy to install / removed winter cover that be installed by 1 person in an afternoon.

August 20, 2018December 4, 2023

Private Jet Service Carpet Runner

This past winter, Chicago Executive Airport contacted us, asking if we could do a carpet runner for one of their private jets. The Embraer Legacy 500 is a 12 passenger luxury jet with a 6 foot high cabin, fully berthing seats, and low cabin noise to make sure your journey is enjoyable. These customers wanted a floor runner for when the jet is in the hanger.

The first step to our process is heading out to the airplane to take measurements. This is a quick and easy process for us because of our 3D measuring device. It helps us precisely take measurements of the interior flooring of your jet, to ensure every millimeter will be covered. After we gather all the measurements we need, we head back to our shop and start our design process. Here we use CAD (Computer-Aided- Design) Software to prepare our pattern for our seamstress. Finally, once we finish up our design process, we send the pattern over to our plotter. Which consequently draws out each piece to the pattern quickly and perfectly as a result.

For this service carpet runner, we used Grand Reserva vinyl. This vinyl has a polyester microsuede backing, so it is soft yet durable on both the front, and the back. Above all, this is an aircraft certified vinyl that is flame resistant, anti-microable, and anti-bacterial. Most noteworthy, you can clean this fabric with just a mild soap and water. We used Solarfix thread on this carpet runner. SolarFix has a lifetime guarantee. It is UV, chemical, and weather resistant.

Right now, we are currently in the process to begin to work on aircraft upholstery through the FAA! This is super exciting and allows us to open our doors to the aircraft world!

Category: Recent Projects