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Just wondering if everyone has a CPA do their quarterly and end of year filings.  I found the worksheet for Part 3, lines 9 and 10 of the Federal Unemployment form 940 extremely confusing and poorly written.  The Instructions were worse.  I also could not find a single youtube video or step-by-step how-to anywhere on the net that was accurate.  I eventually figured out how to reconcile unemployment paid to the state with the federal requirement, but all help I could find online was completely wrong.

So do any of you do this work yourselves?

June

The eyelets and gypsy studs with the 3/8" barrels are apparently made only by Fasnap and I can order directly from them, but one box would be more than enough and they require a $50 minimum.  A box of 100 is only $7.  I prefer Dot brand but they don't come that long.

June

So I've signed on for a bimini and full enclosure on a 43 Fairline Targa against my better judgement.  Did I mention I hate canvas?

Anyhow, I was wondering what the OEM canvas scheme might have used for fastening the front windscreen panels.  On the side windows they used track along the top of the windshield frame.  That ends right as the frame turns towards the front.  The front panels apparently were fastened somehow to the little knobs used for Stayput shock cord fasteners, under the front edge of the frame.  I've never seen OEM canvas for Fairlines - this is reproduction.  The prior canvas maker used large grommets on the panels to hook under the frame.  It can't have made for nice fitting windows with one knob every 15 inches or so.  I just don't get it.  Tracks along the sides so you can get a nice even pull on the side curtains, but sporadic knobs along the front where an even fit is critical (IMHO).

Anyway, does anyone know what Fairline used to hook to those knobs?  On other British canvas like Sunseekers, they simply punched a keyhole shaped hole in the canvas using some reinforced tarp-like material on that part of the canvas and pulled the canvas over the knobs.  Strikes me as a point of failure with no metal around the hole. 

Has anyone used the E-Z Lace Supreme yet?  It might work, but the whole idea of fabric pulled around a knob bugs me. 

June

Ok, I'm short - so maybe I have issues some of you can't relate to.  My left arm rotator cuff is killing me and I think it's sewing.  My seat is too low - the sewing table is above elbow height so my left arm is held aloft for many hours a day.  If I raise the seat to a level where my left arm can hang naturally, I can't reach the pedal comfortably.  My left shoulder is a mess.  Any suggestions?

June

Turns out my conclusions were wrong about pink stains.  The vinyl companies have apparently admitted now that it's a chemical reaction. 

http://marinefabricatormag.com/articles/0514_f2_vinyl_discoloration.html

June

I was recently tasked with quoting a complete re-upholstery job on a 26' deck boat and it probably took me 3 hours to come up with the numbers as it was a model I hadn't done before.  Just wondering how you guys come up with numbers for these things.  If I were to just look it over and pull a number out of my head, it would have been probably a grand less than what I came up with by looking at each piece and estimating what was required. 

There are 27 individual pieces of upholstery on this boat, not unusual for a deck boat, and the complexity goes from stupid simple (one color rectangle) to crazy complex (3 color, odd shapes, 3 or more listings).  I ended up building a spreadsheet and cataloging each piece along with hours and materials to arrive at a quote.   Do you guys just come up with a number and hope for the best?  That's what I've typically done and it's bit me in the a$$ on more than one occasion. 

June

I think my faithful DeWalt may be done for.  It starts and the piston pumps slowly - maybe 1 stroke every second - then builds speed till it sounds normal, then after 5 or so seconds it trips the on-board breaker.  I doubt it's economically repairable.  I'd guess the SoFla humidity has probably deteriorated the piston seals/cylinder to a point that fixing just doesn't make sense.  So.... anyone have any favorites they'd recommend for a replacement?  I'd like something semi-portable (less than 50 pounds). 

June

Steve's probably not one to blatantly promote his business here - he's an infrequent participant - but they're having a great fabric sale.  Half off through the weekend.  Earlier today I ordered some Ultrafabrics Brisa for $9 a yard.  Crazy good price for Ultraleather.  Check out their site - silverstone.com.  Excellent customer service as well.  Their Spinneybeck hides are calling my name - not that I do anything with leather.  Maybe I'll give my old Toyota a new interior ;-)

June

Seen at one of my marina's today...





June

Just finished a Chris Craft aft seat back and every seam (4 of them) had a listing.  One of the main listings across the top has contrast welt.  Of course, this seam crosses two rather large vent holes in the board so as the listing crosses those holes, it can't be pulled down tightly, leaving a bulge in the vinyl surface.  The contrast welting just accentuates the "defect".  I was wondering why the factory welt (Taylor Made) was so wavy.  This isn't the first boat seat to have this issue.  Lots of Formula seats do the same thing.  Even a 1" vent hole can cause the seam to look uneven, depending on the location. 

So has anyone found a solution to this?  I'm almost tempted to put in some sort of bridge across the gap so I have something to staple to. 

June

Well these should be fun to reupholster in 4 or 5 years...  (scroll down the page for the pics of the seating)

http://speedonthewater.com/in-the-news/1577-statement-readies-two-center-consoles-for-fort-lauderdale-show

I've worked exclusively with Sunbrella and that weight of fabric for covers, but I need to make a big one for our own boat and want something lighter and completely waterproof.  Suggestions?  I'm thinking 6 or 7 oz would be good.

June

Just got in a sample ring from YourAutoTrim of the Fusion "vinyl" from Ultrafabrics.  They were the only place I found selling the samples.  VERY nice stuff.  Feels like a beefier version of UltraLeather, but with the same finish.  It's apparently MSRP at around $25 a yard.  Not as many colors as UltraLeather, but really nice fabric and price.  One nice thing they did was add some polyester to the rayon backing, making it less subject to humidity.  Count me happy....

June

A guy contacted me today from the Tampa area looking for someone to make bow cushions for his 24' Shamrock.  He's heading back north with the boat at the end of this week.  Anyone have time to make him a set of cushions?  They're missing entirely so you'd have to go to his boat (or have him bring it to you) to make templates.  Send me an IM if anyone can do it.

June

Just saw this on CNN

http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/28/living/minnesota-sewing-trade-class/index.html?hpt=hp_bn11

June

Personally I like mine stretchy since it needs to "give" with the vinyl during installation.  But one of my suppliers says his other customer love his new sew foam with the un-stretchy scrim. 

June

9' x 3'  I still have to add foam to the tops and cover the whole thing with fabric, which, BTW, has a 27" vertical repeat.  The sides are so long I'm having to seam the fabric and put in a pleat to hide the seams.  I'll be putting a button in the center of the pleat.  Since it would look stuuupid to have a button every 56 inches, there'll be a pleat/button every 16 inches.  Oh, and it weighs about 150 pounds.



June

PS:  What happened to photobucket?  I haven't been there in a while and it's a complete mess now.  Completely unfriendly.  And it can't generate link code with a clickable thumb like it used to.  I had to reach way back into the far reaches of my brain to recreate the code.

So I have an ottoman to cover - one with a 4" deep lid.  At first I was thinking the fabric pattern on the boxing of the lid should pattern-match the top.  But then, when viewed from the sides, I was thinking the fabric pattern on the boxing of the lid should match the sides.  What's the convention on this? 

June

Hey all,  I found this when doing a little research and just had to laugh out loud.  I don't care if it IS from Milan.  :o

http://blog.vastudc.com/wp-content/dropbox/photo-231.jpg

June

I just think it's the koolest thing ever to stuff cushions with a vacuum and silk film.  SO easy!  I finally took a few secs to take pics of the process.

The skin:


Foam on top, loosely encased in film wrap


Shrink that sucker up and stuff the foam.  It's about 1/4 the original size and 4 inches thick compressed to maybe an inch.


June