Estimating: 2 passes, 3 passes ?

[timtheboatguy]

I was looking in my Marine Fabricator Magizine (Jan/Feb) which has a MFA Time Standards Manual toward the back of the publication. There are charts that give the hours that it should take to fabricate various items. For example a boat cover for a 24' boat shows 10Hrs for 2 passes 16Hrs for 3 passes and 18 Hrs for 4 passes.

What exactly do they mean by passes?

[Peppy]

The fabrics width is a pass. The material is run perpendicular to the center line of the boat. Roll fabric from one side to the other side of the boat. One pass. Do it again farther down the boat. Pass 2. And so on. Does that make any sense? It'd be so easy with a picture....

[timtheboatguy]

Thanks, that makes perfect sense!

[Mike8560]

Gee I alway though they meant front to back passes as most boats 24 foot can make a cover with 2 passes of 60" fabric sometimes you can save fabric running it sideways on a cockpit cover. and  mooring cover sideways makes more sence mot times matterning with a blank.either way that what a pass is either direction Tim

[timtheboatguy]

Thanks Mike, Anything I can learn to help set prices is a big help. This has always been a big challange for me.

[Peppy]

So much for 'standards' I guess!  Have you used the new super wide sunbrella? I forget, it's like 80" or something? 8' maybe? Too big for our tables. Be good for 'blanket' patterns maybe.

[Geech]

I had the same question, the response I got from the folks who make those timetables the answer I was given is a pass is the length of fabric running fore / aft on the boat.

[Mike8560]

;D

[Peppy]

It's a funyy looking 20' boat that needs 3 or 4 passes, no? As wide as it is long almost.

[Can-Vas]

That must be that 24" wide fabric Peppy...   :D

[Pikachu]

If the cover has to go up over a center console, or T-top, it can easily be 3-4 passes on a 24 footer.

[baileyuph]

A pass can be defined however you want.

Therefore, a time table, giving time estimates for work, the pass would be defined for that table and assumed material width of available materials.  All materials are not available in all widths.  The table has to be defined, otherwise, it wouldn't be of definitive value.

How one would run the pass would depend on material width used, material cost weighted against man hours and waste generated.  For example, if one did a more narrow boat in two passes, but of very wide material there likely would be considerable waste.  The job might be done with one center seam to reduce labor but that reduction has to be considered against the cost of the waste (cost of fabric) which could be significant.  A point, just because a job can be done with fewer seams doesn't make it automatically done that way.  Large pieces managed during sewing can be a major hassle when dealing with intricate fitting, and very possible in a custom setting (small shop).

In our other upholstery work, the number of passes can enter into the planning of how the job is to be done (furniture, auto, as well as marine).  Leather upholstery work is usually done in more passes because of obvious reasons, width or size restrictions and cost of waste generation.

Doyle

[Peppy]

Right there sir is the problem I have with a time standards sheet. Define yourselves please.

Also they're way to slow and need to pick up the pace.

[Mike8560]

Grees peppey the tomes are way over on allot of stuff