sunbrella Archives | Page 3 of 7 | Chicago Marine Canvas

June 10, 2022December 4, 2023

Rigid Enclosure

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 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 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

August 17, 2018December 4, 2023

Sailboat: Dodger, Helm Cover, Winch Covers, Sail Cover

For this sailboat we created a custom dodger, helm cover, winch covers and sail cover.

Here at Chicago Marine Canvas, everything we do is custom. We use many cost-effective, labor-saving tools that help us speed up the process, therefore you save some money. This also helps us make sure that your cover will fit perfectly when it comes to install time!

The first thing we do to begin our process is journey out to your boat. Once we get there we use our 3D measuring device to take precise pinpoint measurements. After we gather all of those, we head back to our shop where our designer gets to work. We use CAD (Computer-Aided-Design) Software during our design process. On the computer we can see the thing we can see the design in 3D.

Making sure everything matched in color, we used Sunbrella fabric in the color toast. Sunbrella is one of our favorite marine fabrics to use when it comes to canvas, it comes with 10 year warranty. For all the things we sewed up for this job, we used SolarFix thread in clear, which has a lifetime guarantee. This means, no more restitching after your new canvas has been out in the sun for a few years! This thread will outlast the canvas it self!

We made sure to add leather reinforcement patches on the forward and aft areas of the dodger where there would be high amounts of friction on the sailboat. For the windows of this dodger we used Strataglass. Strataglass is the only vinyl on the market that offers a 2 year warranty if it is properly maintained and cleaned.

For this sailboat we also made matching winch covers out of sunbrella fabric as well as a matching helm cover!

August 17, 2018December 4, 2023

Reclining Dual Sunpads

We created some custom reclining dual sunpads we created for this Cruisers Yacht 390 SC just in time for the Chicago Air and Water Show!!! The Chicago Air and Water Show is the largest free show, of its kind in the country! It happens right on and above Lake Michigan at North Ave. Beach.

Here at Chicago Marine Canvas, we can create anything quickly and efficiently many of our labor-saving tools. We start off all of our projects by going on site to take pinpoint measurements with our 3D measuring device. After we gather the measurements, we head back to our shop and start our design process. We do all of our design work using CAD (Computer-Aided-Design) Software. This allows us to visually see the piece on hand, before we start to psychically put it together. For these sunpads, the customers wanted something that could lay completely flat, as well as sit up to watch the show in front of them.

For these sunpads we used Sunbrella upholstery fabric in Adaptation Indigo. Sunbrella upholstery fabrics come with a 5 year limited warranty and is super easy to clean! upholstery fabric is easy to clean! You can brush off any loose debris before it becomes embedded into the fabric. If you spill anything on the fabric, you can spot clean it before stains set by blotting the spill with a dry cloth. For more information on how to clean up other spills click this link! The bottom layer of these sunpads are fabricated out of a white screen that helps with water drainage. So when it rains, your sunpads wont stay wet, the water will drain out of the bottom easily!

We also used Drifast foam for these two sunpads. Drifast is a open celled foam that allows water to flow through it instead of absorbing it. So if it rains, these cushions will dry out faster then others with different foam. To ensure that your sunpads wont go flying off your boat when cruising on Lake Michigan we attached a kedar track to the front and sides of these sunpads.

These two sunpads can lay completely flat, and recline up into three different positions. If you have a flat deck where your sunpad would sit, these recliners can be custom made for your boat.

July 5, 2018December 4, 2023

Custom Quad Sunpads

This SeaRay Sedan Bridge 390 had lots of deck space so we went a head and designed four custom sunpads to fit the bow of the boat.

Here at Chicago Marine Canvas, everything we do is custom! So we can make anything you have in mind when it comes to design and functionality. Did your last sunpad get taken away by the Chicago winds!? We can make sure your new sunpad is securely attached to your boat so you wont have to worry about it being gone when you come back to your boat! Is your sunpad looking drab? We have access to lots of fun patterns that can make your boat look chic out on the water this year.

The first step to our process is going out to your boat to take measurements. Here at Chicago Marine Canvas we use a lot of labor-saving, cost-effective tools. Our 3D measuring device is one of those tools! We quickly measure your boat and then head back to the shop to start our design process. We do all of our design work on the computer using CAD (Computer-Aided-Design) software. Once we finish that up, we send everything over to our plotter, another one of our cost-effective, labor-saving tools. Our plotter draws out the pattern of your new sunpads perfectly!

For these sunpads we used Sunbrella upholstery fabric in the pattern Adaptation Stone! We can make sunpads out of any material you’d prefer, but we recommend using Sunbrellla upholstery fabric because it’s softer on your skin, easy to clean in a washing machine, and has many different designs and colors available! Sunbrella upholstery fabric comes with a 5 year warranty. For thread we used Solar Fix which is a PTFE or a Polytetrafluoroethylene type of thread, which is also known as teflon, that is guaranteed for life! That means you can say goodbye to repairs that involve restitching. This thread doesn’t get eaten by the sunlight, salt water, or other outside elements.

We used DriFast foam for these sunpads. 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. It even keeps you cool when you are on it due to the open cells of the foam allowing air to move freely through the foam. This foam is antimicrobial which helps prevent microorganism growth which happens in wet areas.

January 2, 2018December 4, 2023

Regal Cockpit Cover

It’s important to keep your boat covered all year round when it isn’t in use, to protect your interior upholstery, flooring, and your electronics. This customer called us up needing a new cockpit cover for their Regal to match their bimini top.

We aren’t your typical boat shop, here at Chicago Marine Canvas all of our covers, biminis, enclosures, upholstery work, and flooring is custom made to fit your boat perfectly. That means for all of our jobs we have to have access to your boat. We start off each project by going out to your boat and using one of our many labor-saving, cost effective tools, our 3D measuring device. Nothing can slow us down with this tool! We can quickly take measurements of your boat rain or shine! After we gather the measurements for your new cover, we head back to the shop so we can start our design process! All of our work is done on the computer using CAD (Computer-Aided-Design) software. We can easily see the end product using this tool, making sure all of your design needs are met for you and your boat. Once we finalize the design, we send the pattern for your new cover over to our plotter. Our plotter is another one of our labor-saving, cost-effective tools we use here at Chicago Marine Canvas. It quickly draws out each piece perfectly that our seamstress needs to draw out. Then all of the pieces get cut out and our seamstress can start to sew it all together.

On this Regal, we used Sunbrella fabric in navy for its new cockpit cover. We love using Sunbrella fabric for cockpit covers! It is fade resistant and has a 10 year warranty! To sew this all up we used Sunstop polyester thread in black. Then we bound the new cover in 1 inch Sunbrella binding in navy to ensure that all the ends are securely covered so this cover will last and won’t fray! We also added a Boat Vent II to the center of this cover to help prevent pooling, create airflow, and reduce mildew. This cover was attached to the boat with DOT snap fasteners so it wont blow away!!! We also did custom boot flaps with velcro around each pole for the framing to ensure a perfect fit and to prevent water from getting in at those areas!

If you are looking for a custom cover with a perfect fit, give us a ring this winter so we can help keep your boat dry all year round! Our shop is open all year, which can help you be prepared when it’s time for your boat to get in the water at the beginning of the season!

November 14, 2017December 4, 2023

Sundancer Custom Sunpad

We did a full enclosure for this Sundancer 300 in the beginning of this summer. After their enclosure was finished, they were out crusin’ and lost their sunpad! It flew off their boat, so we got to make them a new custom sunpad!

Everything we create here at Chicago Marine Canvas is custom made. That means we can make you whatever your heart desires. Maybe your last sunpad didn’t have enough straps to secure it to your boat, so you lost it on one ride like this customer…we can take that into consideration on your new custom sunpad!

We start off all of our jobs by going on site to your boat to take measurements. Here at Chicago Marine Canvas we use lots of labor-saving, cost-effective tools. Our 3D measuring device is one of those tools! We can quickly measure your boat then head back to the shop. At the shop our designer gets to work. We do all of our design work on the computer using CAD (Computer-Aided-Design) software. After we finish up all the design work, we send everything over to our plotter, another one of our cost-effective, labor-saving tools. Our plotter can draw out the pattern for your new sunpad in minutes instead of us taking hours to do it by hand. This way everything comes out perfectly and its done quickly and efficiently!

For this sunpad we used Sunbrella upholstery fabric in the color flagship silver. Sunbrella is a fade resistant canvas we use on most for most of our jobs, and it comes with a 10 year warranty. We used foam from active foam for this project, we chose Dryfast 4048. Dryfast foam is a open cell foam that is extremely porous allowing water to go through the foam, instead of retaining it like a sponge like other foams. On the underside of the cushion we did a white screen with a large u shaped chain zipper for easy removal of the foam. That way you can easily wash your new sunpad cover if it gets dirty when you are using it this year! For thread we used SunStop in white and black. We created custom straps for this sunpad to attach to the boat. For this we used 2″ webbing that way the straps were secure and wouldn’t rip through the fabric. We also added a large pocket all along the back of the head rest for small things like cell phones, sun screen or anything else you want to keep secure when you are out on the water!

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