When it comes to enjoying the outdoors and doing the activities that really matter, having the right equipment makes all the difference. Like Alfred Wainwright said, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.” And that’s true for your gear, too.

The tricky part about outdoor equipment is that it has to fit and function perfectly, which means a one-size-fits-all approach often doesn’t work. Big box retailers and original equipment manufacturers (OEM) can’t create products that securely attach to your boat, fit in your vehicle, or precisely cover your trailer because their products aren’t custom.

One of our clients discovered this after searching for the right fisherman top for his boat. Fortunately, Canvasworks doesn’t operate like big box stores. Our customized solution fabricated an original top that fit this client’s boat and met all his needs.

The Problem

As an avid fisherman, this customer loves taking his boat out on lakes and fishing in nearly every season, but his boat had no cover and did not protect him from the sun or provide shelter from the rain.

While looking for a fisherman top that met his standards, he found that OEM tops didn’t live up to the quality he wanted and didn’t meet the specific design elements he had in mind.

After multiple failed attempts from different retailers, he finally contacted us through our website’s contact form.

Immediate Individualized Service

The owner, Duane, called this customer back within 24 hours and discussed the goals and details of the project. Within minutes, the client decided to move forward with the project and paid a 50% deposit to reserve his spot in the schedule and to allow us to order materials.

Our team sent him an order confirmation detailing the specifications of his unique job and the scheduled week he needed to bring his boat in. Along with the order confirmation, he received documents illustrating our typical fisherman tops to decide if he wanted additional modifications and a link to a color chart to choose a color that complemented his boat.

A High-Tech, Customized Solution

Once the client dropped off his boat at our shop, he and Duane met to finalize the design and begin production!

First, our team made the frame for the fisherman top in our metal shop. Fisherman tops must be tall enough to stand under and sturdy enough to hold high-quality fabrics and materials. They also have to handle breezy weather but still be lightweight and easy to remove. For this case, the best tubing is a 7/8ths wall aluminum.

Once the frame was finished, it was digitally measured for the top, windshield, and side curtains. From there, the measurements went to our CAD department, where a design was digitally drawn and rendered, showing the precise dimensions of the fisherman top.

Our Eastman CNC cutter then precisely cut the material the client had selected, and the pieces moved onto our expert sewing team. The materials for a fisherman top must be long-lasting and highly durable, especially with all the sun exposure it will see.

We only offer 11.5-ounce standard marine fabric designed to last, and with proper care, it should see at least 15 years of lakeside sun and rain!

After all the pieces were sewn together, the top was installed correctly on the frame, and final touches, like snaps, were added.

The Reveal

When the customer came to pick up the boat, our team walked him through all aspects of his new fisherman top, including removing and reinstalling it when needed. The client is thrilled with the top and said it met his specifications perfectly!

Production and installation time: One week. The client was back on the water fast and fishing in the shade!

Fabricate a Perfect Solution With Canvasworks

As the saying goes, if you can dream it, we can design it! With more than 40 years in the design, fabric, and aluminum fabrication industries, our team can craft individualized covers, enclosures, screens, and anything else you need to make your outdoor life easier.

While our team has specialized experience creating marine products, like boat covers, and trailer enclosures, like our patented SnoCaps Enclosures, we also work with you to design and manufacture one-of-a-kind products unique to your vision and needs.

Start your project with our team today! Call 320-559-0165 or reach out to us online.