Company:
Yachtsman's Canvas

Project Details

Fabric 1

Stamoid Top
Producer/Manufacturer: Serge Ferrari North America Inc.
Primary Use: Main Fabric

Fabric 2

Tuffak Marine 5
Producer/Manufacturer: OTHER
Primary Use: Secondary Fabric

Fabric 3

YKK #10 Zippers, black
Producer/Manufacturer: OTHER
Primary Use: Hardware/Findings

Fabric 4

Solarfix Thread, clear
Producer/Manufacturer: OTHER
Primary Use: Hardware/Findings

Fabric 5

Pull the Dot fasteners
Producer/Manufacturer: OTHER


Design Name
Keri Ames

Design Company
Yachtsman's Canvas

Fabrication Name
Keri Ames

Fabrication Company
Yachtsman's Canvas

Installation Name
Keri Ames

Installation Company
Yachtsman's Canvas


Please describe the project specifications

This project consists of a full flybridge enclosure refit (forward and aft) on a Sea Ray 52’ Sedan Bridge powerboat. The customer requested an updated look with a simplistic, minimalist, clean design. The challenge of this project was to create a glass house while fabricating manageable sized panels to remove and store during the winter off season when the boat is shrink wrapped. A complete redesign of the aft are enclosure was completed taking the original 6 section panel design down to 3 main sections. In addition, the original 2 u-zip window design was modified to one single large window aligning with the forward enclosure window. This creates a nice summer cross breeze through the flybridge when both windows are opened. The new design had a big impact on the design goals – simplistic, modern, clean lines. To make the panels manageable for storage, upper and lower panels were created connected by a zipper covered both on the interior and exterior. The forward center panel window was fabricated with small radius corners and sits directly against the vertical zipper separating the panels. This prevents as minimal view obstruction as possible keeping with the clean line, modern, simple design.

Making canvas necessities disappear was a focus to update the project. The original design included fabric masking to protect from UV burn on the stainless steel framework. This was removed and replaced with clear tubing adhered to the stainless steel structure. The necessary protection disappears into the background and is no longer part of the design. This makes an immediate impact on a clean, modern glass appearance.

When stepping into the interior of the flybridge, you are not faced with the many zippers necessary with a track to track, multi panel design. Instead, all zippers are covered in the same material on the interior as the exterior disappearing out of site and presenting a high end, professional, finished appearance. The narrow breaks I the windows, only 1 1/2” wide, to accommodate zippers, practically disappear into the background leaving an expansive, unobstructed, glass house view. The client could not be happier with the new design combined with modern materials to create his perfect glass house.


What is unique or complex about the project?

Seeing such a dramatic design impact between the OEM canvas design and new canvas design was very rewarding. The design and modern materials used makes this Searay 52' Sedan Bridge stand out from others. Focusing on making canvas necessities disappear from the design and finding innovative ways such as the use of clear tubing for UV burn protection to replace bulky fabric masking, was an integral part of achieving the glass house, modern, clean design the client desired.


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