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Project Details

Fabric 1

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

Fabric 2

Tuffak AR2
Producer/Manufacturer: Plaskolite
Primary Use: Window

Design Name
Kyle Van Damme

Design Company
Marine Tops Unlimited

Fabrication Name
Carl Van Damme

Fabrication Company
Marine Tops Unlimited

Installation Name
Kyle Van Damme

Installation Company
Marine Tops Unlimited

Please describe the project specifications

This customer was looking to do a refresh on his boat and have a new enclosure made for his 2010 58' Ocean Alexander. We covered the various window and material options and settled on Stamoid material and Tuffak AR2 polycarbonate for the windows. The rear panels were built using a triple track pvc piece that would enable the windows to all be slide to one side similar to a home sliding patio door to allow an open air design when desired by the owners. This was our first time working with something like that. We also had to install some more track in certain areas boat to improve design and keep water out. We also made the center front window hinge up and fasten to the underside of the hard top and fabricated a screen panel for that area and the rear doorway to help keep the bridge area cool during those hot days. The customer was really happy with the outcome of this project and the job worked as a great sales tool to bring in several more job from the same marina.

What is unique or complex about the project?

This customer of course had a tight time frame to have the enclosure done before he was leaving with the boat for the summer AND the boat was located in the water at a marina that was almost 2 hours away from our shop. Those reasons and the sheer size of this boat and the window panels that went on it made it fun for our staff. The front enclosure hung from a track and we created a material flap with keder welt and separating zippers for each panel. The bottom along the windshield was fabricated with a material strip that snapped to the windshield frame and had zippers for each panel to secure to. The panels included a longer bottom facing to cover the zipper and snap flap on the windshield so that it looking very aesthetically pleasing from the outside of the boat. We also used white snap caps around this whole boat to keep with the sleek design. The rear enclosure hung form a pvc track at the top and then ad a thin piece of material which has another keder welt sewn to it. This keder welt had a pvc triple track on it that would allow us to have the back 3 panels slide all to one side or the other and give the customer the ability to have an open air feel when desired without taking all the panels down and storing them. This project was challenging from a design and fabrication standpoint to say the least but it all came together in the end to make one sweet enclosure!

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