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In the Northwest the place to get canvas work done is the "Artful Dodger" in
Port Townsend, WA. In on Tuesday and out on Friday with total canvas job
(Dodger, cockpit, sail covers, etc.) You have t o schedule months in
advance and then be there--worth it.
They do not work in winter as they are in Mexico.
Mike Folkestad
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rich, Michael" <>
To: "'Tom O'Meara'" <>; <>
Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2001 3:59 AM
Subject: RE: lv-ab: Bimini Quest, Day One
>
> Tom, it is great to hear about good service from vendors. If this were
some
> Annapolitan, you would had to pay half in advance and wait for them to
come
> to you by 1330. They would have taken a couple hours for lunch, been
rude,
> done sloppy work and left you with that empty feeling in your gut and
> wallet. Then for months afterward you would have been left with zippers
> that didn't work, snaps that didn't snap.
>
> I'm glad this ONE is working out better for you. mike
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tom O'Meara [mailto:]
> Sent: Tuesday, August 21, 2001 6:08 PM
> To:
> Subject: lv-ab: Bimini Quest, Day One
>
>
> As most of you know, Jackie and I have been looking for a quality bimini
> builder since we departed Cleveland. One that could get to our project in
> a reasonable amount of time instead of "next February". We have made do
> with cast-offs and an awning.
>
> As posted yesterday, a builder kinda fell out of the woodwork here in Bear
> Delaware on the C & D Canal. I said I would let everyone know how things
> turned out, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.
>
> We struck an agreement on what we wanted in heavy wall 1" stainless and
> Sunbrella. There are literally two biminis to be made, a rear "main"
cover
> (three bows) and a separate front frame (two bows), connected by a
> removable panel. A price ($2600.00) was agreed upon with a (almost
> unbelievable) completion date promised of this Thursday "Friday at the
> latest", with the caveat of course that inclement weather could delay
> things. Fine. They said they would start at 0800 today.
>
> As those of you who know me know, my Navy background made me sort of anal
> about time. If I tell someone I'll be at a given place at, say, 1340,
then
> I'll damn well be there unless the sky falls on me. Jackie has learned to
> live with this quirk of mine (after 33 years) but it drives some people
> crazy.
>
> Anyway, the bottom line is that I place a premium on someone keeping their
> word about an appointed hour.
>
> Here is day one.
>
> At 0745 this morning, there was a knock on the hull and a crew of three
was
> ready to start on the bimini. Now, 15 minutes early is A Good Thing. :)
I
> like that.
>
> They showed up in a HUGE aluminum van, complete with two industrial sewing
> machines permanently installed and an interior work table (at sewing
> machine height) that was 7 ft. wide and 12 ft. long. Had its own air
> conditioning and
> its own 5kw genset, although they drug out a standard marine shore power
> cable and hooked up the van to marina power as it was readily accessible.
>
> They also had a tubing bender that was a marvel of simplicity and good
> engineering. It was designed by the Uncle of the present business owner,
a
> canvas guy with 35 years experience. He markets this bender to other
> builders.
>
> Brian (the owner), Ed, Kyle (and later a forth guy named Billy) turned to
> and worked all day with a 30 minute break for lunch, which they ate
sitting
> on the dock next to the boat.
>
> Brian was the "fitter" and is a very meticulous person. They also worked
> at a good pace, considering that this was the first trimaran they had ever
> done, and a lot of the design had to be done "on the fly" as they custom
> fitted everything to the boat.
>
> End of Day One has a beautifully constructed frame complete and
> mounted. The fabric was assembled into a single panel wide enough to
cover
> and was temporarily mounted and marked.
>
> They left at 1700. Brian says they are right on target and may even
finish
> tomorrow... a day ahead of schedule. They have some work to do on the
> fabric in the shop tomorrow morning but will "be here by 0930".
>
> I am VERY happy with what has happened so far. Stay tuned (if interested)
> and I'll let you know what happens on Day Two.
>
> Fair Winds,
>
> Tom
>
> Tom & Jackie O'Meara
> Searunner 40 Trimaran, "Sea Skate"
>
>
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