Above deck fabric choices are often determined by the boat’s exterior color scheme.  With Sunbrella, it’s easy to let that color scheme flow to your below deck areas as well.  We used Sunbrella furniture weight fabrics for the Galatea interior. With durability, ease of cleaning, mold and mildew resistance of paramount importance, Sunbrella was the ideal choice. Comfort below deck was also essential, and Sunbrella furniture weight fabrics offer the same look and feel of spaces inside your home.

Color selection was the next consideration for the Galatea cabin. We knew it would be easy to improve on the dark green velvet that we found inside the Galatea. This fabric color did nothing to complement the beautiful teak inside the cabin and made the space feel smaller and darker.

We worked closely with the boat owners in making a color selection that would accomplish three goals – coordinate with the new fabrics above deck, accent the beautiful cabin teak and give the boat a more spacious feel. With these considerations in mind, Sunbrella in Linen Sesame was selected for the cushions. To add color to the space, Pam added pillows made from Sunbrella fabrics in yellow, green and red. Textillery throws contributed even more color and comfort.

The other primary consideration for the Galatea cabin makeover was craftsmanship, which Pam Tregoning of Portage Canvas & Upholstery demonstrated in abundance. When you watch the videos at galatea.sunbrella.com/webisodes you will see how Pam methodically goes about measuring, patterning and crafting the interior cushions. It’s a process that takes time and patience, relying on many of the skills and tools that marine fabricators use every day.

We encourage Tri Vantage customers to view the Galatea blog for the step-by-step transformation process. If you are already doing cabin makeovers, you may learn a few new techniques. If you are new to cabin work, we hope the Galatea will encourage you to explore profitable growth opportunities below deck.

• Extra Light: 26 percent to 34 percent shade/cover factor, available in Forest Green.
• Light: 50 percent to 56 percent shade/cover factor, available in Forest Green, Black and White
• Medium: 64 percent to 70 percent shade/cover factor, available in Forest Green, Black, White and Beige
• Heavy: 74 percent to 80 percent shade/cover factor, available in Forest Green and Black

This product is offered in full rolls of 164 feet with standard widths of 6 or 12 feet. Two colors – Black and White – of the medium weight netting fabric are also available in larger rolls measuring 200 feet in length by 20 feet in width. The netting has a 10-year pro rated manufacturer’s warranty against UV degradation.

Gale Pacific Hortshade/Shade Net product numbers:

902160            Hortshade Light 12’ x 164’ White 428976

902161            Hortshade Extra Light 12’ x 164’ Forest Green 428914

902162            Hortshade Light 12’ x 164’ Black 428952

902163            Hortshade Light 6’ x 164’ Black 428921

902164            Hortshade Light 12’ x 164’ Forest Green 428969

902165            Hortshade Light 6’ x 164’ White 428945

902166            Hortshade Medium 12’ x 164’ Beige 429034

902167            Hortshade Medium 12’ x 164’ Forest Green 429041

902168            Hortshade Medium 12’ x 164’ Black 429027

902169            Hortshade Medium 6’ x 164’ Black 428983

902177            Hortshade Medium 20’ x 200’ Black 449179

902178            Hortshade Medium 12’ x 164’ White 429058

902179            Hortshade Medium 10’ x 164’ White 452582

902190            Hortshade Medium 6’ x 164’ White 429010

902191            Hortshade Medium 20’ x 200’ White 452568

902192            Hortshade Heavy 12’ x 164’ Black 429089

902193            Hortshade Heavy 12’ x 162’ Forest Green 429096

Our premier UV-resistant thread is Gore® Tenara®, which is backed by a warranty that guarantees the thread will maintain strength and color to last the life of the fabric into which it’s sewn. Tri Vantage also stocks many polyester sewing threads that offer good UV resistance, including COATS Dabond®nano, COATS Ultra Dee®, Premofast™, Nubond®, Aqua-Seal™, and Sunstop®.

So, the next time you specify a job, consider incorporating performance thread. The increase in cost will be slight compared to the total job estimate and far outweighed by the potential for a delighted customer over the long-term.

Members of the Seattle Distribution Center staff include, left to right, Holly Menashe, account representative, Monique Harley, customer service assistant, and Chris Lazar, site manager.

Our customers in the Pacific Northwest requested that we make our products, services and people more closely available, and we are pleased to respond with the opening of our new Seattle Distribution Center.

The Seattle Center is located in Tukwila, Wash., just outside of Seattle. For customers who would like to pick up products at the site, the new center’s address is Southcenter South Industrial Park, Building 300, 18417 Cascade Avenue South, Tukwila, WA 98188. The toll-free number is 800-213-1465.

Our Seattle team is led by Site Manager Chris Lazar, who has more than 10 years of experience in warehouse and distribution management. Most recently, he served as assistant manager of the Tri Vantage distribution center in Hayward, Calif.

Working closely with Chris is Holly Menashe, who is continuing as account representative for the Northwest. Holly is an Oregon native with more than 30 years of sales experience including the management of her own interior design firm. She earned a degree in textiles and design from Oregon State University.

You can contact Chris Lazar at 253-398-3603 or Holly Menashe at 253-398-3605.

In this month’s Market Corner we are highlighting several products that can play central roles in creating solutions for your customers. These products allow you to craft quality, custom projects that result in repeat customers and referrals. As the season revs up, count on us to provide products, training and technical support to help shift your business into high gear.

The film is available in 25-yard rolls in widths of 24, 30 or 60 inches.

SGS film can accept vinyl ink and latex paint for graphics and photographic images. It can also be used unprinted for white lettering or graphics where flexibility is important. The thermal activated adhesive can reduce application time by 75 percent compared to other pressure-sensitive films.

SGS Thermal Digital Film product numbers:

• 901675 SGS ET5560 Digital Print Film 24” (1675-0000)
• 901676 SGS ET5560 Digital Print Film 30” (1676-0000)
• 901678 SGS ET5560 Digital Print Film 60” (1678-0000)

The Masons, who value the open feeling of being on the water, were concerned that an enclosure would make the deck feel confined. By incorporating Sunbrella View Toast into the enclosure, Iverson was able to assure that the deck retains 360-degree views while allowing the Masons and their guests to enjoy comfort and privacy.

Marine uses for View, which is available in 60-inch widths and 14 colors, are not limited to on-deck enclosures. Below deck, View can provide sun protection at windows and portholes without blocking too much light. Snap-on shades made from Sunbrella View filter 95 percent of the heat from the sun, keeping the cabin cooler yet well lit.

Aqua-Seal thread, when used in conjunction with its pre-wound bobbin, fills needle holes as the fabric is stitched. As a non-wicking, UV resistant, colorfast and fade resistant polyester thread, Aqua-Seal saves time by eliminating the need to tape seams.

The thread should be used with the manufacturer’s pre-wound bobbin and recommended stitch pattern, which calls for bobbin thread tension that is less than a standard stitch formation and an increased top thread tension that pulls the bobbin thread to the top of the fabric. Click here to watch a video showing the proper top thread/bobbin thread setup.

Tri Vantage has Aqua-Seal 1-pound tubes of White and Black thread and pre-wound White and Black bobbins available in stock. Eight-ounce tubes of Natural Tan, Marine Blue, Ruby Red and Steel Grey are available for special order.

Aqua-Seal product numbers:

• 542000 Aqua-Seal Polyester Thread N/W 16 oz. Size 92 White
• 542001 Aqua-Seal Polyester Thread N/W 16 oz. Size 92 Black
• 542002 Aqua-Seal Polyester Thread N/W 8 oz. Size 92 Natural Tan
• 542003 Aqua-Seal Polyester Thread N/W 8 oz. Size 92 Steel Gray
• 542004 Aqua-Seal Polyester Thread N/W 8 oz. Size 92 Ruby Red
• 542030 Aqua-Seal Polyester Thread N/W 16 oz. Size 138 White
• 542031 Aqua-Seal Polyester Thread N/W 16 oz. Size 138 Black
• 542060 Aqua-Seal Bobbins N/W UVR 92 Style G White
• 542061 Aqua-Seal Bobbins N/W UVR 92 Style G Black
• 542080 Aqua-Seal Bobbins N/W UVR 92 Style M White
• 542081 Aqua-Seal Bobbins N/W UVR 92 Style M Black

The new render and print customization feature allows you to create custom-branded, professional-looking presentations to showcase proposed awnings for homes or commercial spaces. This feature, one of several upgrades to Awning Composer added on March 20, empowers users to create printed renderings that include multiple images, text, logo and summary reports. Click here to view a custom report.

Users can also save report layouts they have created as templates, a time-saving feature that makes future reports quick and easy.

Upgrades also include a new camera mode called “the look around” that allows users to see a scene from a central perspective. From this vantage point, the camera movement pans from side to side.

Additional upgrades include:

• Object alignment tool – Automatically aligns objects, such as poles at the front of awnings
• Opacity control – Adjust the opacity of screens placed on windows
• Update notifications – New updates will automatically notify users of new updates

We designed these upgrades based on your feedback to make Awning Composer an even more powerful tool to help you build your business.