Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 20

ABOVE LEFT AND RIGHT: Rick Berkey, Rick's
Custom Marine Canvas and Sail Repair,
spent $23,000 to buy and customize this
Ford van with a good-sized work table,
sewing machine, storage space and an
awning that protects him from weather as
he works. The machine runs off the van's
battery. Photos: Rick's Custom Marine
Canvas and Sail Repair
That said, mobile marine shops are
believed to be part of an upward trend
in mobile businesses spurred by Wi-Fi
technology, the lure of low overhead and
the appeal of relatively low startup costs.
For some, going mobile means simply
" I'm on the higher
end, and everyone
knows that. But I get
work because people
know what they're
going to get-service
and quality. "
John Kissel,
Kissel Boat Covers LLC
outfi tting a truck with the tools needed
to measure and otherwise prep for a
project. For others, it could mean customizing
a trailer or similar vehicle to
create the capacity for sewing and fi nishing
entire orders on-site.
To learn how mobile marine fabricators
are faring these days, we talked to a
few ATA members about the nuts and
bolts of their operations.
Rick's Custom Marine:
" Time is money "
A year after Rick Berkey established
Rick's Custom Marine Canvas and Sail
Repair in Cornelius, N.C., he realized he
needed an addition: a more convenient
way to complete off-site sewing projects.
That was 12 years ago.
Luckily, he had multiple contacts from
the Marine Fabricators Association who
were able to offer advice. Once he researched
his options, he spent more than
$23,000 buying and outfi tting a four-cylinder
Ford van that offers up to 28 mpg.
An engineer friend used a CAD system
to lay out the schematic, which includes
an easily removable worktable; his Sailrite
straight-stitch zigzag sewing machine; and
a 5-foot drawer along with side-mounted
storage pouches to hold supplies and tools.
Three weeks later, it was ready to roll.
Now he's able to drive directly into marina
parking lots, where he opens his back
doors, slides out his table and machine,
plugs it into his van battery, pops up his
weather-protective awning and completes
clients' projects right on-site.
Typically, he limits his territory to sites
30 minutes away from his brick-andmortar
shop, and the work involves the
touchups or adjustments needed for a
fi nal install, perhaps a last zipper or reinforcing
patch. He works in all seasons
except winter, when low temps interfere
with his sewing machine's operations.
His customers appreciate the fast
turnaround. He saves time and money
by minimizing trips back and forth to
his shop. And, as a bonus, his on-site
setup often attracts the attention of new
clients who are in the area.

Marine Fabricator January/February 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Marine Fabricator January/February 2023

Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - Cover1
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - Cover2
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 1
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 2
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 3
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 4
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 5
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 6
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 7
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 8
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 9
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 10
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 11
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 12
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 13
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 14
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 15
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 16
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 17
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 18
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 19
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 20
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 21
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 22
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 23
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 24
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 25
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 26
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 27
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 28
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 29
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 30
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 31
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 32
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 33
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 34
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 35
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 36
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 37
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 38
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 39
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 40
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 41
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 42
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 43
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 44
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 45
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 46
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 47
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 48
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - Cover3
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - Cover4
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https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/marinefabricator/marine-fabricator-january-february-2024
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