Shop Talk Exterior 10 questions that establish fabrication excellence Here are some things to consider before, during and after you work on a project: * Is the customer left-handed or right-handed, and how does that affect the direction of zippers? * Does an access panel need to be made in the enclosure for power cords and hoses? * Are the ends of the rain flaps snapped down to keep the wind from blowing them open? * Are locking fasteners used where the canvas was inverted, or prone to coming unsnapped? Pipe exits not only offer a tighter seal around tubing, it is attractive as well. Offering upper and lower window panels, versus floor-to-ceiling panels, makes it far easier for the customer to use them. * Is there spray welt along the bottom edge of the windshield to seal out wave spray? * Are there pull loops on the cockpit cover to assist the client when installing the cover? * Are we using stainless steel zipper-stops rather than melting the teeth together at the ends? * Do the flaps have adequate hookand-loop tape to hold them in place? * Was the heat-bent track sealed and re-gauged after installation? Matching the boxing stripes to the upper face of cushions (railroading) creates a higher level of quality in your work. * Did we do our best to ensure protection from the weather while providing ease of operation? These are just 10 details from a list of hundreds that we think about on every job. Are these details ego-driven? Do we consider them because we like spending extra time and effort to do them? No. We do them because we care enough to approach every job as if we owned the boat. Ask yourself, " If this was my boat, how would I want it constructed? " Excellent materials produce excellent projects Over the past 20 years, I have spent many hours addressing the use of proper materials for the job. Reinforcement materials are a good 38 Marine Fabricator | July/Aug 2024