Marine Fabricator July/August 2021 - 33

offers an upholstery program, including
an auto and boat upholstery course.
" My instructor would bring a variety
of upholstered items to class. Then we'd
take them apart and talk about the best
ways to fi x them, " says Stockburger,
who took all the upholstery classes
available at TCC and spent a lot of time
working in the shop.
Stockburger and her husband continue
to apply this knowledge daily at Salty
Cushions. Word-of-mouth advertising
and Salty Cushion's Facebook page have
helped the business thrive. " It's just the
two of us, so we're really selective about
the clients we serve, " says Stockburger, a
former BERNINA Club sewing instructor.
" Our greatest business strength is
our collective knowledge. "
Seeking connections
The Stockburgers derive knowledge
from a variety of sources, including
trusted mentors Dave Elliott, MFC,
owner of David's Custom Trimmers
in Wakerley, Queensland, Australia;
Deb and Mark Hood, MFC, owners
of Hood Canvas LLC in Merrimac,
Mass.; and Steve Szenay, technical support
manager with Serge Ferrari North
America in Deerfi eld Beach, Fla.
" While a lot of fabricators stick with the
tried and true, my mentors encourage me
to try new things, " Stockburger says.
One example is silicone leather, which
Stockburger learned about at IFAI Expo
2018. This hospital-grade vinyl is nonporous,
has no off-gassing and is easy to
clean. And while it isn't inexpensive, it is
a safe product, especially for people with
breathing issues or allergies. " This fabric
looks and feels great, " Stockburger says.
" It doesn't get hot when you sit on it. You
could sleep directly on silicone leather,
and it's still comfortable. "
Using the right needles is just as important
as selecting the right fabric, and
for Stockburger, IFAI Expo has been
a good place to connect with vendors
www.marinefabricatormag.com | 33
TRANSFORMING THE LIGHTNING
O
ne of Salty Cushions'
unique projects involves
the M/V Lightning. It
was originally built by Maxweld
Boats as a research vessel and
was refurbished in 2019 by Bay
Weld Boats of Homer, Alaska.
Now a 44-foot catamaran, it has
a U.S. Coast Guard certifi cate of
inspection for 18 passengers and
a crew of two.
Salty Cushions of Homer
transformed a seating area from
two benches into a wraparound
settee. The client also wanted
custom-built cushions for belowdeck
bunks, along with fabric
panels. Monica Stockburger,
Salty Cushions' co-owner, knew
this boat needed high-quality
fabric that could withstand
years of use. She selected Serge
Ferrari Stamskin One for its
durability and stain resistance,
and because its rich color
perfectly complemented the
exterior paint and design
elements of the vessel.
After the catamaran was
overhauled, it was leased to a
European millionaire as a tender
to the client's mega yacht
for the duration of his stay in
southeast Alaska.
" We thought it would be
a once-and-done project, "
Stockburger says. " This client
is now talking about getting a
second boat, and they want to
work with Salty Cushions again.
It's exciting to help deliver an
amazing fi nal product. "
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