Potomac Canvas Company

07/02/2023

If it’s July it’s that time of year! Word has it there will be a Rock’in time on the River.
July 29th DJ Chris opens it up at 11:30 with Messenger Dance Party and then the Road Ducks wrapping up at 5:00

Come rock your yacht!
Rock Island (Holiday Island)

05/08/2022

Another polycarbonate enclosure

05/08/2022

Sometimes a little extra shade is all you need.

04/26/2021

Sea Ray 390 Sundancer. 60 gauge polycarbonate up front is like looking through glass. Strategically positioned zippers on aft enclosure allow the owner to quickly open panels for ingress/egress instead of rolling up.

04/08/2021

Full cover for a 2021 Zodiac Open 7. Ratchet straps cinch it nice and snug. Top edges attach to top frame with straps to eliminate the need to drill and install fasteners.

09/10/2020

It's with sad hearts we share the passing of Synthia Briggs. A wonderful mother, grandmother, partner and friend.

She was the first employee of Potomac Canvas Co. A dedicated, hard worker, she never liked to be idle. She was tiny and tough, often suffering through ailments resulting from childhood illnesses, refusing to let them hold her back. She had an infectious laugh and a caring spirit. Her hands touched thousands of the covers on boats in the local community. A legacy known to few, but her mark on the world just the same.

It was a pleasure sharing that portion of life with her. She will be missed.

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/stafford-va/synthia-briggs-9349518

Celebrate the life of Synthia Briggs, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of Mullins & Thompson Funeral Service.

04/30/2020

Clarification on boating for VA residents in MD waters

https://chesapeakebaymagazine.com/md-updates-boating-restrictions-va-boating-remains-legal/

On the Chesapeake Bay, two governors’ executive orders have created two very different guidelines for boating during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Maryland, pleasure boaters must stay off the water except…

04/18/2020

The finishing touch

This little jewel was handbuilt from a "stitch and glue" kit. It's a Core Sound 2.0. the builder needed that little finishing touch and we were happy to help him out. We even put in a "sunroof" so he could stand up and reach lines instead of opening windows.

04/18/2020

Online carpet?

When you buy snap-in carpet online, you're taking a gamble. These examples were supplied by customers for us to install. Do you see the problems?

The first is obvious. This is serious lack of quality control from the supplier. Really? They couldn't take 30 seconds to align the stripes?

The second example is one we warn our customers about. See how the carpet won't reach the snaps? There are companies that have patterns they made from existing carpet or patterns they made off another boat. There are two problems here. First, carpet shrinks so the pattern from old carpet can be undersized. Second, not all carpet and related fasteners are installed by the same person. In order to have the proper carpet set made you need the OEM pattern or create a pattern from the boat the carpet will be installed on.

We will not make any exceptions at Potomac Canvas. We want the job to go smooth for us and our customers.

04/18/2020

Makeover

Same boat, new owner. What a difference a color change can make

04/18/2020

A little lesson on being prepared

This 41' motoryacht was a victim of a heavy snowfall while the owner was out of town. It was the result of too much weight for the frame. As you can see, the frame legs were bent outward. That affected the overall frame dimensions and caused the bimini and enclosure to become saggy. Fortunately, we were able to reshape the frame and restore the fit of the canvas. Others have not been so lucky.

We don't recommend leaving your canvas up in the off-season. The weather is too unpredictable and the cold is especially hard on the clear window vinyl. We do understand some of our customers actually spend time on their boats year-round. If so, stay aware of forecasts and plan ahead. A rough winter means long wait times at the canvas shop in the spring.

04/18/2020

Not just another pretty cover

We hate drilling unnecessary holes in boats. With many available fastener styles, we can often install them on lower windshield frames instead of the hull. We did that for this over-windshield cockpit cover. The appearance is much cleaner with the cover on and off.

At Potomac Canvas we care about your investment. More holes increase the chance of developing a leak. If we do drill a hole rest assured it is caulked before a fastener is installed.

04/18/2020

Tired of climbing

The original cover on this Grady walk-around was a pain for the customer at his personal dock. With no stern platform, he would snap the cover on from back to front and climb over the rail to get off the boat. A serious safety issue.

We included a side zipper on the new cover. This allows him to snap the cover on from the cockpit area, easily insert the support poles and step off from a much lower position.

At Potomac Canvas we not only consider your comfort but your safety as well. We factor in how your boat is used and moored with the type of cover you want. If we expect a safety issue we will devise a way to eliminate the issue if possible.

04/18/2020

A couple of design tricks.

The owners of this Sea Ray were generally happy with the original canvas. However, they wanted a little more forward visibility and easier access from the aft platform.

Typically these tops have a pass-thru panel in the center to match the hinged center window. We made that section wider to open in front of the helm.

Usually, the aft curtain needs to be unsnapped to board from the stern. In the new curtain we installed a separating vertical zipper and positioned the horizontal zipper so it opens outward. This acts as a door so the curtain can stay attached.

Sometimes it doesn't take much to make life easier.

04/18/2020

Claustrophobia solved!

This older Sea Ray had the low profile factory convertible top that passed under the arch. The owner was tall and never felt comfortable with the original top design. Fortunately, we were able to rotate the front frame 180° which allowed a conversion to a taller bimini and saved the customer money because he didn't need a new frame.

We installed track on the arch fore and aft to raise the bimini at the rear and add a camper top to provide continuous shade over the deck.

The result was -

1) More headroom
2) Better visibility
3) Better ventilation
4) Increased usable deck area
5) Updated appearance
6) Easier serviceability since the front and rear are independent of each other

At Potomac Canvas we think about much more than "Make me a new top". We strive to make our services fit you and how you use your boat.