Marine Fabricator January/February 2023 - 22

multiple on-site repairs, pickups and
installations. To make that happen, he
keeps his tools and materials carefully
organized into eight separate crates.
That allows him to meet clients onsite
before completing tasks like measuring,
patterning, marking and cutting
on board, then transporting all the elements
back to his home-based shop for
the sewing and detail work. His business
serves the Greater Cleveland area and
much of northeast Ohio, including most
of the Lake Erie shoreline.
" I'm on the higher end, and everyone
This customized F-150 pickup truck features
multiple storage units in addition to a rack
that enables Charlie Kees, the owner of
Mister Sew-N-Sew Custom Boat Canvas, to
transport boat frames as needed. Photo:
Mister Sew-N-Sew Custom Boat Canvas
He adds that business has been absolutely
booming.
" We have such a shortage in this fi eld, "
he says. " Nobody wants to do canvas
work, so the volume of demand is very
high. People who wanted boat covers in
July didn't get them until Thanksgiving.
People didn't like hearing that, but it's
the economy and the time that we're in. "
Kissel Boat Covers:
" Getting rid of my storefront
was my best move "
At Kissel Boat Covers LLC of North
Olmstead, Ohio, owner John Kissel has
outfi tted his truck to be able to handle
knows that, " he says. " But I get work because
people know what they're going
to get-service and quality. "
An industry veteran of 48 years, Kissel
notes that his brother once operated an
even better-equipped mobile shop that
enabled on-site sewing at marinas. The
problem was that once he set up to help
established clients, he was overwhelmed
with requests from other boat owners
who saw him working and tried to immediately
enlist him for their own projects.
" I like to sneak in and out, " says
Kissel, who has always run his business
independently. " I like to have my
privacy. The really mobile guys have
sewing machines, and they do it right,
but I'm a really lucky guy because I get
ADVICE FROM A MOBILE VETERAN
ADVICE FROM A MOBILE VETERAN
A
sked what helpful information he might share
with newcomers to the mobile fabrication biz,
Rick Berkey of Rick's Custom Marine Canvas and
Sail Repair offers the following thoughts:
* Consider the size of the boats that make up
most of your business. Products for larger
boats may be nearly impossible to complete
without access to large-scale worktables.
* Think about whether you could get your work
done in a van or delivery truck, or whether you
really need the space offered by a big-box truck.
22 Marine Fabricator | January/February 2023
ine Fabricator
y 2023
* Check whether the marinas in which you'd
be working allow outside fabricators to
park there. Typically, if they accept boat
mechanics, they'll accept marine fabricators.
* Draw walk-in traffi c by making sure regular
and prospective customers can recognize
your vehicle. " That's defi nitely helped me
on the marketing side, " he notes. " I don't
advertise in anything except for one free
magazine, and I've been backlogged. "
Marine Fabricator January/February 2023

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