Boat Canvas Bootcamp

Having quality canvas aboard your boat helps to protect your investment and make your time on the water as safe and enjoyable as possible. Professionally made marine canvas can be expensive, however, and many canvas shops have long waiting lists.

If you are interested in making or repairing your boat’s canvas, join us for a 1½ day class aimed at orienting you on the tools and techniques needed to produce and repair quality marine canvas for your boat.

• Tools and equipment needed for boat canvas

• Fabric, hardware, and other materials used in marine canvas products

• Sewing machine setup and use

• Basics of measuring and pattering your project

• Construction techniques

• Repair and maintenance of your canvas

The class is structured to be interactive with presentations followed by hands-on labs that cover key topics. Our time together culminates by using many of the techniques taught in class to make a small project to take home.

 

Boat Canvas Bootcamp

Having quality canvas aboard your boat helps to protect your investment and make your time on the water as safe and enjoyable as possible. Professionally made marine canvas can be expensive, however, and many canvas shops have long waiting lists.

If you are interested in making or repairing your boat’s canvas, join us for a 1½ day class aimed at orienting you on the tools and techniques needed to produce and repair quality marine canvas for your boat.

• Tools and equipment needed for boat canvas

• Fabric, hardware, and other materials used in marine canvas products

• Sewing machine setup and use

• Basics of measuring and pattering your project

• Construction techniques

• Repair and maintenance of your canvas

The class is structured to be interactive with presentations followed by hands-on labs that cover key topics. Our time together culminates by using many of the techniques taught in class to make a small project to take home.

 

Cruisers College will take you through the ins and outs of your outboard engine during this 1 day class. Nearly every cruising boat has an outboard powered dinghy, and many fishing/cruising vessels are utilizing these reliable machines for propulsion as well. These motors have been around for a long time and are very dependable if maintained properly. Ethanol in our fuel systems is creating more and more problems for outboard engines. This course will cover the basics for all outboard engines, and will have break out labs all day to practice and build your new skills.

Sample of topics covered:

• Oil Changes
• Fuel care and handling
• Lower unit testing
• Water pump impeller replacement
• Electrical systems
• Routine Maintenance & Tune up
• Winterization

After this course, you will understand how to take proper care of your engine and keep it starting easily.

We’ve been receiving many requests about plumbing, so join us for our first-ever course dedicated to this topic. Spend the day at the Marine Technology Center, where you’ll receive traditional education and practical hands-on practice in the lab. We will start with general knowledge and installations, including tanks. There are many different types of plumbing fittings that a boat owner should be familiar with, including their various types, styles, and applications. We will also cover the different hoses and their specific uses. Once the system is installed, we will discuss pumps and how to move fluids around. Marine sanitation is a key topic onboard most cruising vessels—always an interesting subject. The last hour of the day will be spent discussing reverse osmosis water-making equipment, which many cruisers are curious about and wonder if it’s a good fit for them. In the labs, we’ll conduct several identification exercises with fittings and hoses. There will be demonstrations on tools of the trade, good practices, multiple ways to connect PEX tubing, and more.

This two-day seminar covers all things electrical on your cruising vessel. Through a blend of lecture and hands-on practice you will learn basic electrical system design, installation, troubleshooting, and maintenance. We’ll cover safety, specialized tool use, industry best practices, and more.

Self-sufficiency at sea is truly the key to successful cruising. The more you can fix on your boat yourself, the longer you’re likely to stay out cruising. If you are a cruiser who wants to gain proficiency in troubleshooting, maintaining, and upgrading your marine electrical systems in accordance with ABYC standards, then this is the workshop for you. Sail and powerboat cruisers alike will gain essential knowledge and skills that will pay dividends for years to come.

Through a blend of lecture and hands-on practice you will learn basic electrical system design, installation, troubleshooting, and maintenance. We’ll cover safety, specialized tool use, industry best practices, and more. You will learn how to identify boat electrical components, practice making seaworthy wire terminations, correctly install DC equipment, and how to use a multimeter to save yourself hours of frustration trying to track down “boat gremlins”. Your learning and skill development will culminate with the design, building, and testing of a basic electrical system of your own at the renowned Marine Technology Center lab.

This is an introductory workshop that will prioritize safety, hands-on, applied learning. We welcome learners of all skill levels, especially if you have never picked up a tool or played with a battery before!

You will learn how to:

• Apply basic electrical fundamentals including Ohm’s Law and the Power Equations
• Recognize the differences between series and parallel circuits
• Draw circuit diagrams using basic electrical symbols
• Calculate wire size based on ampacity and voltage drop
• Select appropriate overcurrent protection size, type, and installation location
• Properly route wiring and install strain relief and chafe protection
• Apply recommended color coding for DC and AC wiring on boats

You will get to practice:

• Properly installing the components of a basic DC electrical circuit
• Drawing and working from basic circuit diagrams
• Performing basic DC electrical circuit safety checks
• Applying ABYC standards to evaluate and build circuits
• Choosing and using a variety of specialized electrical tools
• Conducting essential electrical troubleshooting with a multimeter
• Identifying and testing different types of fuses
• Building battery cables
• Testing battery voltages and recognizing their importance
• Building and testing battery banks in parallel and series

Marine upholstery is the art and craft of creating and repairing cushions, seats, covers, and other fabric-based items for boats. In this class, you will learn the fundamentals of marine upholstery, such as how to cut foam, install piping and zippers, and sew durable upholstery fabrics. You will also have the opportunity to work on a small cushion project with guidance from the instructor. By the end of this class, you will have a better understanding of the tools, materials, and techniques used in marine upholstery and will have a new skill that you can use to make your boat more beautiful, comfortable, and functional.

This class includes hands-on sewing with our walking foot sewing machines. Experience with sewing or previous attendance in our Boat Canvas Bootcamp is highly recommended.

We are super excited about our latest boat canvas offering! Here is your opportunity to tackle some canvas repair or construction projects using our equipment and larger project areas at the college. We know of no other opportunity in the country that allows you to fix or make marine canvas without a substantial investment in equipment and with a professional canvas fabricator standing by to answer your questions. Here is how it works:

1. By signing up, you reserve your seat and have access to one of our walking foot sewing machines for the day.
2. When the day begins, we’ll take you through the basic operation of the machine. (If you have attended one of our other classes, this step is optional.)
3. Go to work on your project. Our canvas guy, Mike Reese will be around to answer questions and give you advice. That stated, this is your project, and it is up to you to tackle. It is a great time to hone your sewing skills while making your boat more beautiful, safe and reliable!
4. Mid-day we will have a 1-hour lecture on a marine canvas project. We will also be able to questions as a group.
5. That’s it! Have fun and make something AWESOME!

Important Notes:

• Other than light duty restitching of sails, we are not equipped for large sail repair. This class is designed for boat canvas work only. Contact us is you have questions on if your project is suitable.
• If you want to hone your skills or just get some experience on Sailrite style machines but cannot think of a project to work one, we have found small navigation organizers, equipment covers, companionway hatches and deck hatches as great starter projects.
• Our machines are capable of most marine canvas projects, except for sewing polycarbonate windows (vinyl windows are fine.) Again, sails are outside the scope of this course.
• Since you have only the day to use the machines, plan the project ahead of time and choose tasks that can be done within the day. Our instructor, Mike is willing to chat with you for a brief consultation over the phone for free. Other onsite consulting can be arranged for a small fee to cover his costs.
• If you are repairing existing canvas, make sure it is clean. Dirty canvas can cause damage to the machines.
• We can help you buy raw materials that you will need. Please email us for more information. Otherwise make sure to buy all material for your project. We will provide white V-92 polyester thread and needles for the machines. The rest is up to you.
• Seating is limited. Because you will be reserving equipment, we cannot refund cancellations.

This is an exceptional offer! We sampled costs of having professional marine canvas work and we found many shops will not replace zippers or repair canvas at all. Others had a $300 minimum charge regardless of project because it would take up production time. Others charge $75 to $100 per hour plus materials. Spending $600 – $800 versus our program at a fraction of the cost.

Important note: In order to ensure the best possible results, this class is strictly limited to 8 participants. Sign up early to ensure your seat! We only have 8 machines so every participant has their own machine.

Cruisers College will offer a full weekend course about your diesel propulsion engine. Having your Diesel engine fail while underway can ruin your day. Worse, it could put you and your crew in a dangerous position. In general, marine diesel engines are incredibly reliable. They seem just to need, air, fuel, and water for cooling. You could add electrical power for starting, and you have covered the range of needs for a diesel engine. Most engine problems are due to fuel issues or keeping the engine cool. Using the Marine Tech Centers diesel engine lab, we will work with live diesel engines running where you can walk around the engine and see the different systems. You can look at the injectors and even learn to bleed the engine before starting.

Sample of topics covered:

• Annual and Regular Maintenance:
• Changing the oil and oil filters
• Changing Fuel filters
• Overheating can kill a diesel engine. Make sure your cooling system is maintained regular to avoid overheating and costly repairs.
• There is no warning for salt water incursion in your transmission cooling system. Gear coolers should be inspected it annually and replace or cleaned every 5 years
• Impellers should be inspected annually and replaced every 1-2 years depending on use
• Replacing hoses and belts every five years

Learn how to troubleshoot:

• Electrical systems on your engine for starting or charging.
• Vacuum gauge installation in your fuel system after the primary fuel filter to tell you if the system has a blockage or if the primary filter is dirty from bad fuel or a problem in the tank.

This is one of our most popular courses.. After this weekend course you will have a good understanding of how your diesel engine works and the basic areas for good maintenance and troubleshooting. We have expanded this course to provide more hands-on training utilizing our amazing lab full of parts, training aides, and running diesel engines.

Matt Mardesich is the primary propulsion instructor at Skagit Valley College. Matt has been around the water all his life and still does some commercial fishing when not teaching at the technical school. Matt is an ABYC certified Master Technician and holds certifications in Gasoline/Diesel engines and electrical. Some of the many topics he has done include: diesel engines, gasoline engines, outboard motors, and hydraulics.

In this hands-on workshop for women only, Julie will teach you how to troubleshoot and wire like a pro! If you are a female boater or cruiser who wants to gain proficiency in electrical troubleshooting and wiring, then this is the workshop for you. Sail and powerboat cruisers alike will gain essential knowledge and skills that will pay dividends for years to come. You’ll learn how to identify vessel wiring components, practice making seaworthy wire terminations, and how to correctly use a multimeter. This is an introductory workshop that will prioritize safety and hands-on learning. We welcome learners of all skill levels, especially if you have never picked up a tool or played with a battery before!

In this class you will learn how to:

• Identify the components of a basic DC electrical circuit
• Perform basic electrical circuit safety checks
• Choose and use a variety of electrical tools
• Conduct essential electrical troubleshooting with a multimeter
• Identify and test different types of fuses
• Identify key differences between marine and terrestrial wire and wiring practices

You’ll also get to:

• Try different types of electrical tools
• Start building your cruising toolkit
• Practice using different types of multimeters to learn your favorite
• Practice installing different wire terminations
• Test battery voltages and learn their importance

Are you ready for the next step in your DIY boat canvas journey? Join us for our canvas covers class, where we’ll discuss the design, patterning, and fabrication challenges when making boat and equipment covers. Techniques not covered in our boat canvas boot camp, including sewing darts, Hidden zippers for large panels, and drawstring pockets, will be reviewed.

Please note: Because of the limited time and depth of information to be covered, this class is structured as a lecture with demonstrations by the presenter. Attendees looking to apply the concepts covered in class are encouraged to sign up for the maker space held the next day.

Experience with sewing or previous attendance in our Boat Canvas Bootcamp is highly recommended.Mike is a life-long boater and 30-year veteran of the marine industry. His passion for sailing and powerboating has inspired him to learn as much about boats and marine systems as possible. Mike is a professionally trained Marine Surveyor and Marine Canvas Fabricator. He has seven ABYC Certifications, including Marine Electrical, Corrosion, Systems, Diesel Engines, AC/Refrigeration, and more. In previous roles, Mike has managed sailboat rigging shops and installed & serviced marine systems. He has also worked for many of the industry’s premier manufacturers and suppliers of heating systems, marine hardware, running gear components, and propellers. When not helping his clients, Mike and his wife Linda can be found cruising in Northwest waters on their 40-foot trawler or racing around the buoys on their 30-foot sailboat.

Mike loves sharing his knowledge and passion for boats and hopes to see you soon at one of our many training events.

Speed a weekend learning about your boats diesel engine. A class, by Margaret, designed and taught just for women. Cruisers college will help you understand your diesel engine, the equipment you rely on when out exploring on your boat, and common trouble-shooting techniques for the cruising woman.

For both sailors and powerboaters! This class won’t make you a diesel mechanic. But it will give you basic knowledge of, and hands-on experience with, the engine and related systems needed for cruising in locally. This course reviews many of the things you need to know about your diesel engine and the important trouble-shooting techniques for when things don’t go as planned. This class will review marine diesel and drive train systems that are both the most likely to cause problems as well as being the easiest to fix (or prevent failing). You’ll discover there’s a lot you can do for your engine and drive train that doesn’t require lots of strength or using expensive tools. Attendees will receive example checklists and tool lists to tailor for their own vessels.

Sample of topics covered:

• Safety around engine systems

• How to avoid causing problems by the way you drive and manage your boat

• How to perform daily engine checks, using a sample checklist

• Tools and supplies for daily engine checks and basic repairs

• Basic electrical troubleshooting using a multi-meter

• Replacing raw water impellers

• Checking and changing fuel filters

• When your engine fails: basic diagnostics

This two-day workshop combines the Mahina Offshore Cruising Seminar (180 presented since 1976 to 12,000 sailors) with Skagit Valley College’s Cruisers College top hands-on classes including marine diesel engines and systems, marine electrical systems, plus sail repair, canvas making, sewing and line splicing. Included in the seminar cost of $595 per single or $995 per couple is one copy of the Offshore Cruising Companion, the 260-page textbook which retails for $60. 

This two-day seminar covers all the information you need to plan and prepare to cruise the Inside Passage to Southeast Alaska; including sights, activities, and destinations throughout Northern British Columbia, as well as Southeast Alaska. For this popular seminar, we have 5 instructors over the 2-day course, sharing decades of knowledge covering this extensive territory. This is a magical trip, and we want to help you plan the trip of a lifetime.