Filling in the Gap - Canvas Art

Our dodger cuts SOME wind and seaspray so long as you huddle under it. The bimini is much wider and while providing good shade, if it's rainy, the cockpit is not the sheltered space we'd like it to be due to a lack of overlap. Wet and windy wins the day. A recently created crude solution which was a band of canvass resting atop the dodger and bimini to fill the gap was not elegant but effective. Effective enough in fact, to confirm that a permanent solution could be a game changer.

After being 'splashed in' after 5 days on the hardstand at The Boatworks we were allocated a berth alongside another (albeit larger) Jeanneau. The solution to our gap problem was staring at us. Yes, yes, yes. It's the answer we'd been seeking for 6 years!

SV Squander

Their gap was neatly filled offering shelter while still allowing visibility under way.

Bearing in mind we were on the cusp of leaving for New Caledonia, the delay to departure presented an almost once-in-lifetime opportunity. On the recommendation of our sailing sister, Leanne from Easy Tiger, Russell from Broadwater Boat Upholstery was contacted. Stars aligned. He would  and could fit us in. We confess to being glad of the departure postponement.

We cut short our enjoyment of Tipplers Retreat on South Stradbroke Island and raced into Hope Island Marina where we'll likely remain pending a firming of timing for departure to New Caledonia.

Russell was on the jetty first thing, patiently awaiting our arrival. He even caught our lines which was a new experience for him. He intended completing the job in a single day, commencing with taking our dodger and bimini away to sew on the zips. This was brilliant news and timing considering Queensland weather predictions are for of an upper level trough to deliver 'rainegeddon' by weeks end.

Exposing all the metal frame promoted the opportunity to clean and polish the associated metalwork into #1 spot ahead of sploshing the decks. A first for The Bloke, who generally starts his day with a good deck sluicing. He has learned BTW to check our cabin hatch prior to commencement since noticing my mood swings when a bucket full of seawater wets our bedding. Connecting with his feminine inner self perhaps?

Right on schedule, as the last bit of chrome began to shine, Russell was back. The zippers were on and lots of seams re-stitched for good measure. He began templating his shape and then declared he'd be back in 4 hours.

   

4 hours later Russell was back with a really small looking roll of stuff under his arm and a couple of small fixing tools in hand. This job must have been like cutting diamonds - small, fiddly and with many facets.

   

This was without doubt a nasty little job with it's multiple zippers and details. It's going to be a game changer for us and the small and thoughtful extras Russell added in this piece will give us much pleasure to operate and to look at too. Voila - canvas art!

   

We had a problem gap. But now we don't.

Thank you Russell, may your business thrive and prosper. Professionalism personified and an absolute pleasure to deal with. Bravo! www.Broadwaterboatupholstery.com.au +61 406 077 317