Boat Canvas University — Local services in Atlantic Beach

My husband and I recently attended Johns class. I have a few years of experience sewing Biminis, enclosures, covers, upholstery and more. My husband has absolutely no experience, never stitched a line. I was looking for tips and tricks to speed up my process, my husband was there to shadow out of curiosity. The classes are small (4 students/stations), which I appreciated for the individualized attention. John was able to help if/when needed and or fix bad habits you might not realize you are doing. My husband and I built the top together. He did one side of the top and windshield, and I did the other. The class instruction was so informative that you cannot tell the difference between his and my side, unless you look closely at the stitching. My husband did not feel like he was holding the class up and I did not feel like I was bored. When I had some free time while he was working I would look around and watch how others worked or I would be picking Johns brain. I can not express enough how helpful this class is for both beginners and seasoned sewers/canvas people. The tricks I walked away with, as well as the bonus of my husband now being knowledgeable and confident enough to help me in a bind, is well worth what we paid for the class. We learned to bend frames, pattern and sew a Bimini, windshield and side curtains. After the top was built John has a business class day. If you are serious about wanting to get into this business or further your skills I highly recommend you...

I'd like to start off by saying that I'm walking away from this experience with an entirely new perspective. Any apprehensions I had regarding the skill level I needed to attended John's class were immediately lifted when I arrived. I swear this guy could teach a goat to do this stuff. Along with his son Jake (who by the way is a fantastic fabricator himself) they have developed a super efficient set of easy to follow steps that make the entire process simple. They also keep their classes small and waste zero time glamorizing a bunch of filler content just to put more students in seats. I get that I'm just some nobody here posting a review but I can say this now with total confidence, whether you already have time under a sewing machine or even if you don't, taking their course in its entirety "can and will" open the door to infinite possibilities for you. Life-changing even if you're willing? Because the same principles that he teaches apply and extend way beyond doing just boat canvas your options aren't limited to only this. Restaurants, awnings, gazebo's just to name a few. John and Jake's added support doesn't end when you leave the class either. They want everyone under their BCU umbrella to be a success. I can't say enough good things about this place and super excited...

John is 100% legit. I was skeptical about this course to begin with after seeing his ad on Facebook and reading the comments. The amount of information and knowledge that he shares is stuff you couldn’t gain from 20 years doing it on your own. I had absolutely no sewing or canvas fabrication experience prior to making the trek to Maryland this week. Not only has John managed to teach me to sew, but fabricate quality products. I still have a lot of work and learning to do on my own, however whether you are a novice wanting to gain a skill or a fabricator looking to hone their craft, this is the course for you. Not only is John a knowledgeable, skilled craftsman, he is a no BS teacher. I figured there was no possible way he could teach me to sew in four days. Not only did he teach me to sew, he taught me to sew, maintain my equipment, set me up with the contacts I needed, pattern, fabricate, finish and maintain my work, run my business, all while making a quality product. I suggest anyone who is hesitant, take the plunge. Do it, be ready to have information overload, be ready to learn and ask lots of questions. John will go above and beyond to teach...