Best Coast Canvas

I ordered a Verksted Apron (and a sailmaker's palm) from Best Coast Canvas based on the review of the apron by Chris Cunningham in Small Boats Monthly, like one of the other reviewers. The review was indeed glowing, the apron looked like just what I was looking for to replace one I'd got years ago from the WoodenBoat Store.nnI hadn't heard of Best Coast before that, but the stuff on the website was really drool-worthy... I restrained myself, though, and just ordered the apron and palm (but wow the Norse Vest looks awesome!). Anyhow, I put my order in on August 11, and got an email from Leah on August 17 that the order had shipped (which really surprised me - I was hoping for sometime in September). Received it with no problem Aug 31 - it had to cross the border into Canada, which always slows things down a bit.nnWhen I opened the box, the first thing that struck me was the care taken in packaging - both the apron and the palm were wrapped separately in old charts, tied with waxed cord. Even I could see that the sender took great pride in her work. Grin. My spouse grabbed the charts; she has plans for them... they might become origami gulls...nnThe sailmaker's palm is well made, and will do what I need it to do. And it'll last forever, it looks like. So no worries there at all - a good tool.nnBut the apron - wow. A beautiful piece of work. The fabric has a great hand, the stitching is impeccable, and the little touches - like the reinforcements for the grommets - are spot on. The pocket distribution and variety is excellent. Clearly a lot of thought - and experience, I suspect - went into this design. The care in construction, the quality of everything - this apron will definitely outlast me!nnAnd it works! Have you ever put something on and it just fits perfectly? A bit of adjustment on the rope tie, and it fit like a glove. Moves with me just right, and I don't notice I'm wearing it - was out of the shop heading towards the house tonight when I realized I still had it on. And the rope ties work just fine, so my initial skepticism about whether they would be comfortable was completely unfounded.nnLike good tools, you get what you pay for when you buy something like this apron. I highly recommend it, and would not hesitate to order something else from Best Coast. In fact, reading some of the other reviews I'm sorely tempted...nnA tip of the hat to Leah for her amazing design and execution, and another to Chris Cunningham over at Small Boats for his review and pointing me in the right direction!nnFrom land-locked Alberta,nBob Luth

Signed up for an online class with Best Coast Canvas to make a hand sewn deck bucket. Some of the best aspects of the class for me was how to choose the materials, their history and how to use them, filling in the gaps of all the little things that are left out of descriptions in other sources of how to do this work and how to apply what is learned from making a bucket to other aspects of canvas work up to and including sailmaking.nThe best part was being able to see the movements demonstrated in the most efficient/right way. Being taught the right way to do something from someone who knows is so valuable. I think the class has given me the confidence and enough understanding to be able to use all the other resources out there to tackle more challenging projects. Highly recommended to anyone, at any skill level. Thank you Leah!

I first learned about Best Coast Canvas while researching a dodger for my sailboat. I had looked at dodgers from other (some well-known) makers, but had not found the combination of design and builder that spoke to me. I saw an ad for Best Coast Canvas in the Northwest sailing magazine ’48 North,’ and was very impressed with the dodger designs I saw on their website. I was also quite intrigued with their ‘Canvas for People’ – a line of traditionally-inspired canvas garments designed by the inimitable proprietress of Best Coast Canvas, Leah Kefgen.nnI arranged a shop visit to talk/look at dodgers and garments. Leah had a beautiful display dodger in the workshop. I immediately noted some really thoughtful design details that I had not seen before (like clew-patch-style reinforcement at areas of higher stress, and chafe protection at critical, but often overlooked locations). I could tell that much thought went into maximizing visibility while reducing visual ‘bulk’ (so many dodgers look like boxes just dropped onto the boat). Leah not only has a real eye for design, but plenty of experience offshore to inspire and inform her functional choices. The workmanship was amazing, and if you are thinking “of course it would be on a display model,” I can tell you that I have since seen many other examples of her work – she does not compromise on quality!nnAfter returning home, I called Leah to place a dodger order, and asked if she could just measure one of the several sisterships to my boat there in the local yard. She politely informed me that, no, I would have to bring my boat because she not only wanted to see every detail of rigging and layout, but also to evaluate my body fit relative to the dodger dimensions. Really? None of the other companies I had spoken with seemed to think of body fit! So I am now planning the 1000 mile trip to Port Townsend for a dodger measurement!nnDuring my shop visit, I also got to try on her signature ‘Pacific Norse Vest’ – a beautiful and very unique wool-lined waxed canvas vest inspired by Norwegian folk garments. I fell in love with this design from her website, but it was trying it on that made me really want one! I was able to select both the shell color and the wool lining from samples she had in the shop (which was not easy with so many striking wool choices). My finished vest arrived by post a few weeks later, and I just don’t want to take it off! It is easily my favorite piece of clothing, and it truly is, as Leah suggests, an heirloom-quality piece.nnMore recently, I ordered one of their ‘Verksted Aprons’ after reading a glowing review in ’Small Boats Magazine'. It is full of fun design details, and I find it has the optimal placement of pockets for those critical tools that I am always laying down and/or misplacing in piles of sawdust. The quality is, as I have come to expect, amazing.nnFinally, and for entertainment during the recent ‘Shelter In Place’ times, I ordered a ‘Canvas Deck Bucket Kit' as well as some tools necessary to complete from the Best Coast Canvas website. While the bucket is a well designed and functional item in itself, I found the real benefit for me was in learning many of the skills used in sewing traditional sails. I might have managed alone with the excellent included instructions, but am really happy that I signed up for Leah’s online workshop where we did the entire process together as a class on Skype. Leah is not only a master canvas worker, but also does things like rig tall ships, make sails, and build traditional Norwegian wooden boats in her spare time! She is a joy to work with, and a very patient and kind teacher. I highly recommend both the kit and the class!nnSo yes, I am an unabashed fan of Best Coast Canvas. For me, it is the combination of design, attention to detail and quality, use of sustainable materials whenever possible, and the rare opportunity to support someone ‘local’ who does truly amazing work while contributing to the welfare of the local community.

Leah Kefgen @Bestcoastcanvas is a passionate and incredibly skilled canvas worker. Together with the carefully assembled pdf to follow along and her patient and radiant responses every challenge was taken care of.nnThe workshop provides the best possible foundation and to improve it is up to me to keep practicing what we have learned.nnDuring the class i learned that everything is possible and with a little practice and guidance you can do it too. You don't need a sewing machine or years of training. Of course the first tries are not the prettiest but it comes with practice.nThe skills learned are versatile and can be applied on different items!nnThank you very much!nnAladino from Sailing Magic Carpet