Boat Canvas University
Program Options

Boat Canvas University is THE ONLY marine canvas fabrication training program in the country. 

Taught by Master Instructor, John Cavender, with 30+ years experience building and owning his own fabrication company. 

You’re guaranteed to learn everything you’ll need to know to start earning over 100k+ a year in your own business.

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Course Options


  • The Complete Program – $5,500

  • In-Person Workshop – $2,800

  • Video Tutorial Courses – $3,000

Student Testimonials

  • Excellent course! John is a great instructor and I learned a lot while attending his class. It’s very much hands on which helps you learn faster and retain more. I took what I learned and jumped right in and started fabricating bimini tops and enclosures.

    thumb Jeff Ritchie
    August 4, 2022
  • I have bought a few of his courses and found them very good. Being relatively new in the business, they are a great as a reference to go back to when you come across a problem or you haven’t done something for a while. the difference in doing an average job or a good job. Definitely recommend them

    thumb Rob Harrington-Johnson
    November 4, 2021
  • We own a 52 foot Hatteras which needed new canvas and strataglass. Not too many people provide this service and the estimate was about $20,000! We decided to do it ourselves. We bought the courses from Boat Canvas University, a industrial strength sewing machine and all the materials and went to work. The total cost to do it ourselves was about $7,000. We couldn’t have done it without BCU! The courses are easy to follow. We had some questions so we called John. We were very surprised that he answered the phone and was happy to answer all our questions, he was extremely helpful. We have received a lot of compliments on our canvas. Many people have asked us to do it for them but we are retired and don’t want to start a new business.

    thumb Wade Hensley
    November 4, 2021
  • We found John Cavender website BoatCanvasUniversity.com to be very professional, educational and easy to follow, highly recommended We will attend one of his workshop for sure if we visit the USA in the future

    thumb William Massart Diamond Ingenious Sdn Bhd
    November 4, 2021
  • John has a great process of patterning, and constructing an enclosure! This class gave me the skills and confidence to start my own business! He is responsive to emails and texts, and his video content is great. If you’re interested in starting out in your own business this is a must! Thanks John

    thumb Bob Quale
    November 4, 2021
  • I’m a lifetime Boater and I took the course about a year and a half ago. Don’t think about it just sign up and take the course, you won’t regret it. John’s knowledge, expertise, professionalism, and teaching skills are great. The small classes makes a great teaching and learning environment. The end result is something you can take and start or improve your own business. Well worth the time and money.

    thumb Bill Nelson
    November 4, 2021
  • Johns workshop was crucial to me starting up my canvas shop. His teaching is great and has helped me along the way even since the class. Can’t imagine what I would have done without John.

    thumb Lorin Sawyer
    November 4, 2021
  • Found the online training videos very informative. I’m just getting started in marine canvas and this was the perfect place to start. John is a natural teacher and guides you through the steps and is humble enough to show a few mistakes too. You can tell John can do these jobs lightning fast, but slows them down so you can follow along. Buy materials and start practicing!

    thumb serious eiken
    November 4, 2021
  • John is a thorough, patient, and fantastic teacher! And the guy has a great down to earth sense of humor! I started with his video package earlier this year and learned so much that I wasn’t sure the in person workshop was necessary. I was wrong! I’m glad I didn’t stop at the videos. Being in person and hands on with John is invaluable. He takes his time answering questions and guides you in a way that you get to see your mistakes and understand how to avoid them in the future. Thanks John!

    thumb T.J. Pera
    October 4, 2022
  • Really enjoyed attending his week along class. very nice work shop and John is great person , along with his father I learned a lot from his class. Started watching his videos on his old web site, Then when he changed to his new web site, I could never get back in to finish watching them. However the ones I have watched made it easy to keep up with what I learned in his class. plus it great as a refresher because I don’t do canvass every day.

    thumb J R DeBaun
    November 4, 2021

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