ABOUT US

Phillips Sailmakers was founded more than 30 years ago by sailor Larry Phillips who turned a childhood passion for racing dinghies into a lifelong profession of designing, creating and manufacturing products that would withstand the rigors of the sea and the salt air of The Bahamas.

Today, Phillips Sailmakers is the largest sail and marine canvas shop in The Bahamas and is believed to be the largest in the Caribbean region.

Its work can be seen from the sails of cruising yachts to the enclosure curtains of mega-yachts, from retractable awnings at residences at Ocean Club Estates and Lyford Cay to umbrellas, enclosures, patio furniture and awnings at resorts including Sandals, Atlantis, the British Colonial Hilton and Marley Resort.

Despite its growth, its staff of 16 measurers, sewers, welders and installers are still guided by the vision, drawings, skill and careful engineering eye of Phillips, a man as comfortable with aerodynamics and the finer points of what makes a racing sail perform as he is with the daily bread-and-butter work of marine upholstery or residential and resort awnings.

Every job is custom. Every customer deserves and receives personal attention.

Phillips Sailmakers started in a shipyard, insider an abandoned large metal shed with a heavy roll-up door and a single donated machine.

Like many independent start-up sail lofts, Phillips Sailmakers opened with a few bolts of cloth and a host of dreams. But this dream was a bit different.

A staff of 16 and more than 30 years later, Phillips Sailmakers

• is the largest sail loft in the region
• is one of the largest awning manufacturers in the region
• operates out of its own 8,500 square foot purpose-built building
• supplies custom products at prices competitive with US prices made possible by Government-approved status
• is certified by the Government of The Bahamas under the Industries Encouragement Act, legislation that allows bona fide light industry manufacturers to import materials duty free
• maintains substantial inventory in Dacron, Kevlar, Mylar, Spinnaker cloth (Nylon), Sunbrella, Phifertex, Vivatex, Dickson, canvas bag cloth, clear vinyl.

Four work stations with capability of handling main sail with 100-foot luff

Fully-stocked awning division

Stainless steel & aluminum welding equipment and staff

Several members of crew/staff have been with the company for more than 20 years.

Three members of staff are certified by the American Welding Society following AWS training and testing.