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Boats are an expensive investment albeit a good one that every boat owner will enjoy and make good investments from thanks in no small part to the number of persons that can be carried along and the variety of fun that it brings.
However, boats depreciate over time due to continuous usage and this affects different parts of the boat including the boat seats.
Over time, the seats of the boat may start to show signs of wear and tear which would require you to change the upholstery of the seats.
Upholstering boat seats may seem quite a difficult task but in fact, it is quite an easy task that can be done by anyone especially if you follow our step-by-step guide which can save you a whole lot of money.
This article provides a guide on how to reupholster your boat seats and also shows you how you can identify if your seats need full reupholstery rather than simple repairing.
How to identify if you have to upholster an old seat
Boat seats are exposed to a lot of harsh outdoor weather elements such as extreme sunlight and rain as well saltwater constantly which leads to an inevitable depreciation of the upholstery.
Most times when it is noticed, the concluding decision is to immediately carry out a full reupholstery or to change the seats completely if possible.
Sometimes, however, the seats may only require simple repairing to get them back to top-tier condition hence why it is important to know how to identify if you have to upholster an old seat or just carry out simple repairing.
Check the helm of the boat seat for damaged or rotten wood
It is important to carefully look out for damaged foam, or rotten wood at the corner of the seat. If they are starting to rot, then you need to replace them before the whole seat collapses.
Once the wood is starting to rot, the moisture begins to affect the foam also meaning that you may have to change the foam as well.
If the wood and foam are still in good condition then there is no need to upholster the old seat.
Check the size and location of the tear
Large and long tears usually require that you upholster the seat because a simple repair would not be able to restore the upholstery to top condition.
Also, if the tear is located at a position where it cannot be easily accessible for repair, then you will have to upholder the old seat.
Check the color of the upholstery
Depending on the quality of the upholstery, you might need to upholster an old seat. Some colors get affected by saltwater and extreme weather conditions making it difficult to return it to its original tone even if repainted.
Items that you will need in this process
If you have ascertained that you do not really have to upholster an old seat and can instead carry out a simple repair to restore the quality of the seat, then you need to get a repair kit to help you carry out the job.
Below is a suggestion of items that you will need to carry out the repair process;
303 Marine Aerospace Protectant
The 303 Marine Aerospace Protectant is a versatile multi-purpose spray that restores and maintains a like-new appearance, color, and texture on different surfaces such as vinyl, synthetic and natural rubber, stainless steel, PVC, fiberglass, and plastic.
What’s more, the 303 Marine Aerospace protectant offers great protection against harmful UV rays from the sunlight and also repels dirt and dust. When applied, the spray dries to a smooth finish without leaving behind any oily or greasy residue.
BOSTITCH Upholstery Stapler/Tacker (T6-8)
For small-size tears, you will need a stapler to stitch up the tear and hold the upholstery back in the original shape.
The BOSTITCH Upholstery Stapler is a top-quality stapler that features a unique patented easy squeeze mechanism that allows for easy stapling. It is engineered with nickel-plated steel and a convenient bottom feature to allow you to load the staples easily and provide a smooth surface for the staple to slide through.
With its steel handle with over-molded rubber grip providing comfort, the BOSTITCH stapler also has a lightweight die-cast aluminum design that allows you to carry it around without any worry about excess weight.
VViViD White Weatherproof Faux Leather Finish Marine Vinyl Fabric
The VViViD White Weatherproof Faux Leather Finish Marine Vinyl Fabric features a heavy-duty weatherproof film that is fully waterproof, dirt, scratch, grime, and UV resistant.
This fabric is typically an excellent fit for boat seats as it is natural leather textured vinyl with 100% Polyester Mesh Backing.
The tough and durable vinyl fabric cannot easily be scratched or cut which makes it a perfect option for repairing cuts and tears made to the upholstery on old seats.
3M Leather and Vinyl Repair Kit 08579
The 3M Leather and Vinyl Repair Kit is a multipurpose tool that repairs cuts, burns, and tears in vinyl and automotive leather on various surfaces including boat seats, car seats, motorcycle seats, and dashboards.
The kit contains supplies, tools, and detailed directions to assist you in making the repair process easier.
Impressively, the kit includes 7 color mixable repair compounds, a heat transfer tool, textured grain papers, vinyl adhesive, mixing cups, and an applicator tool.
The 3M Leather and Vinyl repair kit is an affordable kit that you can purchase to repair minor damage such as patching holes and repainting the seat.
Foam Touch Upholstery Cushion Medium Density Standard
The Foam Touch Upholstery Cushion Medium Density Standard is a high-quality seat replacement or foam padding that provides the right amount of cushion and stiffness with its soft but firm nature.
Without compressing too much and still returning to its original thickness, the foam has a firm compression with a 100% recovery rate to provide support for any individual that sits on the foam.
- Screwdriver
- Electric knife/ Scissors
Step by Step process of reupholstering boat seats
Below is a step-by-step process to help you reupholster your seats easily and appropriately;
1. Remove and inspect the seat
Before beginning your upholstering procedure, you have to remove the old seat and inspect the seat. Primarily, this is to inspect the seat to check for rotting wood or foam inside the seat before changing the cover of the boat seat.
You certainly do not want to replace the vinyl cover of the seat only to have them spoiling soon and then discover that it was caused by rotten wood or foam.
When removing the seats, you have to ensure that you do that carefully and to do this, you will need to remove the bolts and screw holding the seat to the attachment at the top of the pedestal.
However, if the base of the seat is held with other types of fasteners such as the hook-and-loop fastener, be sure to look for the snaps and clips that hold it in place and unsnap or unclip them.
You can then proceed to inspect the wood beneath and around the seat. If you notice any signs of the wood rotting, you will need to replace the seat.
Next, inspect the condition of the foam inside the upholstery. Any signs of damage or moisture mean that it will need to be replaced.
Tip:
If the wood below is rotten, there is a high probability that the foam would be rotting as well because the moisture may have made it to the seat.
2. Get the precise measurements
This is the most vital part of the reupholstering process as without getting the precise measurement, you will not get the best result at the end of the process.
To make the measurement process easier and more precise, it is best to remove the current cover of the seat as well as the foam padding if necessary.
After removing the vinyl, lay it on the floor and measure it to get the precise measurement. If the foam padding is to be changed, also lay it out flat on the floor and measure it.
Tip:
To remove the cover of the seat, make sure you check to know how it is fixed to the seat. Sometimes, you may need to use a screwdriver to remove the existing staples from underneath the seat.
3. Buy the right-sized vinyl and foam
When you have the right measurement of your vinyl and foam, the next step is to purchase the right one you need.
The best way to buy vinyl, especially marine vinyl, is to order online because it is harder to find them in local shops.
Online shops such as Amazon for example have a variety of vinyl and foam products that are available for individuals to purchase.
When making your choice on which product to purchase, be sure to look for quality vinyl products that are durable, tough, water-resistant, and UV resistant.
With the variety of options available on online shops including Amazon, your choice of foam should depend on if the foam has a firm compression, is durable, easy to cut, and is fire retardant.
It is also important that you choose a color that matches the current vinyl color of the seat to ensure continuity in the color of the boat seat. Darker color shades of vinyl typically absorb heat which would make it uncomfortable for anyone sitting on it.
The AK Trading Upholstery foam is a great choice of foam to purchase online. The foam is a quality upholstery foam with premium high cushion density and a 100% recovery rate.
It is fire retardant, lasts up to 7 years, and comes in roll sizes which you can then easily cut into any size with scissors or an electric knife.
Tip:
Before selecting any choice of foam check out the compression to be sure it has the right sink you want in your seats when anyone seats on it.
4. Straighten your marine vinyl before cutting
Marine vinyl is often manufactured and delivered in rolls. However, you cannot cut the vinyl while it’s still rolled out as this would affect you when you’re stretching it over the seat.
Instead, you have to straighten it before applying and this can be done by unrolling it and laying it down on the floor in the sun for about half an hour with some weights holding it down at the ends.
5. Cut Vinyl and foam using your measurements
After receiving the vinyl and foam, the next step is to cut them. Using the previous measurements taken from the old seat, place the vinyl cover you cut out on top of the new vinyl sheet you just purchased.
Then use a marking pencil to trace around it as close as possible to get the precise size and shape required for the seat cover.
For the foam, you will need to cut just a bit more than the previous measurement taken when cutting. This is simply done to add an extra cushioning feel to the seat.
If the foam is very thick, you will not be able to cut it with a pair of sewing scissors. Instead, you will need to use an electric knife or Stanley knife to cut it.
Tip:
When cutting the extra for the foam, be careful not to cut too much otherwise you will struggle to fit the foam into the seat.
6. Start Assembling the seat
The next step is to begin assembling the seat. Simply place the vinyl on a flat surface and then lay the foam onto the cover and right on top of it the seat base.
It is important to make sure that the foam is placed at the center of the vinyl cover.
7. Pull the vinyl tight and staple it
With the seat assembled in front of you, pick up the front of the vinyl cover and pull it across the wooden base of the seat. Make sure that you pull it very tightly to ensure that it fits the shape of the foam without having gaps and bumps.
Then you can take your stapler and use it to attach the vinyl to the wood. To ensure that the front vinyl is kept in shape and tightly stretched, punch in a couple of staples to keep it in position.
You can then begin to staple the remaining parts of the cover with a spacing of 1-2 centimeters to make it more secure.
When you are done with the front area, you can then proceed to repeat the stapling process with the back area of the seat cover with the vinyl pulled as tightly as possible.
Finally, you can then proceed to the sides of the seat and staple the vinyl cover tightly with the spacing recommended above.
At the end of this process, your new vinyl cover should be well stapled in place and your new seat ready and available for use.
However, the stapling method is not the only method of attaching a vinyl cover to the seat. There is also the sewing method.
The stapling method however is much easier than the sewing method as it does not require you to have any sewing skills and can be carried out by anyone. This is why I would recommend the stapling method oversewing or any other process.
8. Apply the vinyl protectant to the cover
The last step is to apply vinyl protectant to the cover you just attached to the seat. This is to extend the lifetime of the cover by protecting it against UV rays, preventing premature aging and cracking, and keeping the seat more weather-treated.
A great vinyl protectant product you can purchase to apply to your vinyl cover is the 303 Marine Aerospace Protectant.
Typical costs for reupholstering yourself
Before deciding to reupholster your boat seats, you have to decide if it is entirely necessary and also more important if you have the financial capacity to reupholster your seats.
Reupholstering your boat seats can be quite pricey depending on your budget however, there are two ways to reupholster; either you reupholster yourself or you pay an upholstery shop to carry it out for you.
Below is an estimated cost of reupholstering your boat seats by yourself;
| Material needed | Cost of purchase |
| Marine Vinyl | $20 per yard |
| Foam cushions (72” x 24” x 2”) | $30 to $40 |
| Staple Gun | $30 to $50 |
| Sewing machine | $800 to $1000 |
The purchase price of certain materials is dependent on certain factors. For example, the cost of foam cushions is based on the size of the boat seat you have. You can expect to pay higher for a bigger-sized cushion foam and less for a smaller-sized cushion foam.
The sewing machine as well is not necessarily required as you can utilize a staple machine instead.
The total cost of reupholstering your boat seats yourself is also determined by how much material you need to purchase as well.
Typical costs of paying an upholstery shop
The costs of paying an upholstery shop to carry out your boat seat upholstery vary based on the company you are employing to carry out the services for you.
Different upholstery shops have different prices for their services and although it may seem quite pricey compared to carrying out your upholstery by yourself, you will be getting professional services without the worry of trying to upholster by yourself.
Be sure to check out and compare the prices of different upholstery shops before deciding on an upholstery shop to go with.
FAQs
How to reupholster boat seats without sewing
Sewing is one of the common methods of reupholstering boat seats, however, it is not the only method of upholstering boat seats.
The stapling method is one easy method of upholstering boat seats that anyone can easily learn without needing any special skill before carrying it out.
You can follow the step-by-step process to upholster your seats using the stapling method explained earlier in this article.
How to reupholster curved boat seats
Curved boat seats are a pretty common type of boat seat and if you ever get to own one, knowing how to reupholster curved boat seats is very important.
The process is quite similar to the process of upholstering other types of boat seats as explained earlier in the article.
However, with curved boat seats, you have to take precautions when taking your measurements as well as when cutting the vinyl and foam because of the curve that has to be taken into consideration.
When stapling the vinyl also, it is important to ensure that you pull the vinyl very tight from the front and staple the vinyl to keep the shape. The corners of the seats are curved which makes it a little difficult to staple.
How to redo boat seats
Boat seats are very susceptible to wear and tear over time and at a certain point, you will be faced with the option to either change the boat seats or redo the boat seats.
Redoing the boat seats is quite easy and can be done by anyone once you understand the process to redo it.
A step-by-step process on how to reupholster your boat seats can be found earlier in this article to help you understand how to redo your boat seats.
How to reupholster boat cushions
Boat cushions provide comfort for individuals when they sit on them. With time, however, they may need to be replaced due to damage or rot.
Reupholstering boat seats will require you to replace the foam inside the seats. To reupholster the cushions, you need to get the precise measurement of the cushion.
After purchasing the new cushion, utilize the measurement previously taken to cut the new cushion into size with just a little extra to fit into the seat.
You can then cover the cushion up with the vinyl cover of the seat and sew or staple the vinyl cover back into the seat.
Reupholstering boat seats is quite an easy task that any individual can decide to undertake without needing any necessary skills.
If you are ever considering reupholstering your boat seats yourself or you have decided to reupholster yourself but do not know how to go about the process, this article gives you everything you need to carry out the process efficiently.
