Finally fixed the upholstery

LVChris · **Posted:** Mon Feb 10, 2014 2:10 pm

So I was feeling ballsy this weekend and decided that I would take a stab at fixing my aged upholstery myself. The cost to have it repaired was not in our budget, and hopefully in a couple of years we will replace it all. It had some wear and seam tears when I bought her, problem was it just kept getting worse. So It may not look as pretty as a pro job, but honestly it's not that bad, and I think I just bought a few more years use from this vinyl. I also hand sewed several small tears in my mooring cover

All in all I had 9 seam rips and I spent about 4 1/2 hours fixing them all. If anyone else wants to try, I simply bought an upholstery needle (Curved) and some heavy duty seam thread from Hancock fabrics total cost around $5. Of course pulling that needle through with pliers for all those stitches has left me with a very sore shoulder and hands (needle pokes) this morning.

One example;

Before

after

ric · **Posted:** Mon Feb 10, 2014 2:17 pm

Looks great!! You can get Tenara fairly cheap off ebay in small spools. Wash the boat with bleach everyday you'll never hurt the upholstery or have a seam come loose.

LVChris · **Posted:** Mon Feb 10, 2014 2:42 pm

Thanks Ric. Bleach? Really, never heard that before, I use vinegar and water all the time and then Lyxol Cleaner and conditioner on the Vinyl, so far it's worked very well.

my next step is the interior...this is an old pic, now the cushions are torn because the fabric is so old. It might be over my head though. So far quote to replace it all around $700 + fabric...yuck.

ric · **Posted:** Mon Feb 10, 2014 2:53 pm

It was a few hundred plus fabric to redo my 4 interior cushions, that quote sounds about right.

You don't have a problem in LV but here in Florida we get a crap ton of mold. Bleach based cleaners work the best but on some vessels their vinyl seats use organic threads and they can breakdown. My 2000 H180 was cotton thread (so is yours). On both my 2009 Stingray and my 2003 Chaparral they used a synthetic thread that doesn't get UV or chemical damaged causing broken seams. Bleach based cleaners do not hurt vinyl, at all. In fact it's the preferred cleaner for vinyl fabrics. It's almost common now throughout the marine industry to use Tenera or other synthetic threading to not break down with cleaners anymore, but back in the day it was very rare hence why it's still very normal to hear "do not clean your seats with a bleach based cleaner!!"

If anyone ever has their vinyl interior redone it's very smart to buy a spool of Tenara for $100 and give it to the shop doing the work.

ric · **Posted:** Mon Feb 10, 2014 2:59 pm

When I had my seats redone i used a couch microfiber. It was pricey and looks amazing, but I wouldn't do it again. It traps sand so you're constantly brushing it off. Any stain resistant fabric works fine, just make sure it's thick/heavy.

NiagaraChillin · **Posted:** Mon Feb 10, 2014 4:13 pm

Dang Chris, that looks great! If a person didn't know there used to be a rip there, they couldn't even tell it was repaired. Its great that you tackled this yourself. I've always found that fixing things yourself will instill pride of ownership in a vessel, and ensures it that it will be maintained the correct way.

rpengr · **Posted:** Mon Feb 10, 2014 5:12 pm

Looks great Chris.

Where you able to do that stitching from the outside? or did you have to take off the vinyl and stitch inside-out?

LVChris · **Posted:** Mon Feb 10, 2014 5:25 pm

rpengr wrote:

Looks great Chris.

Where you able to do that stitching from the outside? or did you have to take off the vinyl and stitch inside-out?

I did all the stitching from the outside. Granted the pics I showed were the best ones, not all of them came out looking that good, however they ALL look better than before.

Another example, more difficult spot and stitch

before:

after:

pickledboater · **Posted:** Mon Feb 10, 2014 7:33 pm

Looks excellent Chris.
I have a couple of similar repairs done the same way. I used dental floss as thread, it hasn't shown any sign of failing in 2 years.

crossram · **Posted:** Mon Feb 10, 2014 8:29 pm

good work Chris they look great .you should be able to do the interior yourself . its pretty easy just make a pattern out of craft paper or cardboard cut the fabric out . cut the edge band whatever the thickness is. cut all fabric 1/2 inch extra width and length on all pieces for sewing allowance . sew it inside out . Hardest part is the zipper . you can use velcro instead

LVChris · **Posted:** Tue Feb 11, 2014 2:06 pm

The rest of the pics, just for the record;

Front Bench Seat

Rear Corner

Top Rear Corner

Destroyed Interior

ric · **Posted:** Tue Feb 11, 2014 3:14 pm

It's going to be hard to find that pattern, but I'm sure you can!

LVChris · **Posted:** Tue Feb 11, 2014 6:29 pm

ric wrote:

It's going to be hard to find that pattern, but I'm sure you can!

"HA" no idea why anyone would have ever put that pattern in there....great boats in the 90's but horrible fabric in the cabin. Strange too because the deck is fine. red and white.

ric · **Posted:** Tue Feb 11, 2014 7:26 pm

Updating the decor can make that vessel look 10 years newer.

LVChris · **Posted:** Mon Feb 02, 2015 3:13 pm

So I am reviving this thread. I found some fabric that I think would look great in my cabin...

This is what I am replacing...

and I want to use this...

I think it will look great, but it's not "outdoor fabric" it's a little thicker, something you might use for a throw pillow or a padded chair.

My concerns are, it's not going to last...the minute it gets wet (and I have small children so it will get wet) it will fall apart.

Anyone out there have some knowledge on re-doing the cabin...am I making a huge mistake...or over thinking this?

www.iFourWinns.com

Finally fixed the upholstery

Who is online