I was thinking of redoing my own seats

[JasonBo]

How hard can it be right?

The former owner painted the vinyl and tried to make some corrections.

interesting way to trap moisture

These are my captains chairs , Unfortunatly the rear seats which are the original stratos seats are so rusted and broken I cant get them apart to redo them. I gues si need to buy a couple. any recommendations for cheap rear seats?

 

[Stachi]

Re: I was thinking of redoing my own seats

the plastic is used as a shield to keep the rough backing of the vinyl from wearing the foam away.... there is more to upholstering than you may think.....

 

[Fireman431]

Re: I was thinking of redoing my own seats

I have been an upholsterer for 18 years, There is a whole lot more to doing that seat than you think.

If you want to do it yourself, here are a few tips:

Carefully cut the material apart at the seams. Mark the material pieces where they are to be sewn back together and the direction in which they go. Carefully iron (preferably steam) the pieces back to a flat piece to use as a template for the new material. Use chalk to identify each piece (on the back). Pencil/pen may bleed through, depending on the color of the vinyl.

Using a heavy duty machine with UV treated thread (good luck with this at home), sew the pieces back together starting with the inside of the seat and working your way around, sewing the back piece on as the last step. If you want the welting cord (the piping), that will have to be made custom with a machine that has a welting foot. Most home machines do not have this and cannot sew the heavy duty UV thread. Standard thread will degrade within the year.

Cover the foam seat with thin plastic (that's what the bag that was on there was for) so the vinyl will slide across the foam. The easiest thing to use in your case may be a thin garbage bag, but it's going to make noise every time you get in & out of the seat. Use can use a hair dryer to make the vinyl cover a little more pliable, but be careful you don't get too close or stay in one spot too long or you'll burn/melt the vinyl. Align all seams appropriately. Secure with stainless or nickel staples.

Then you have to do the seat inserts. Replace all of the rotted wood pads with new wood or 3/8" starboard. Make sure you round the corners a little and sand the edges or it will tear the vinyl. Cut and sew your patterns as above. Wrap with the plastic, which helps water shed in this instance. Secure from beneath with SS screws.

Options: Go to a local upholstery shop and get a few yards of 'Slip-Ease'. That's the plastic you need. They'll probably just give it to you. If you have an air compressor, rent a gun from the shop and buy the SS staples you need.

Don't buy vinyl at Wal-mart, JoAnns fabrics, or other retail outlet. It's not true marine vinyl and will peel & discolor in the sun. If you have to order it from a shop or online, at least get the right stuff.

Or take it to a shop and pay them roughly $150 and have it done with the right marine vinyl, the right thread, the right staples, and the right way.

If you need add'l info, PM me and I'll do whatever I can for you.

Good luck!

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: I was thinking of redoing my own seats

Wow Fireman...great read.

 

[JasonBo]

Re: I was thinking of redoing my own seats

Yeah i needed that. Cabelas has 4 seats for me i belive. Ill see if i can sell these on craigslist. qI was thinking of buying the vinyl form hancock fabrick its rated marine vinyl. my mother in law was going to so for me. But its gonna be hard to match the rear seats which ill buy, So I might as well buy 4. Im still doing sunpads in the front and a deck pad so that will keep her busy

 

[5150abf]

Re: I was thinking of redoing my own seats

This is probably like welding, it looks easy but is anything but, to watch a skilled welder it looks like you aren't really doing anything, you just dab some rod in once and awhile but there is alot more going on.

I know enough to not even try it.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: I was thinking of redoing my own seats

With some notable exceptions.....most of the DIY upholstery jobs I've seen attempted on this site look very DIY. I would just bite the bullet and buy new seats. I put seats from this set http://www.iboats.com/Fishing-Chair...9838710--**********.735967917--view_id.394390 in my boat and am very pleased with them. They are expensive, no question, but so is quality upholstery work.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: I was thinking of redoing my own seats

Here is my machine. If you don't have something like this, don't bother.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: I was thinking of redoing my own seats

Here is my machine. If you don't have something like this, don't bother.

This is an industrial machine with a walking foot and a adapting welting foot. This is what you'll need to sew through more than 2-3 thicknesses of the vinyl. If you're adding any welting or doing any top stitching, that 4 layers alone right there. Again, you'll need the heavy UV or monofiliment thread. If not, in a year you'll be stripping the seats to sew them again.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: I was thinking of redoing my own seats

Wimps use sewing machines, real men use a needle and thread!

HEY!! Technically, I AM using a needle and thread. I just don't do the labor part by hand.

Now, REAL men force their wives to do the sewing...

 

[bruceb58]

Re: I was thinking of redoing my own seats

Another reason I use a huge industrial machine is that there is absolutely no way I could thread the needle on any machine any smaller. Just don't ever want that needle going through my thumb. These machines are fast. Fabric can go through in a heartbeat.

 

[JasonBo]

Re: I was thinking of redoing my own seats

Well ill pick up new seats on saturday form cabelas there 50% off and hey its suppose to be almost 90 here this weekend so ill be out and about. Thats the problem redoing a boat in Texas there is no winter.