reupohlstering bowrider

[cosander]

I am looking to replace all the vinyl and wood backing in my bow. Can I just cut the wood to size put foam cut to size and staple the vinyl over it? Or does this look like chit?
If anyone has pics of this they would be appreciated.
I don't want to sew. (I failed home economics because I couldn't sew an apron).

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: reupohlstering bowrider

You really need to put foam under the vinyl. Most sideboards are done that way.

Use stainless steel staples.... marine vinyl (uv resistant) and quality exterior plywood (preferably sealed and painted.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: reupohlstering bowrider

totally agree with Bob, but have to admit i've use the old foam before. lay it in the sun and let it dry. also, you will probably find hole drilled into the ply, that's suppose to provide ventilation, and keep the seams from blowing out when some sits on them.

 

[cosander]

Re: reupohlstering bowrider

I was planning on putting foam under the vinyl. My main reason for this question was to find out if it would be okay to just staple everything in place without sewing seams.

 

[Rob454]

Re: reupohlstering bowrider

I was planning on putting foam under the vinyl. My main reason for this question was to find out if it would be okay to just staple everything in place without sewing seams.

Yeah but wherever you have corners or bends you need to stretch it or fold it. I took up sewing. its really not that hard. I reused my old vinyl as a pattern and went to town on my buddys boat
Rob

 

[Chris1956]

Re: reupohlstering bowrider

The cushions will looks a whole lot better if you sew them out of two pieces of vinyl, and use cording. These are pretty easy to make, since when you staple them to the plywood, you can fix a lot of defects in the vinyl cover.

You need to cut vinyl for the coording, and sew a piece of line or twine inside it. I cut exact 1.5" wide strips of vinyl and put a 1/8" nylon string inside. It helps if the sewing machine has a cording foot. Now cut the vinyl for the "face" of the cushion, exactly the width of the cording larger than the foam on all sides. Cut the vinyl for the sides of the cushion to be the thickness of the foam, plus an inch or so to staple, plus the width of the coording. You will need a heavy duty sewing machine plus nylon coat thread. I used some light staples to hold stuff together while I sewed. Now, sew the cording to the side piece of vinyl, tight to the line part. Now sew the face of the cover to the side and cording piece, sew the ends of the sides and turn it rightside out.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: reupohlstering bowrider

Rob, One more thing. I recommend you purchase some ready made back-to-back seats, if that is what your boat needs. They are cheap in comparison to the time to recover them. You can get some samples of marine vinyl for the balance of the cushions, so you can match the color.