Seats, beds, and other furniture are essential equipment for comfort on board. Like the engine, the boat’s upholstery must be maintained regularly and repaired when needed.
If you have an old boat that needs upholstery maintenance, we will explain here what you need to know about the boat’s upholstery. If you are looking to buy a used boat at ZeBoats, read this article so you will know what to expect and the maintenance needed for the boat’s upholstery before you buy one.
Here are the things you need to know about the boat’s upholstery.
1. Poorly maintained, the cushion has passed overboard and is now soaked with seawater. What to do?
Knowing that the salt in the seawater absorbs moisture at all times, the first thing to do is to remove it entirely from the foam to avoid further mold development. Salt also has a powerfully corrosive effect on metal accessories. But to access the foam, you have to start by removing the cover.
Most of the time, the seat cushion has an opening at the back controlled by a zipper, Velcro fasteners, buttons, or lacing that should facilitate the operation. If stapled to a plywood stand, do not hesitate to disassemble the staples and, if necessary, replace them later with stainless steel staples (the steel ones rust and leave indelible marks on the fabrics).
The residual water should then be drained and allowed to evaporate. With a low-volume cushion, it is possible to make direct exposure to the sun, whose heat will speed up the drying. If the volume of the foam is large, it will be prudent to dry in the shade because the foam, like many synthetic materials, is sensitive to sun exposure and heat. As gravity pulls the residual water down, the cushion will have to be returned regularly on all sides to ensure even drying.
2. The covers have gone in the sun and are sometimes encrusted with mold. How do I clean them?
As always when it comes to maintenance, prevention is better than cure! Limiting the exposure of textiles to solar radiation and rain is one of the useful precautions to increase their longevity. Salt is also an enemy that must be fought in the long run and, in this case, regular freshwater rinse is by far the most effective method.
A bar of equally regular soap and soft brush cleaning will help to curb the deposition of dirt and the development of mold. There are also specific products that have some efficiency, but it will be necessary to complete their stripping action by a renovation of the covers. A simple canvas cover will perfectly protect the upholstery from the sun and bad weather provided it is installed properly.
3. What are the most effective products and methods for routine maintenance of boat upholstery?
The supply of cleaning products is plentiful and most boat parts stores offer them. Their effectiveness is generally correct, but their price can be quite high. Regular fresh water rinses and periodic soap and brush cleaning are good practices, both effective and economical. As long as you devote a little of your time to it, a long-term interview is always better than heavy one-off interventions. Remember that a thunderstorm is enough to flood an upholstery with a large amount of seawater, even in the middle of summer.
4. A crew member accidentally tore the fabric from the seat. How do I fix it?
A return to the upholstery workshop is necessary; the latter will be able to propose several solutions, depending on the type of fabric, expanded or acrylic. The first is almost irreparable, the second can receive a piece sewn overcoat. But, even done with care, this type of repair is visible, and the general aesthetic will suffer. A more elegant solution is to remove the damaged panel and replace it with a new one, cut from the same material.
Of course, the cost is not the same since you have to partially or completely replace the cover and make a replacement panel, but the result is much more technically satisfying than aesthetically. If the damage extends over several panels at once, it may be necessary to replace the entire cover, as the manpower time of a repair may exceed that of using a newly-manufactured one.
5. Some seats have collapsed over time. Is it possible to renovate them?
Depending on the quality of the original foam and the level of use of the boat, occasional or intensive, this phenomenon will appear more or less quickly, with greater or lesser intensity. Again, the expertise of a professional is necessary, because his experience allows him to propose the best strategy. It is quite possible to place an insert in the critical locations in order to restore the inflator to the seat and regain the original comfort. But this operation requires a labor time that can quickly reach, or even exceed, the cost of new foam. The rates are not insignificant (the price of materials alone can reach several hundred dollars), a quote is more than advisable before making a decision to repair or replace.
6. Should the upholstery be wintered?
When possible, wintering onshore and dry upholstery is the best solution. However, it will be necessary to clean and dry thoroughly beforehand. This method also applies to interior cushions, which remain sensitive to ventilation, especially if the boat is sheltered in a thermoplastic tarpaulin overwintering cocoon. Store all items away from moisture and the sun, such as in a garage. Beware of attics, a favorite area of rodents who, attentive to the comfort of their nest, like to shred in small pieces all textiles falling under their teeth … Non-removable textile elements will benefit from being protected by wintering.
7. How to secure the upholstery safely?
There are different methods of fixation, each with its advantages and disadvantages, and none can claim universality! In order to save money and assemble quickly, some yards are content with an ordinary Velcro-based fastener, stapled or sewn, which is very resistant to the marine environment and has a low-hold grip.
More innovatively, an original solution has been developed by fast-tracking manufacturer Fastmount, which, under the TC-F6H reference, allows you to instantly solidify a cushion with its support and disassemble it just as quickly. The composite clip features a female part, with a tongue lock sewn on the textile part, and a male, self-stick or screwed part on the support, deck, or bench. Invisible, the clip easily withstands a 23 kg unit snatching pull and the locking mechanism is handled by hand and without tools.
8. If the boat’s upholstery is replaced, what budget should be spent on it?
As many variables are to be taken into account (type of materials, quality of manufacture, comfort level …), a preliminary estimate is essential, as well as the consultation of several professionals. The price of hourly labor varies from company to company, as well as their practices. A serial manufacturing specialist is not necessarily the best equipped to respond to a custom renovation job. Whatever the final choice, be aware that the bill will not be proportional to the size of the cushion, as dismantling a small room can be technically more complex than removing a sunbathing.
9. Fuel was spilled on the boat’s cushions. What needs to be done to minimize the damage?
The first reflex is to prevent fluids from soaking the foam and tissues. Therefore, the fuel must be absorbed with a sponge, fabric pads, or Sopalin-type paper towels, without pressing so as not to penetrate it deeper into the materials. Then carefully wash with Marseille soap, alkaline laundry or bridge cleaner, lukewarm water, and a soft brush. Rinse thoroughly with fresh water and allow to dry well. Fuels have a detrimental effect on fabrics because they tend to dissolve the coating layer that serves as waterproofing and UV protection, especially on expanded fabrics, PVC, or vinyl.
10. Can you choose any fabric color?
In general, the darkest colors are the ones that warm the most in the sun and are least resistant to UV. But they can also be combined with clearer parts, the renovation of upholstery can be used to give a new aesthetic touch to the boat. Don’t hesitate to consult the professionals who will advise you in a company that can change the pace and comfort of your unit. Important detail, do not wait for spring but winter to get interested in the issue. The specialists will then have much more time to devote to you than at the beginning of the season when pressed by the emergency, many boaters come to bring their cushions to repair, the upholstery most often coming last in the preparation of a new season of navigation.
