Cruising on the open sea should always be an enjoyable experience. However, it’s hard to have a good time when ripped fabric rubs against your skin. Follow this guide on how to replace marine upholstery if your passengers are less than thrilled to climb aboard.
Pick a Fabric
The first step in replacing marine upholstery is to choose a new fabric. Be careful with color selection while shopping. Neutral tones tend to look crisper than bright colors. However, stains will stand out on light-colored upholstery. Anyone in the market for marine grade vinyl upholstery fabric should check out our selection. All Vinyl Fabrics has plenty of intricately designed materials for those who want to make a statement and not spend their entire weekend scrubbing away stains.
The Replacement Process
Once you’ve chosen the perfect replacement fabric, it’s time to get the process started. Try to focus on certain sections at a time. Don’t rip up the entire boat all at once because you might not know how long it’ll take you to complete the job. Sectioning things off will allow you to use your marine vessel as it undergoes repairs. After you select where you want to start, follow these helpful steps:
- Peel off the old fabric using the backside of a hammer. Wear durable gloves so that you don’t cut yourself. Consider buying special cleaning materials to get rid of any goo that remains on the old material.
- After you remove the fabric, clean the area. Next, it’s time to nail and sew.
- Sew on the new fabric using a needle and nail gun. It’s difficult to use a sewing machine because it’s hard to get into tight corners.
A Few Pro Tips
A crucial step for how to replace marine upholstery is to ensure things are smooth. You want to pull the material as far as possible so that there are no bumps. Also, be sure to cut the fabric to account for things like cupholders and ship controls. It will be hard to steer your boat if a piece of cloth is blocking your way.
Many people have more time on their hands right now because of the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine. Think about giving your boat a facelift if you’re looking for something to do. You’ll be happy you took on the project when summertime rolls around.