Next to your home, your boat may just be your family#x2019;s largest investment. During the warm months, it might see more action than your home as you regularly hit the water. Since this craft is such an important part of your life, it#x2019;s very important to keep the upholstery in top shape. When your old seats wear down, it#x2019;s time to reupholster.
Instructions
1. Remove your old seats carefully. You will want to be careful not to rip the fabric beyond what it is already worn, since it will become your pattern. Remove staples with a small screwdriver and slice any strings with a stitch ripper or a sharp knife.
2. Strip out the primary seams of the seat once it has been completely removed from the boat. Use your seam ripper or knife and pull out any parts that prevent the upholstery from lying flat.
3. Measure the square footage of the old upholstery by multiplying the overall width and the length, filling in imaginary gaps where the cuts were made. Take these measurements and purchase a fabric made of a similar thickness and material as your old upholstery to ensure it will be water and weather resistant.
4. Unfold the new material and lie the old boat upholstery over the top until it is flat. Use a light pen or pencil to trace the pattern of the original fabric onto the new. Add an extra inch on the ends for seams. Make cuts following the pattern to replicate your previous upholstery#x2019;s fit using the new fabric.
5. Cover the empty boat frame with the new pattern and make sure you have made the proper cuts and seams. Resew the seams where the old upholstery had them and then staple and sew this new fabric to the boat#x2019;s frame.
Tags: reupholster, boat, seats, your home, your seats
