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Re-Upholstery

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Earl Landers
Navigator

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USA
157 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/14/2002 : 14:47:15

Seasons Greetings

As I work my way down "The List", it is time to start contemplating the re-upholstery of my boat's interior. Shopping locally for materials, I was surprised to find that fabrics are $20 to $35 per yard (times many yards, plus labor = many boat units). That led to Google and eventually to Sailrite. They seem to have a good selection at moderate prices. Ebay has better prices, but minimal selection.

My basic assumption was that I could buy all the materials up front and then provide them to an upholsterer. That way I could control the flow of boat units by having the work done in phases, i.e. settees first, quarterbith next, and v-birth last or something along those lines.

My questions are;

What types of materials have you used, and would you use them again?

Did you replace your foam? ($3.60 per running inch at Sailrite <img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle>)

Who did the work, auto shop, marine shop, self? Are you happy with the results?

And if you are willing to share, what was the price range and scope of the work? (i.e. whole boat/parts only, foam/nofoam, etc.

Thank you for your opinions

Earl Landers
'83 C25 SR/SK
Gentle Spirit

Edited by - on

luckystar
Navigator

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USA
236 Posts

Response Posted - 12/14/2002 : 15:01:15

I did it the same way, in phases. I had already taken out the aft berth and use it as storage now, so I didn't have to recover those. I started with the v-berth. Bought a nice synthetic, but cotton feeling brushed twill at 50% off at a local fabric store for $11/yd. (6 yrds, wanted extra just in case), bought new and thicker foam at a local supplier for around $40 and they cut it to match the old v-berth cushions for free. Bought some naugahyde from ebay (10 yards for $16 total!!) then I took it all to my local top shop and they did the labor for $200. The settees when the same way, found a different, more "living room couch" like material in a synthetic brown chenille on for half price as well for $12/yd. (another 6 yards, just in case I want to make bolsters or something) used the same foam but had them ad 1" of batting to all the cushions. they did these for $75 each cushion or $300. They look fabulous and custom. So total and in phases that I could handle, budget-wise, better, it all came roughly to $700 ($750 with tax and what not) over a three month period. I'm extremely happy. Good luck. (BTW, none of the fabrics I bought were "marine" quality, they are thick enough, synthetic (most important) and with care and scotch guading, I don't expect any problems and I saved a bundle)

Patrick Burnett, Little Rock, AR
S/V Lucky Star #2707 1982 SK/SR

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 12/14/2002 : 18:28:57

Patrick saved a ton of boat units compared to us... We were in a bit of a hurry--the old ones were hopelessly mildewed--fabric and foam--and we needed to sleep on board during our delivery cruise. So we had a car/boat upholsterer do our complete set with new foam (4" with 1" fiber batting for settees and berths) and a soft linen-finish Sunbrella upholstery fabric. We added a few pillows in contrasting patterns. We love the results--I'm embarrassed to say what we paid for all 12 cushions... But it was right around 20 BUs. <img src=icon_smile_blush.gif border=0 align=middle>

Dave Bristle - 1985 C-25 #5032 SR-FK-Dinette-Honda "Passage" in SW CT

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 12/14/2002 18:39:19

Edited by - on

Rick Heaverly 86 C25 5382
Navigator

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Belize
206 Posts

Response Posted - 12/15/2002 : 08:00:12

Earl,

What color of fabric do you currently have? Brown plaid or blue? I am interested in buying a piece of blue to use to patch a couple of areas on my cushions.

Rick Heaverly
"Invictus"

Edited by - on

Earl Landers
Navigator

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USA
157 Posts

Response Posted - 12/15/2002 : 10:37:04

Rick,
My current interior is brown/blue stripes. You can see a portion of one of settees here http://home.bak.rr.com/edlgs/DSC00704.JPG .

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 12/15/2002 : 12:07:01

WOW!! Hands over head, bowing at the waist, I marvel at your panel! <img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle>

Dave Bristle - 1985 C-25 #5032 SR-FK-Dinette-Honda "Passage" in SW CT

Edited by - on

lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 12/15/2002 : 12:29:06

I recovered all 12 of Quiet Time's cushions about 3 years ago, using fabric from a local wholesale upholstery shop. It is a dark blue with gold tics, made of acrylic plush. I re-used the old foam, due to budget constraints, but if were doing it again, I'd get new foam. The Catalina factory quoted me about $900 for a new set of cushions, and they were actually the lowest bidder of three or four bids I got. I ended up doing the work myself as I could not afford $900 at the time. My total cost for upholstery material, naugahyde (for the underside of the cushions), and new zippers, was about $350.
I am 98% sure that this fabric is the same material that was being used by the Catalina factory in the mid-80's, as I had an '86 Catalina 22 with cushions in a medium gray, with the same pattern of gold tics, and have seen other C-22's and C-25's from the mid '80's that have the same dark blue with gold upholstery. I wanted a fabric that would be as mildew resistant as possible, yet affordable within my project budget, and this material fit the criteria. I don't remember the exact numbers, but it was about $9.50/ yard and it took about 25 yards to do the job. Fot the bottoms of the cushions, I used a white marine vinyl naugahyde that I already had about 10 yards of, left over from an earlier project, plus a few yards more that I bought.

As for how it turned out, the cushions look prettty nice, the dark blue fabric goes well with the dark brown Cetol finish of the interior cabinetry and bulkheads. The corners of the cushions are kind of puckered looking, not as sharp and even as the original Factory upholstery, but it was the best I could do with a light-duty sewing machine and my own lack of expertise. This was actually the second time I reupholstered these cushions. When I first bought Quiet Time, she was 17 years old and had been sitting in a storage lot for 8 years, pretty much abandoned while the owners were moving through a messy and protracted divorce, and the original factory upholstery was ruined with mildew and water stains, falling apart at the seams in some places. I re-covered the 6 main cabin cushions, which were in the worst condition, with white vinyl, but didn't like the way they looked, hence the second go-round of upholstering with the blue acrylic.

All things considered - especially the time it took to do all that work, which was a couple of hundred hours - I think the Catalina Factory replacement cushion set is probably the best value, unless you want a special type of foam or custom fabric. Catalina sent me about a dozen different fabric samples to choose from, of which only two were of a fabric I somewhat liked. Most of these fabrics were of a "modern" pattern that would look good in a new C-250 maybe, but were too "loud" (brightly colored) for my older, more traditional C-25.

One more comment about foam.. If I had a higher budget, I would use a closed-cell foam like Ensolite or Airex, that is virtually mildew-proof. If you spill something on them, or the upholstery gets mildewed, it won't permeate the foam. Airex is a "skinned" closed cell foam that you can clean with soap and water. My cockpit cushions are Airex, and it is wonderful stuff, but pretty expensive. A slab 45" wide x 72" long x 2-1/2" thick was $150. I had it cut down the center and the two resulting pieces fit the cockpit seats perfectly. But as you can see, buying enough of this to do all the interior cushions would cost a LOT, probably at least as much as the whole set of factory cushions.

Edited by - lcharlot on 12/15/2002 12:42:02

Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 12/15/2002 : 12:35:28

Neat electrical panel Earl...care to spend some cybertime expanding on it?

Val on the hard DAGNABIT

Val Bisagni

Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 12/15/2002 : 12:47:35

Earl.

The fabric that your/our boat used was Hurculon and I'd give a dram or two to locate a supply of the stuff. I probably misunderstood your reference to same as having located a supply of it. Wishful thinking I'm sure but in the event that you were able to come up with some I'd be forever in your debth if it were true. I have a perfectly good set of original cushions except for the two spots where the monsters landed in their gymnastic travails. It is a worrysome item to consider replacing the entire set of cushions for those two spots...dagnabit!

Val on the hard DAGNABIT

Val Bisagni

Edited by - on

Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 12/15/2002 : 13:26:17

Sunbrella can be found at a very good price on E bay. You can purchase your own fabric to save money. You might also find a small local upholsterer who does od jobs or works from home. There are also local trade schools to learn the trade or if you call they may take on the project.

Doug&Ruth
Triska (Alberg 29)
Tacoma Wa.

Edited by - on

Gary B.
Admiral

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USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 12/15/2002 : 13:38:24

I'll offer another option for those of you with MY meager budget. Encore! had the old brown plaid. Mostly I was tired of the bland color, but one cushion was developing a split. I could not afford new cushions, so I took a very cheap way out that works pretty well for me.

I bought enough remnant upholstry fabric at a local store for the entire job for around $50 total, if I remember correctly. I decided to make cushion "covers" instead of reupholstering. I did minimal sewing, but simply "wrapped" the old cushions with the new fabric. I inserted grommets on the back of the fabric and simply "laced" it together to stay on. The old vinyl is still what touches the hull, but the boat has a whole new, more colorful look for less than $100 total. I, too, usually use the aft quarterberth for storage, so didn't recover it.

Just providing another option......
Wish I had photos to show, but am without a digital or scanner.

Gary B.
Encore! #685 SK/SR

Edited by - on

Earl Landers
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
157 Posts

Response Posted - 12/15/2002 : 19:08:48

Everybody,
Thank you for all the replies. They certainly give me more options to consider. <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

For those that re interested in my electrical panel, let me start a new topic.

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 12/15/2002 : 20:55:08

Who do we call at Catalina to get information about new cushions or covers? Or do you have to go through Catalina Direct?

Thanks
Frank
fgloss@knology.net

Frank

Edited by - on

Earl Landers
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
157 Posts

Response Posted - 12/16/2002 : 12:53:49

With apologies to Dave,
I just called Catalina (818 884 7700). The parts department sez that a whole new set of cusions for a C25 is available in a choice of fabrics for $1105 (includes new foam). They are sending samples.

Edited by - on

Kirk McKay
Navigator

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USA
111 Posts

Response Posted - 12/16/2002 : 15:25:41

$1100 for Cushions! That's a fifth of the cost of my boat! Just think of what fun toys you could buy with that cash.

Kirk

Edited by - on

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3321 Posts

Response Posted - 12/16/2002 : 20:34:14

I'm with Gary B! My wonderful Admiral (Judy) bought enough material at a close-out at $1.29 a yard (tropical fish pattern!), used the old vinyl on the back side and sewed "cushion covers", punching holes in the appropriate places for the grommets. They come off as necessary to be washed and look fresh & gorgeous! Total cost about $30!!<img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
Derek

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 12/16/2002 : 20:56:04

"$1100 for Cushions! That's a fifth of the cost of my boat!" - Kirk McKay

It's almost half what I paid for mine!

Don Lucier, 'North Star'
C25 SR/FK
On the hard, 200ft from Lake Erie

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 12/16/2002 : 21:53:02

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
With apologies to Dave,
I just called Catalina (818 884 7700). The parts department sez that a whole new set of cusions for a C25 is available in a choice of fabrics for $1105 (includes new foam). They are sending samples.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>
Apologies accepted... But our cushions are thicker and softer, in a fabric Catalina doesn't offer (I hope). At the time, it was all about letting the Admiral turn the interior into something that made her feel good about the boat--in time for our maiden 4-day sail to bring it home. I got to pick the hard stuff, and she got to pick some new soft stuff, so we're both happy now! Worth every penny!

BTW, 11 BUs (plus shipping) sounds like a better price than my quote from Catalina Direct a couple of years ago. They offered two fabrics: dark green and bright blue velour, like the stuff in the new 250s--I recall the total being around 16 BUs including shipping across the country.

Dave Bristle - 1985 C-25 #5032 SR-FK-Dinette-Honda "Passage" in SW CT

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 12/17/2002 22:23:30

Edited by - on

Earl Landers
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
157 Posts

Response Posted - 12/21/2002 : 16:08:46

Greetings all,
I thought I would add a bit more information to this thread (finish it off?). My local Catalina dealer called me the other day with the rest of the prices for factory re-upholstery.

Traditional Interior, no foam, new upholstery; $870
Traditional Interior, new foam, new upholstery; $1105
Dinette Interior, no foam, new upholstery; $1365
Dinette Interior, new foam, new upholstery; $1933

I am sure happy that I don't have the dinette <img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle> and you thought $1105 ws bad!

Below is a picture of the samples of currently available materials.

<img src="http://home.att.net/~edlanders/color_sample_resize.jpg " border=0>

Happy Holidays everybody <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 12/21/2002 : 17:03:48

One favorable factor for the dinette is that the standard complement of cushions can be arranged into an athwartship queen-sized bed. The cushion to cover the table is standard, and the narrow aisle can be covered by the midship cushion from the quarterberth. (Does anyone actually sleep behind the companionway steps, anyway??) Regarding Catalina's prices, I paid about the same for the dinette, but I'll bet we got much nicer cushions--thicker and more comfortable--from the local car/boat shop, with no shipping costs and infinite fabric selections.

Dave Bristle - 1985 C-25 #5032 SR-FK-Dinette-Honda "Passage" in SW CT

Edited by - on

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