If your boat spent the winter in storage, it may be necessary to perform some repairs to the marine vinyl before putting it into the water. The time has come to prepare your boat for summertime enjoyment as the temperatures rise and the days grow longer. Before loading the fishing poles into your boat once you’ve taken it out of storage, you must do some important maintenance. You desire a new-looking yacht. The hull, engine, and carpeting are all taken care of by you. But when your seats have blemishes, it may seem as though all your effort was for naught. How can you quickly and inexpensively fix your vinyl seats to update the appearance of your yacht and protect them for a long time?
Any seasoned boat owner knows that annual maintenance is a necessary cost of taking your kids tubing and out fishing early in the morning. Even though a new boat will require less upkeep, there are still fees involved in keeping your boat in peak condition. By performing simple maintenance activities on your own, you can save money. If you have some spare time, you may fix your marine-grade vinyl by yourself with some hard work and a decent tape measure. While saving money by performing your own repairs is a benefit, some jobs are better left to the experts. Here is a quick and simple approach to repairing vinyl boat seats.
Step 01: Examine the vinyl carefully:
Make careful to inspect the vinyl boat seating as a separate step when cleaning your boat. Why even try? Because if you ignore a minor tear in your vinyl seam, it could become something much more challenging to fix. Give the vinyl more than a cursory examination. Make sure not to reveal any holes or perforations along the vinyl’s inner lining by pressing into the vinyl. If there is a problem, this inspection should show you if you need to fix it or replace it.
Step 02: Keep the vinyl water-resistant:
Vinyl works so well in your boat because of its excellent water resistance. You run the danger of needing far more labor-intensive repairs if the vinyl splits up and exposes the substance underlying. By having an emergency vinyl repair kit on hand, you can solve this problem. If you remember to dry off the affected area right after and remember to conduct complete repairs later, even something as simple as duct tape can come in handy. Though useful, keep in mind that the longer duct tape is left on your vinyl, the less appealing it will look.
Step 03: Prepare Your Seats for Repair:
VinyLIFE Vinyl Cleaner & Protectant is available for purchase. The region will be cleaned as a result. Then, if there are any sticky materials on it, such as stickers or stick-on, you must remove them. It is necessary to wash away all of the sealants and adhesives. Wash it off after making sure the surface is not oily. To make this procedure simpler, one can always purchase Release Adhesive & Sealant Remover. As an alternative to Release Adhesive & Sealant Remover, you can alternatively use alcohol. Also, trim any stray threads with scissors. Look around more closely. Watch it. Is there anything more we should get rid of? How severely is it ripped or cracked? Because we don’t want to further destabilize the situation, we must proceed with extreme caution.
Easy Way to Patch a Vinyl Boat Seat
The broken vinyl boat seat can be repaired properly using a staple gun and a staple remover, but most boat owners lack the time. They search for the simplest answer. The simplest, quickest, and most comfortable solution for boat owners who are constantly on the road is to fix a vinyl boat seat with duct tape. The seat is temporarily saved thanks to the duct tape’s assistance in preventing further fracture propagation. Although it doesn’t last very long, utilizing duct tape is interesting. Duct tape is a simple patch that you can use while sailing. On the whole, though, this is not the best course of action. The damaged area needs to be repaired using a marine-grade vinyl patch after the duct tape is removed.
How Much Will New Vinyl Boat Seats Cost?
Depending on the extent of the damage, its particular position, and the cost and accessibility of replacement materials, the typical cost to repair a vinyl boat seat per square yard starts at $40. If you don’t have a kit on hand, a medium-sized patch may cost you $150 to $200 to repair. Boat seats can be replaced; however, it is recommended that they be repaired unless the damage is extensive. Even though replacing the patched area is a simple task, some boat owners still choose to enlist the assistance of a professional. If you fall into this category, you should be ready to spend anywhere between $100 and $300 on repairs.
How to Maintain Refurbished Vinyl Boat Seats
Maintaining vinyl boat seats is more crucial than restoring them. Cleaning the area, removing any potential sealants from the interior, and checking that the seats are dry are the main components of maintenance. Even if you have an urgent sailing plan in place, it is imperative to preserve the dryness of seats. It prevents water from entering the patched area if you keep it dry. It prevents mold from growing and prevents the patched area from flaking as a result. Regular seat cleaning will also assist prevent the buildup of dirt and debris over time. You must constantly clean marine-grade vinyl since it is susceptible to the quick collection of debris.
How to Prevent Vinyl Boat Seats from Cracking Again?
After going through this entire process, it is always preferable to use a vinyl conditioner as well for future protection. By doing this, you can stop your vinyl boat seat from splitting in the future. Boat seat coverings will work just as well. They are affordable and easily accessible by retailers. These seat coverings will stop the vinyl from separating from the seat. The primary goal is to shield the boat seat from the sun’s harsh rays. Boat seats made of vinyl require upkeep.
Since one may always go look for this vinyl repairing kit, you do not require professionals for this. The moment the seats are cracked, torn, or ripped, they should be fixed. This is because they enhance the aesthetics of the boat. It should be fixed as quickly as feasible because it adds to their attractiveness. Another argument is that the damaged area can become bigger over time, and you wouldn’t want that, would you? Definitely not. It would be more expensive if this happened because you could have to replace the entire seat or fix a bigger part right away. Therefore, ongoing maintenance will eventually aid in lowering your overall cost.