Foam for reupholstering boats

We are beginning the project of reupholstering our 1987 Bayliner Capri. We want to do everything but the lounge seats as we bought two new ones. If the foam on the seats and boat sides needs replaced, can someone suggest what type and size (example: 2" for sides, 4" for seats?) of foam for reupholstering we should use? Can we use plain urethane foam you get from a fabric store? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Re: Foam for reupholstering boats

RiverRat are you teaching yourself upholstery work? If so, would be interested in info on how to get started

Re: Foam for reupholstering boats

4" urethane foam for the seats, 3" for the backs. Medium/firm for the seats and medium for the backs. Get your foam from an upholstery shop, not the fabric store. The foam the shops carry is a better quality, better firmness, and better pricing. You'll also need "slipeeze". It's a clear plastic wrapping that goes over the foam. This allows the cover to be put in place and also sheds any water that gets in through the covers stitching. Failure to use this will show later in little black spots of mold coming in from the back sides of the material.

Don't use fabric store vinyl (the stuff with the fuzzy backing). It's not rated for marine use and wiull crack, mold, and peel apart. Use marine naugahyde and/or Enduratex. Get this also from an upholstery shop.

Stainless steel staples are a must. UV rated nylon is also mandatory or it will be coming apart by next summer.

I've been an upholsterer for almost 20 yearss. If anyone needs some assistance, I'll be glad to help any way I can. Maybe I'll start a post and with pics and descriptions of basic steps.

Re: Foam for reupholstering boats

Welcome aboard RiverRat. I moved this to our Restoration section as there is some good reupholstery info here. Take a look at the Hull extension thread as Ooops just did some nice work. He also references a very good thread. I'd go find it for you, but I'm getting ready for the final Nascar race and don't feel like it right now

Re: Foam for reupholstering boats

Fireman431 said:

4" urethane foam for the seats, 3" for the backs. Medium/firm for the seats and medium for the backs. Get your foam from an upholstery shop, not the fabric store. The foam the shops carry is a better quality, better firmness, and better pricing. You'll also need "slipeeze". It's a clear plastic wrapping that goes over the foam. This allows the cover to be put in place and also sheds any water that gets in through the covers stitching. Failure to use this will show later in little black spots of mold coming in from the back sides of the material.

Don't use fabric store vinyl (the stuff with the fuzzy backing). It's not rated for marine use and wiull crack, mold, and peel apart. Use marine naugahyde and/or Enduratex. Get this also from an upholstery shop.

Stainless steel staples are a must. UV rated nylon is also mandatory or it will be coming apart by next summer.

I've been an upholsterer for almost 20 yearss. If anyone needs some assistance, I'll be glad to help any way I can. Maybe I'll start a post and with pics and descriptions of basic steps.

Click to expand...

I think that would be great!! Maybe a cursor on starting gear and a small project.

Re: Foam for reupholstering boats

HEY Mods!

If I take the time to shoot pics and step by step instructions with complete information, tools, tips, etc...is this something that can be sticky'd to the top or is it going to be lost into the depths of forum post, never to be seen again....

Juss wonderin' out loud...

Re: Foam for reupholstering boats

These are two of the best here on iBoats.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=379388&highlight=upholstery

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=456614

Re: Foam for reupholstering boats

I always wondered how one conversed with the mods....

Re: Foam for reupholstering boats

I also did some upholstery work on My Flamingo. I used a Basic Sears Machine. Since have upgraded to a Heavier Morse Industrial and it sure makes things easier. I am going to be documenting and videoing the construction of my bench seats for my boat in a couple of weeks. I am a Cheap old curmudgeon so I am going to use foam from a Free Craigs list donor couch cut down to proper thickness using an electric carving knife. I will then be using spray adhesive and plastic to seal the foam. This not only protects it from wetness but also from chafing from the backing on the vinyl. I learned a lot from the andgot and mrdflores but experience will teach you the most. Lots of good videos on utube too.

Re: Foam for reupholstering boats

OhioRiverRat9 said:

We are beginning the project of reupholstering our 1987 Bayliner Capri. We want to do everything but the lounge seats as we bought two new ones. If the foam on the seats and boat sides needs replaced, can someone suggest what type and size (example: 2" for sides, 4" for seats?) of foam for reupholstering we should use? Can we use plain urethane foam you get from a fabric store? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Click to expand...

Where at on the Ohio?

Re: Foam for reupholstering boats

Bubba1235 said:

I use 3" foam for most marine upholstery. (Both seats and backs) http://www.garysupholstery.com/marineupholsteryfoam.html

EZ Dri 60 Mildew Resistant Outdoor Foam

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I have to 2nd Bubba on Gary's Upholstery, I ordered my products from here, and service is prompt and very courteous.

Re: Foam for reupholstering boats

Shamfarlango said:

I always wondered how one conversed with the mods....

Click to expand...

Three ways:

1) Here (possibly unsuccessful if we don't return to the thread)

2) Report post with a note and all of us will see it. (most "official", and will send an email to all of us, but best used to report something)

3) PM one or more of us. (best method for just "wassup" type stuff)

Fireman,

We'd love that for the FAQ section. Then all can link to it when a new request comes in. If we stick all of this type of request, then the top of the forum section get's cluttered.

Both of the ones linked by WOG are great too.

Re: Foam for reupholstering boats

i have actually been avoiding this thread....lol

first off, the boat i did in the hulll extension thread is a bayliner capri...almost identical.
but i just re used the foam that was there.

mr dj flores (the link that woodie gave) you is an excellent guide.

foam is sold in density and firmness. after you find the density and firmness, you need the thickness
as mentioned, the standard is 4 inches for the seats and 3 for the backs.
.....it has taken me several weeks to explore what kind of foam i want for my tushy.

i bought samples.....and sat on them for an hour till i decided what one i wanted to use.

as kevin mentioned......the mods cant sticky everything on the different aspects of boat building......or there would be no threads.....just stickys....

as for contacting the mods......well thats easy....just start a political thread in dockside chat.....
make sure the title is a good one........possibly something like ......are all "republicans racist?" or or ....maybe one titled ..... "democrats just want to control us all" ....trust me......you will get the mods attention asap.
(being canadian....i would not know a democrat or a republican if one stood in front of me wearing a badge )

after you are allowed back on the site (from being banned for two weeks) they will send you an e-mail......then you can converse with them.

cheers
oops

p.s.
kev......a clean damp rag cleans coffee off your puter screen pretty good

Re: Foam for reupholstering boats

Oops! you are a funny dude, every think of doing standup?

After sitting on all kinds of foam for an hour each, now i know why the inside pix aren't up on your thread yet.

I think that republican/democrat thing is lost on all of us Canadians. Seems pretty darn important to them though.

Re: Foam for reupholstering boats

As chance would have it, I am about to redo 5 boat seats. All will be built from scratch, including the plywood bases, foam cutting, material patterns, etc. I'll do step by step pics indicating which areas are easy DIY parts and which may require specific tools and/or assistance. I'll leave the thread here and let the mods do with it what they feel is best. Hope it won't be too late for anyone wanting upholstery help, but if it is, at least the people following you will get the info for their project.

Re: Foam for reupholstering boats

Fireman,

I (actually, my wife) will be doing all new upholstry for our rebuild, sometime next year. So we look forward to you thread. Thx.

Re: Foam for reupholstering boats

Fireman431 said:

As chance would have it, I am about to redo 5 boat seats. All will be built from scratch, including the plywood bases, foam cutting, material patterns, etc. I'll do step by step pics indicating which areas are easy DIY parts and which may require specific tools and/or assistance. I'll leave the thread here and let the mods do with it what they feel is best. Hope it won't be too late for anyone wanting upholstery help, but if it is, at least the people following you will get the info for their project.

Click to expand...

Looking forward to seeing the thread! Remember not to assume anything. We know nothing...that's a great starting point

Re: Foam for reupholstering boats

Well, hhmmmmm . . . maybe Sham should speak for himself. I know what thread is.

Re: Foam for reupholstering boats

QC said:

Well, hhmmmmm . . . maybe Sham should speak for himself. I know what thread is.

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You know what I meant. I deal with highly intelligent people all day who assume everyone understands the little details. To save people who are new to something having to ask questions about the basics all the time and resurrecting old threads.

For glassy people, everyone knows what peanut butter is. I only found out after reading countless threads about peanut butter until someone else asked the question mid one of those threads.
Would be just easier if we started from a basic upholstry view. These are the tools you will need, this is a lexicon of words/acronyms that are used in this how to.

Re: Foam for reupholstering boats

Shamfarlango said:

You know what I meant. I deal with highly intelligent people all day who assume everyone understands the little details. To save people who are new to something having to ask questions about the basics all the time and resurrecting old threads.

For glassy people, everyone knows what peanut butter is. I only found out after reading countless threads about peanut butter until someone else asked the question mid one of those threads.
Would be just easier if we started from a basic upholstry view. These are the tools you will need, this is a lexicon of words/acronyms that are used in this how to.

Click to expand...

I will be as thorough as possible without spending too much time on the insignificant.