Upholstery question...

[IDBoating]

Tige's awesome customer support has just shipped me a brand new seat cover (what they call a "seat skin") for my 24Ve's rearmost seat. The stitching had failed in its first summer of use and they replaced it with no problems whatsoever.

However, they only replaced the skin - the foam and the (wood?) backing plate from the existing seat must be reused. No problem there, as they are in perfect shape. However, that means I've got to install the new skin on the existing foam and board. My local Tige dealer stopped carrying the brand a year ago so I can't take it to them for "warranty labor".

Is this something I should attempt myself? I'm pretty handy but have never worked with upholstery. The alternative is to take it to an upholstery shop... any estimates on how much that will cost?

Thanks!

[robert theisen]

When you put a seat skin on you will need a heat gun to expand the material.That is so it won't wrinkle up or have air bubbles in the material where it wasn't stretched tight enough.Most auto upholstery shops do boats also or most boat dealers.

[laserfish]

Should cost little to have it done. If you can install your own ballast, you can stretch a seat cover on. Just be sure and use proper staples. Dont want any rust.

[hossdog]

Should cost little to have it done. If you can install your own ballast, you can stretch a seat cover on. Just be sure and use proper staples. Dont want any rust.

Not to highjack the thread but, when you say apropriate staples. Are any Stainless Steel staples good to use or is there a specific brand? I will be making some minor repairs to the underside of the sunpad/lockers where some of the vinyl is starting to come loose.

[duffymahoney]

It's so weird to see someone from sandpoint commenting on this board! A local shop should be able to do it cheap. I would guess less then the effort and buying the staples. I have a great lady that does all my work. I would guess she would charge me like 50 bucks or less.

[hossdog]

It's so weird to see someone from sandpoint commenting on this board! A local shop should be able to do it cheap. I would guess less then the effort and buying the staples. I have a great lady that does all my work. I would guess she would charge me like 50 bucks or less.

Sweet! I'll swing in soon. We have been slammed at work so it has been tough to get out during the day. I am stoked to talk boats with you. I think my family and freinds are about sick of listening to me go on and on about it. I want to try and get the boat in the water ASAP. Hopefully in March when things settle down at work abit. I picked up a new drysuit and have only been in it once, so I want to go put it through it's paces soon.

[Wakeman22]

Tige sent me a few skins under warrenty however they would not warrenty labor. My girl charged $50.00 to put three on. Stainless staples are the correct ones to use. The job is not too difficult. I did my pontoon boat and my airplane.

[IDBoating]

Thanks for all the feedback. I know where to get the stainless staples, there's a shop locally that specializes in things like that. At this point I think I'll get a quote or two from some local upholstery shops and then make a decision. If it's cheap enough to have a pro do it, I'll let them - and increase the odds that it turns out well. {grin}

Thanks again!

[laserfish]

Got mine from Lowes