Modern Vinyl Options

[cpropes2005]

Does anybody have any info on the newer higher end vinyl materials that are used on most newer boats? I am starting to think about having the interior on my 22V redone and I really like the look of the newer interiors with carbon fiber and diamond stitching. Will any upholstery shop be able to handle these materials? Is the diamond pattern just stitched in and if so are there any concerns about durability/longevity with all of the extra stitching? Anywhere online where I can price some of the materials?

[EricU]

The carbon fiber vinyls are just imprinted and other than making sure you keep the direction of the pattern going the same direction, they don't really take any additional work.

Perfect Fit is a good online supplier

Link to the Carbon Fiber look material

[cpropes2005]

What about the larger diamond patterns. Is that typically stitched in by the installer or is there a material they start with that will have the diamond pattern already in it?

[WakerideN]

yes a shop can handle the materials that your requesting. but plan on paying more to have that cross stitch look put in. that takes more time. I think anytime you put more seams \ stitching in that is just a new area of potential failure down the road. does it look amazing and add lots to the boat yes. does it mean it will break down over time... yes as well.

the previous post above mine I think he just means that the texture is and pattern is imprinted.. you talking about the diamond pattern that is sewn in...

[IDBoating]

My upholstery guy says two things help boat fabrics last longer: Fewer seams, and relaxed stretch on the fabric. The latter because it reduces stress on the seams. He says the manufacturers stretch the fabric really tight because it makes the seats look great, but when his shop redoes a boat they ease up on the stretching to make it last a whole lot longer.

It's ALL about the seams. It costs more to have more seams in the covers, it weakens the covers to have the seams, and the stress of people sitting and stepping on the cushions is borne by, and tears apart, the seams. On that other thread where we were discussing entry-level boats, one of the things I would do first thing on such a craft is simplify the seat covers. They'd be less expensive to make AND, ironically, last longer!

[EricU]

...It's ALL about the seams. It costs more to have more seams in the covers, it weakens the covers to have the seams, and the stress of people sitting and stepping on the cushions is borne by, and tears apart, the seams...

My suggestion is if you are redoing a boat's interior, cover the rear sun deck/engine cover in one-piece solid cover, The sundeck takes the most abuse from the sun and people laying and stepping on it along with the boards, coolers and anything else.

And yes the carbon fiber look vinyl is just embossed, while the diamond patterns are generally sewn in. I would skip it myself due to the issues already mentioned, but I think that most (almost all) wakeboard boat interiors lack any real design to them. The manufactures seem to just throw patterns, stripes and colors in. Some of the most beautiful boats that I have seen used a single color on the seat covers, with white being the majority as it is clean looking and reduces heat absorption. If I were going to redo a complete interior I would use a brown (leather looking, think old Ferrari or Jag) with some inserts and French seams in burgundy, and some inserts in the dark grey or black carbon fiber look, but that is just my opinion.

If you are going to use some of the carbon fiber vinyls, make sure you order a sample. I usually purchase a yard of material to get the representative look of the material and see how it feels, works and stretches. A four inch square doesn't work for a sample. Some of the carbon fiber colors sound good, but lack when you see them in person.

Good luck.

[bryce2320]

The "pleated" vinyl, or diamond stitching, is your vinyl with a thin layer of backing pad behind it, stitched togeather, thus giving the pleats the puffy look. I used carbon fiber on my 04 21i, and the white was a b**** to keep clean. I paid 2,000 bucks, and the guy took every panel out and re upholstered everything, and put it all back. These were just 2 older guys running a ma and pa store here in Wichita, and let them have a chance at it, because the place down the road wanted 5k to do the same thing. http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/show...s-thread/page3

[JohnnieMo]

Nice work Bryce. I read your entire thread. The nose of your 21i looks very similar to my z1!

I also love how you built the ports for your subs. I've always done round ports.

But more on point - $2k for your whole interior is bananas! Up here that would be $8k

[IDBoating]

I will be looking strongly at neoprene (in a color other than black) as a boat fabric when the time comes. I have custom neoprene seat covers in my truck and they are AWESOME for our water-oriented family. Kids, dog, gear - wet stuff goes in and out of the truck all the time and the neoprene just brushes clean. Obviously they put the fabric side out, so you're sitting on a nice woven surface. Dog toenails don't even affect it. It does not get too hot to sit on, even though I did use black neoprene, and it's basically indestructable. Seams do not "seem" to be a problem with neoprene. Neoprene is also obviously designed and intended to get wet all the time, so a marine application is just natural for it.

To dress it up then have these little "bead" like colored tubes, called "piping", they can sew into the seams. I have bright red ones for contrast with my black seat covers (my truck is fire engine red). Between the colors of neoprene and piping you can do almost anything.

I've had my seat covers for eight years - since the month I bought the truck - and have nothing but good to say about them. We had them in our last minivan too, and they were awesome there as well (with kids, dogs, gear, etc.). Definitely worth consideration.

[cpropes2005]

I did a quick google and it looks like Epic did a neoprene interior at some point. Looks pretty cool but I would be worried about lack of experience from any potential installer and from some of the comments I found it sounds like it might fade over time. Having seats that you dont stick to and/or slide around on when wet does sound appealing though. There is a picture about half way down the link below.

http://www.moomba.com/msgboard/showt...-Boat-Names-OT

I do like the look of some of the brown/peanut butter looking interiors but my boat is solid gray and white so I think it will clash to much.

Bryce, I saw your thread awhile back and that is what got me thinking about upgrading to something a little nicer instead of just replacing exactly what is there. Your interior looks like it turned out great. Was it just the white carbon fiber that was hard to keep clean or did the gray/silver color you used have the same issue? I have a mostly white and gray interior with some red accents and I am thinking about doing the gray parts in carbon and then the white parts in either just normal vinyl or adding the pleated diamond look to some of the pieces. I have also toyed with the idea of adding a walk through on one of the sun pad panels that would be solid with sea deck but I am not sure exactly how that would work yet.

[bryce2320]

Bryce, I saw your thread awhile back and that is what got me thinking about upgrading to something a little nicer instead of just replacing exactly what is there. Your interior looks like it turned out great. Was it just the white carbon fiber that was hard to keep clean or did the gray/silver color you used have the same issue? I have a mostly white and gray interior with some red accents and I am thinking about doing the gray parts in carbon and then the white parts in either just normal vinyl or adding the pleated diamond look to some of the pieces. I have also toyed with the idea of adding a walk through on one of the sun pad panels that would be solid with sea deck but I am not sure exactly how that would work yet.

Only the white carbon fiber seemed hard to keep clean. It's just because of the texture in it I'm sure. The silver wasnt a problem at all I didnt think. I'd go with just white vinyl, and pleat where ever you want the diamond stitching, and use the silver carbon fiber to replace all your grey. And just leave it white vinyl on everything else, or whatever color you go with. Just throwing out ideas. Anxious to see what you come up with.

The black carbon fiber in my Axis is pretty sweet IMO. Im sure it'll get warm, but they're just accent pieces, instead of huge pieces.

[Stingreye]

Only the white carbon fiber seemed hard to keep clean.

DOH! I just got the white carbon fiber, hopefully it won't be too bad to clean! ..... I had the seat bottoms all done in the rear of mine with white carbon and grey. Ordered last wednesday and they were complete in less than a week. No matter what I did, it would not match the old vinyl on the seat backs because its 10 year old vinyl.

I went with the carbon look because I liked how yours turned out Bryce. I was happy with how mine came out considering that we knew it wouldn't match the existing vinyl in there (texture or the fact its new vs old):

vinyl 1.jpgvinyl 2.jpgvinyl 3.jpg

Per others comments, the vinyl is not stretched as hard and the backings have improved tremendously (hopefully) so the new seat seams should last longer than my old ones (and nearly every mid 2000s tige I saw when looking for mine).

My bow seams are ok right now.... hope to get another season out of the bow before I replace those.

Steve

[CDAWaves]

New seats look great! Congrats and wow on the fast turnaround!

[Timmy!]

I did a quick google and it looks like Epic did a neoprene interior at some point. Looks pretty cool but I would be worried about lack of experience from any potential installer and from some of the comments I found it sounds like it might fade over time. Having seats that you dont stick to and/or slide around on when wet does sound appealing though. There is a picture about half way down the link below.

You don't want that neoprene. My buddy went out on the Epic that had the neoprene and at about 20mph, the neoprene catches the wind and gathers on the sun pad and then flaps in the wind. He also said that when you move, the fabric stretches and it sticks to you. It looks cool as heck though!

[cpropes2005]

Those look great Stingreye. Thanks for sharing the pics. They give me a great idea of what mine would look like since it looks like we have very similar interiors.