vinyl repair estimate seems high

[Duncan]

So I got an estimate for vinyl repair that seemed high to me ...

• back bench re-skin $200 for Tige skin + $100 labor to re-skin
• re-upholster both rear bench corner cushions $375
• repair corner of port observer seat (dropped on corner) $75
• repair scuffs in vinyl pads on side of bow walk through $200
• repair several small knicks in bow cushions $140
• re-seam center bow cushion (green triangle pulling apart) $175
• $1265 total

The Tige skin is at cost. $100 labor seems alot to just stretch the vinyl and staple it down.

The rear corner cushions seems way high. For less than $675 (rear skin + corners), it seems like you could use the new skin, sew on corner pieces, extend or replace the backing of the cushion to go into the corners, and drop in cushion plugs in the corner. This would be awesome to get rid of those hated corner pieces.

Maybe someone with experience with these types of repairs can tell me these costs are totally in line?

[IDBoating]

I can tell you that having the same shop that added my surf pockets to my bimini charged me about $75 to install a replacement skin on my 24Ve's entire rear bench seat cover. We got a seam tear soon after buying the boat - well within the warranty - and Tige stepped right up and shipped a replacement skin, complete with the top layer of foam. It was ready to install, proper shape, precut, everything, so that $75 was literally just the labor to remove the old one and install the new one. (For that price they also repaired the old one, so now I have a perfect spare if I ever need it.)

I can also tell you the fabrics are much cheaper than I ever expected. The standard marine vinyl was well under ten bucks a square yard. Sunbrella, the stuff used on biminis and boat covers, was about six bucks a square yard.

Hope this data helps!

[ddubz]

I am having my 23v re-done, capt chairs and all, no skins, 2100$..

[boardman74]

Vinyl work is one of the most expensive things on a used boat. Your quote may be a bit high, but its not out in right field or anything. if you think its high get it quoted at a few competing shops.

[WakerideN]

So I got an estimate for vinyl repair that seemed high to me ...

• back bench re-skin $200 for Tige skin + $100 labor to re-skin
• re-upholster both rear bench corner cushions $375
• repair corner of port observer seat (dropped on corner) $75
• repair scuffs in vinyl pads on side of bow walk through $200
• repair several small knicks in bow cushions $140
• re-seam center bow cushion (green triangle pulling apart) $175
• $1265 total

The Tige skin is at cost. $100 labor seems alot to just stretch the vinyl and staple it down.

The rear corner cushions seems way high. For less than $675 (rear skin + corners), it seems like you could use the new skin, sew on corner pieces, extend or replace the backing of the cushion to go into the corners, and drop in cushion plugs in the corner. This would be awesome to get rid of those hated corner pieces.

Maybe someone with experience with these types of repairs can tell me these costs are totally in line?

Not sure who is using marine vinyl that is less then 10 bucks a yard. Stay away from that crap. Guessing that will be a very very short life span for that material. But to your complaint that its high. your not taking into account that the labor good or bad is what this is all about. The person will spend more time taking it apart (tonz of stapples on our boats) and putting it back together to make it look good. that is what your paying for in bulk mostly. The sewing and patterning is not a big deal. We are just finishing a 2005 supra right now. Its taken us about 3 solid weeks given how much detail is involved. My take is this. If they do good work. its worth the cost. Some boat mfg do crappy work from the factory. But I can tell you this. Tige, mastercraft, malibu, supra. They build them very well, and its very labor intensive compared to a crappy bayliner or four winns to take apart. We can take 3 four winns seats apart in about 25-30 min. Takes us about 35-40 min a cushion to take one of the big 3 apart. just something to think about. I dont think really out of line. I would have quoted about 1150 to 1200 because despite some repairs being minor, we still would be taking apart many pieces. so that is time to remove, break down, sew, fit, staple, and put back in. Its just flat out time consuming.

[Iwndr]

Not sure who is using marine vinyl that is less then 10 bucks a yard. Stay away from that crap. Guessing that will be a very very short life span for that material. But to your complaint that its high. your not taking into account that the labor good or bad is what this is all about. The person will spend more time taking it apart (tonz of stapples on our boats) and putting it back together to make it look good. that is what your paying for in bulk mostly. The sewing and patterning is not a big deal. We are just finishing a 2005 supra right now. Its taken us about 3 solid weeks given how much detail is involved. My take is this. If they do good work. its worth the cost. Some boat mfg do crappy work from the factory. But I can tell you this. Tige, mastercraft, malibu, supra. They build them very well, and its very labor intensive compared to a crappy bayliner or four winns to take apart. We can take 3 four winns seats apart in about 25-30 min. Takes us about 35-40 min a cushion to take one of the big 3 apart. just something to think about. I dont think really out of line. I would have quoted about 1150 to 1200 because despite some repairs being minor, we still would be taking apart many pieces. so that is time to remove, break down, sew, fit, staple, and put back in. Its just flat out time consuming.

Good to know, Thanks!

[Duncan]

Rear corner cushion re-upholster came down to $125 each, which I can live with. $100 labor for re-skin rear bench I can live with as well. Finally, corner of observer seat $75 is fair.

The rest I am going to live with for awhile.

I do my own gel coat repairs and have had great results. I might buy a vinyl repair kit and start practicing in hidden areas.

[WakerideN]

Rear corner cushion re-upholster came down to $125 each, which I can live with. $100 labor for re-skin rear bench I can live with as well. Finally, corner of observer seat $75 is fair.

The rest I am going to live with for awhile.

I do my own gel coat repairs and have had great results. I might buy a vinyl repair kit and start practicing in hidden areas.

find an older used juki or consew, with some patience and practice you can fix your own stuff. those repair kits leave much to be desired. besides you sound like a boat owner for life. so it will pay off in time.