Sun, salt, fresh water and wet swimmers are hard on any seat, so boat upholstery is built differently from a lounge couch. Marine vinyl resists UV and mould, quick-dry foam drains instead of soaking up water, and stainless or monel staples and UV-resistant thread stop covers rusting off or seams rotting. Tell us the boat, how many seats and cushions, and whether the bases are sound, and we pass it to independent upholsterers and trimmers who do marine work in your area. They quote you directly. The request is free, with no obligation.
What marine upholstery covers
- Ski boat and fishing boat bench seats, helm seats and back rests
- Pontoon boat lounges and sun pads
- Yacht cockpit cushions and cabin berths
- Bow cushions, cooler box seat tops and fold-down rear seats
- Boat seat covers that protect the seats while the boat is stored
The same workshops often do caravans, campers and game drive vehicle seats, and outdoor cushions for the lodge or holiday house. Many work from photos first, then look at the boat on its trailer.
Choosing vinyl, foam, thread and fixings
Use materials made for water:
- Marine vinyl, UV stabilised and mould resistant, in white, grey, navy or sand; very dark colours get hot to sit on
- Open-cell quick-dry foam (reticulated foam) that lets water run through, with drain holes or mesh underneath
- Polyester or PTFE thread, which lasts far longer in the sun than cotton
- Stainless or monel staples and stainless fixings
For foam on its own, see upholstery foam.
Reupholstering boat seats: the job, care and mistakes
To reupholster boat seats, the upholsterer removes the cushions or seat bases, strips the old vinyl, checks the plywood for rot, replaces soft bases with marine ply, fits new foam and staples on the new covers. Common mistakes are reusing waterlogged foam, ordinary plywood bases and steel staples that rust through within a season on the coast. To make the work last:
- Rinse off salt with fresh water after each outing
- Cover the boat or the seats when it is stored
- Clean mildew early with a vinyl-safe cleaner
What affects the price and what to ask
The number and size of cushions, whether the bases need replacing, the vinyl grade, piping, pleats or two-tone designs, and whether the work is done at the workshop or at the boat. Ask:
- Which vinyl, foam and staples will you use?
- Will you replace rotten bases, and what does that add?
- Can you make a storage cover too?
Give the cushion sizes in the request so the quote is close; the cushion covers page helps with measuring.
What to include in your request
- Boat type and length
- Number and sizes of cushions
- Condition of the seat bases
- Vinyl colours and piping
- On a trailer or in the water
Boat Upholstery for homes, cars and businesses
- Homeowners and tenants: a family ski boat kept on the dam with sun-cracked seats and soggy foam
- Restaurants, hotels, guesthouses and lodges: lodge and resort boats used for guest cruises on a river, lagoon or dam
- Offices and businesses: company boats and yachts used for client days, with cockpit cushions due for renewal
- Car, bakkie and taxi owners: boat dealers reupholstering seats on used ski boats before they are sold
- Boats, caravans and 4x4s: ski boats, fishing boats, pontoons and yachts at the dam, the river or the coast
- Clinics, salons, spas and gyms: wellness retreats on a lake with pontoon lounges and sun pads for guests
- Churches, schools and halls: club, school rowing and municipal patrol boats with worn and torn vinyl seats
- Upholsterers, makers, designers and DIYers: boat builders and marinas sending seat and cushion work to a marine upholsterer
Frequently asked questions
How much does boat upholstery cost?
What foam is best for boat cushions?
Can boat seats be reupholstered without removing them?
Do you upholster boats?
Boat Upholstery by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg