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Name:
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MrHodja
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Subject:
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cleaning boat seats
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Date:
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7/8/2013 10:22:48 PM (updated 7/8/2013 10:23:22 PM)
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The following is a post from PhilChristensen, a boat reupholsterer. One would think he should know about boats and mildew. Here it is:
"I have had several people ask lately, how long should I expect my upholstery to last. Hard to answer but here goes. When it comes to cost, upholstery is a close second to engine replacement. Taking care of "what ya got" is important. That is the big variable when trying to answer the big question. The first boat I upholstered was my own over 10 years ago. In that time I have fought the mold, pollen, and walking wear pattern areas. My regiment is normally a good cleaning using Starbrite Mold and mildew remover, followed by 303 protectant. When using the mold remover, it always goes on dry seats and is massaged in with a stiff bristle brush. When the mold disappears, soap and water what you just cleaned. Do not try to do the whole boat at once. 1 or 2 seats at a time. You do not want this product to dry on the seats. After all your seats have been cleaned and have dried, use the 303 as you would Armoral on your car. Spray on and wipe off. Believe it or not I only do this whole thing once a year. Sometimes mid season some mold rears its ugly head on a few spots, so I just spot clean them. I do also give the girls in the stable a bath every 2 or 3 weeks with just soap and water. So in that 10 years on my first upholstered boat, I have had to replace the skin on one seat. It's the one that is stepped on when people get in. The swim platform is due this year due to the sun pounding it in my boathouse. I don't cover the boat much in the summer. Can you just upholster one seat and it match?? Yes, will your upholstery job last 10 years? Not if you do not use good quality materials. Upholstery work cost is about 85% labor when it comes to cost, so, why would you not use the best for your customers?? Recently I have been on a few estimates where my bid was $3,000 higher than "the other guy"! Really? Do you want to go with the lower bid? Just ask the guy on the estimate I gave him to re cover the boat he had just done 3 years earlier. He was sick. His words when we parted company,, "I certainly got what I paid for" there are a few professional shops around the lake and ours on the lake. Please choose one of us who will be here in 10 years to match the one seat!! If it sounds cheap, or $3000 less than the other guy, or no absolute promise of a finish date, beware. On average a full pontoon recover takes us 2 weeks. During busy times, 3. Will you loose the use of your boat for that whole time?? Not if you use our shop. We can pull a few at a time. While you are working 9-5 during the week, when you get here for the weekend, your boat has a few new seats on it. Same for the next week. Convenience is our main goal for our customers. I hope this helps anyone this year taking care of their boat or looking to redo their seats. Phil Christensen. Pushwater Marine Upholstery. 256-675-0194 "
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