Boat Upholstery and Marine Seat Repair
Boat upholstery lives a hard life. It's in direct sun all summer, wet half the time, and sealed under a cover all winter. Cracked vinyl, split seams, and seats that squish water when you sit on them are just part of owning a boat in the Midwest. Don's Auto Interiors & Tops has done marine upholstery out of our Alsip shop for decades, alongside our auto and convertible work.
What we do for boats
- Complete boat interior reupholstering
- Boat seat repair and replacement in marine-grade vinyl
- Cushions: V-berth, dinette, bow, sun deck, and cockpit
- Hull liners and sailboat cushions
- Foam replacement: including waterlogged and collapsed seats
- Wood frame repair and replacement for seat bases
- Marine carpet installation and replacement
- Snap and zipper repair
For covers, bimini tops, and canvas, see boat covers and canvas.
Why marine upholstery is different from car upholstery
Boat seats aren't car seats that got wet. Marine work uses different materials and construction:
- Marine-grade vinyl is made to resist UV, mildew, and constant moisture far better than automotive vinyl.
- Foam for boats needs to handle water and dry out. Standard foam acts like a sponge.
- Seat bases are often wood or composite. Once water gets into a wood base, it rots from the inside and screws stop holding.
- Thread and hardware need to stand up to UV and corrosion, or seams and snaps fail early.
When we rebuild a seat, we look at the whole thing, not just the cover. New vinyl over rotted wood or wet foam won't last.
Common problems we fix
- Cracked or sun-faded vinyl
- Split seams, especially on bolsters and seat fronts
- Seats that hold water and smell musty
- Soft or broken seat bases
- Cushions that have flattened and no longer support you
- Torn or moldy carpet
- Broken snaps and zippers on removable cushions
Plan around the boating season
Here, the best time to redo boat upholstery is after haul-out in the fall or over the winter. Spring is crunch time. Everyone wants their boat ready for Memorial Day, and upholstery shops book up. If you get your boat or removable cushions to us in the off-season, your seats will be ready when the boat goes back in.
Removable cushions and seats can be dropped off at our shop. Talk to us about larger jobs on boats that are on a trailer.
Matching, colors, and custom work
If you're replacing only some seats, we'll talk through matching. New vinyl rarely matches seats that have spent ten summers in the sun. Some owners recover everything for a uniform look, and others do the most visible seats first. If you want to change the color scheme or add contrast piping, we can do that too.
Boaters we serve
We work with boaters across the south and southwest suburbs, Chicago, and Northwest Indiana, including Lake Michigan boaters and owners on inland lakes and rivers. Many customers bring us both their car and their boat. Being an auto and marine shop is one of the things that makes Don's different. Learn more on our Northwest Indiana page.
Keeping new upholstery looking good
- Clean marine vinyl with products made for it. Harsh cleaners strip the protective finish.
- Cover the boat when it's not in use to cut UV exposure.
- Let cushions dry out and store removable ones somewhere ventilated over the winter.
Free estimates
Send us photos of your seats or cushions (a wide shot and close-ups of the damage) through our contact page, or call (708) 371-8020, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Our shop is at 11937 S. Cicero Ave, Alsip, IL 60803.
Request a free boat upholstery estimate →
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to have boat seats redone?
The off-season. Once boats come out of the water in the fall, it's much easier to schedule upholstery work and have the boat ready for launch in spring. Waiting until May means competing with everyone else.
Can you repair one torn seat, or do I need to redo the whole boat?
We can repair or replace individual seats and cushions. If your other seats are faded, we'll talk with you about matching, since new marine vinyl next to sun-faded vinyl can look different.
Do you replace the foam and wood bases too?
Yes. Waterlogged foam and rotted wood seat bases are common on older boats. We replace foam and repair or replace wood frames as part of the job.
Do you work on pontoons and sailboats?
Yes. We work on pontoons, bowriders, fishing boats, cruisers, and sailboats, including V-berth, dinette, bow, and sun deck cushions and hull liners.
Related
Request a free estimate or call (708) 371-8020.