After 10 years, still good video. I hope you are doing well.

PS: We also get a lot of heavy wind. The thread must withstand that buffeting as well. Acrylic materials and Urethanes have long since taken over for the exposed uses putting up very well with bleach. Vinyl has not been used for years because it has so many drawbacks and a very short lifespan compared to the other modern materials. I can't even remember when I last sewed a vinyl boat top. I can remember when I last used one and the fight coming back to the dock to install the shrunken material with snaps and twist locks. It never seemed to stabilize shrinking each time it was stowed. No, the material is a much lesser problem nowadays, it is the thread that lets loose. Seems to be worth a try.

How did you avoid the most common and necessary product on boat tops, etc. which grow mold and mildew, i.e., bleach?? Where I live we most generally need a good cleaning once or twice a year and it takes a fairly strong solution of bleach and soap. Also, by the manufacturer's own statistics bonded polyester loses almost sixty percent of its strength in two years of outdoor exposure. Just the sunlight and weathering. Since we also get a fair amount of wet heavy coastal snow this strength is important for a boat top to hold up until it can be brushed off. I have used 135 bonded polyester for my tops with triple stitching on all seams. I can get about ten years of service out of a boat top. Sun is not as much a problem here with it being overcast and raining the large majority of the time. Since the life of the Stamoid or Sunbrella is much longer than this it makes the use of Tenara worthwhile when compared to the cost of new material in today's market. I am hoping to get fifteen to twenty years of service and still be able to clean the tops as needed with bleach and soap to keep them looking new. We will see. There is no denying that the cost is prohibitive and is the sole reason I haven't gone to using it years ago. Nothing, and I mean nothing even comes close to bleach when fighting green or black mold. It is effective and quick so the solution does not sit on the material for overly long and the owner does not have to endure lengthy scrubbing for little result as with other products touted touted as effective against mold. Using bleach you spray it on with a garden sprayer mixed with soap to let it adhere to vertical surfaces better and wait fifteen minutes, spray it off with a low power pressure washer (1500 psi or less works well). Really bad situations may require one additional application and that is it. Show me any other product that can do that, that is recommended by the manufacturers of thread and material and I would be very greatful.

Thanks for the video, Larry. One question, did you do this test with any bleach containing products? I wonder if the polyester can handle bleach like Tenara can.

Larry, thank you so much for inspiring me to take on my first upholstery project, a 1990 ski nautique that needs all new interior. I am just about finished with my first piece, the engine cover, and I have learned so much from your videos! You are a natural born teacher (I should know... I am a high school shop teacher 😀) and there is no way I could be doing this without your guidance. I have watched every one of your videos and studied them much like a textbook. I hope you are doing well and hopefully considering doing some more videos. Also, I tried searching for boating banter, but I'm not coming up with much, is it is still around? If so, please let me know, as I would like to check it out. Thank you again for everything Larry! You are a true inspiration!

How can I find chapter 5? This is a awesome find thank you for the information it's very helpful!

Great video! Quick question for you! I’m in the process of a total rehab on a 2006 Tige Ski boat (inboard). The engine cover is my final piece to reupholster, but this boat was left out in the sun and half of the vinyl has torn off, which makes it hard to get the exact pattern. Any tips or advice for me since I can’t just reuse the old material for the pattern? Should I just try to keep all seams on the line of the Curve? Thanks

Great job larry ! is that sewing machine also from sailrite?

I wish you would have shown how you pulled on the curve. I am having the same issue

What ever happened to Larry??

I also do upholstery,most of my customers would not agree with that being a good job....those wrinkles got to go

Great help to me. Jumped into this game head first. It really isn't a mystery. As always its the tools sequence and materials. You helped me find the initiative to go for it. Thanks.

Advice for the silk film, it actually is used to wrap the foam, seal it shut except for a space to insert a vacuum cleaner nozzle. You vacuum out the air, put the cushion inside your cushion cover before it re-expands. Line it up with corners, etc., before it fully expands. You will never struggle to get foam inside of a cover again. It might take a day for the foam to fully "re-inflate". You will be amazed at how fast you can get cushions put back together with less stress! Also works on pillow forms and you can sew the seam shut before it fully inflates-most of the time.

Hey, you seem to know what your doing Janice Holbert

Larry, your videos inspired me to buy an old sewing machine and tackle my boat. You are a great teacher and craftsman. Haven’t seen any new videos from you, but I hope you are doing well and enjoying yourself. :)

I may come see you. I am in Auburn and are restoring a 1960 Boat. I am making the seats as they were missing..

though I am 6 years late in viewing your YT, I think you did a great job, however, always, I say always add the seam to your fabric then you won't be short and mess up the lines on the backrest and bench. Oh well. You probably figured that out by now. thanks for sharing. great work, Larry!

I just found you on YT not too long ago! I love your candor, humility, and quality of work/talent. Excellent job, Larry! I do upholstery here in Kemah TX and yes, we charge a boat-load (pun intended) for marine canvas and upholstery! I agree it's about a 35-40 hour job.

Can I please get the templates for the Mariah seats and head rest? Please. [email protected]

Thanks for the reviews. I appreciate the honest feedback, wisdom, likes & dislikes on these machines. I’m a woodworker and wanted to get into framing and upholstering furniture. The fabricator appears to be the one for speed control, noise, bobbin size and American made.

looking great, would love to see how all your projects looking installed in the boats maybe an update video on some of your work?

great job here Larry I think your head rest looks best out of the four!

really like the new camera angle. got a better perspective of the machine

Instead of staples, have you tried using double sided seam tape? Which do you like better and why?

Captain Larry, I really appreciate you replying to my last message. I would like your guidance again. I started working with a marina owner, opening a new canvas business. He promised to take me as a partner sharing the profit. We were in clothing alteration business and didn't have experience in marine canvas business. However, by studying your videos and others, we were able to reupholster boat seats beautifully as our first order. The customer was extremely happy. For the reupholstering, cleaning and other mendings the total charge to the customer was $2620. Myself and one of my family member worked very hard for a week and a few days. However, my supposed partner paid us $750 for it, which is only 28.6% of the bill. I wanted to ask you what is the fair labor cost in this industry? In alteration business the true labor cost was 60% or more, so we were shocked at what we were paid. After $390 supply cost, he took in $1480, which is 56.5% of the total. We used his facility, equipment and etc., yet we feel we weren't compensated for the true labor cost, not even to mention sharing a penny from the profit. What % do you think we should have been paid? Thank you!

I LOVE your videos and NO this video was not boring. It was just what I was looking for. I too had thought about using our old memory foam topper, but decided to go with marine grade due to the antimicrobial properties. Saving the memory foam for indoor projects. Thanks so much for putting so much time into making your wonderful instructional videos. My boat will be beautiful because of you!

Does Sailrite offer discounts to upholstery workrooms? We're a shop that does some marine application upholstery work and looking for a company who gives discounts.

Sailrite sells piping already with the vinyl over it.... saves time

Thank you Captain Larry for these videos. I have a question reg fabrics. You said you extensively use Nautolex Grand Cayman - Smoke White 7630-03 from Rochford @ $13.72. How about Morbern Seabrook - Sea White @ $11.70? Have you tried it? Is it not flexible enough? I need vinyl that will shrink well with heat. I thought maybe the reason why you don't use Seabrook was because it isn't sn't as good. Thanks.

I am preparing to redo some of the seats on my older MasterCraft. Where do you recommend I go for materials?

Very nice! I just finished 2 motorhome recliners. I've learned quite a bit watching your videos, keep up the good work.

Larry - I have to give you a HUGE vote of thanks for producing this series of Videos on Boat upholstery - I have an old 1987 boat I am refurbishing and was looking for videos on how to do boat upholstery repairs and between your series and those produced by Sailrite, I am off to the races with my project. Your videos are well filmed and pleasant to watch as well as being full of useful tips and guides so a BIG thank you Sir. :)

Thanks Captain Larry!

You are a true craftsman, Larry. Love your videos. What do you think an upholsterer would charge for a job like the one you are doing ?

Glad to see you doing videos again. I too was using an old Singer for my projects and I just completed my first full 24' pontoon upholstery job. I found the Singer to be very lacking and was going to buy the LS-1 from sailrite after watching your videos. This new fabricator machine looks like a dream. I think I will save a little more money and get this one instead. Thanks for the video, keep up the good work and have a fine boating day!

Thanks for the overview.... just what I was looking for!

Wow! Thank you for these videos and taking the time to share with us your years of skilled knowledge that you have amassed! Your videos are so helpful and the time you took to make them for boaters is so generous. Thank you for sharing your trade!!!

Larry, thank you for sharing your knowledge. Your videos have been instructional and your demeanor is very pleasant.

Excellent work Larry, I've dabbled in boat upholstery. You inspire me to attack a bigger project.

Haven't seen a new video in a while. Are you still at it?

Chapter 1 done. Looking forward to the rest of your videos Larry. You may have just become my new boat upholstery mentor.

Sir. I like your vedios and thought i will ask you . What you think of double niedeled machines( double stitching)

I just discovered this series! Wow! I was so impressed by just the first 5 videos, I have taken on the reupholstery project of my 1992 pontoon!

Larry, I have and use the Harbor Freight hot knife. I turn it all the way up and hold the trigger(forever), takes a long time to heat up and is akward that I have to hold the trigger the full time I'm using it.

By the way you called this chapter 53, but the screen flash says Chapter 54.

This is an awesome find, I can't believe I stumble upon this video just by logging into KZbin and it popped up on its own. Believe it or not I just purchased the vinyl material to cover that exact seat for the Kawasaki 650 SC Jet ski I was wondering about how to go about the relief cut out seams you did in the corners from the seat back to the bottom. The original did not have the relief cut for the concaved areas. Thank you so much for this video. I know of several people with these machines whose vinyl is in the same shape as the one you took off. Thanks Ricky

Hi Larry, thank you for your great videos! Currentliy i upholster a Backrest of an Cobal 190. My problem is to staple in the Backrest. I use the pneumatic Staplegun Arrows PT50 and Arrows T50 Staples in stainless and monel. The staples don´t penetrate the Material/ go into the Backrest. What accurate type of staples do you use? Who is the manufacturer? What is the type?

Would like to see one of these on side panels with sharp inside corners as well as sharply stepped outside corners maybe ? I'm not haveing much luck forming the vinyl around these kind of jobs.

I have been looking over your videos off and on for a while now since I have begun restoring boats and reselling them. I have just got to take this little bit of time to say THANK YOU for sharing all this knowledge with the rest of the world. There are a lot of us that just don't have the money to have a professional do these kind of things for us. I am amazed at the amount of detail that you include in each one of these videos . Keep up the great threads , I just wanted you to know that " we the people " appreciate your efforts .

hi Larry, me again, have you ever used foam backed vinyl? does it hide better?