How To Increase The Durability of Your Boat's Vinyl Seats
03/13/23 | Palmetto Marine Restorations
ShareThe surfaces of your boat can be affected by sun, weather, and time. Your boat's vinyl seats are one of these surfaces at risk, and without the right protection or products to maintain durability, you can run into some costly repairs down the road such as fading or cracking.
Damage on your vinyl seats can also occur due to excessive water, mold/mildew, aging, impacts and /or stains from objects or passengers, and improper storage. We mention these risks to point out the importance of increasing and maintaining the durability of your boat's vinyl seats.
Using the right cleaning products on your marine vinyl seats and upholstery can have a huge impact on the overall durability. A good cleaner will brighten the surfaces without leaving any residue or streaking.
Protecting your vinyl upholstery should always be done after the seats are cleaned, and a good protection product will provide the best UV resistance and will leave a dry, matte finish without any greasy looks or feels. Using the right quality towels for wiping and drying will also play a role.
This will prevent any fading or cracking of the vinyl, as well as repelling any smudges, dust, and other stains. With proper routine care using a good cleaner and protectant, you can expect durability year-round.
If it is the time of year where you store your boat at a location (such as the winter months), it is important to understand that you should be storing your boat and covering it a certain way too.
For prevention of mold and mildew growth, we strongly recommended to use a cover made of a breathable fabric, which allows moisture to dissipate so that mold and mildew quickly doesn't build up inside your boat and on the seats.
For even better protection and durability, you should consider adding ceramic coating to the surfaces of your boat's vinyl seats. This added layer of protection not only assists with resistance against UV rays, but also has hydrophobic effects that make water fall right off the surface.
This is a service you leave in the hands of a professional such as Palmetto Marine Restorations. We are a certified ceramic coating installation business located all throughout Charleston, South Carolina!
We hope this article gave you a better understanding of maintaining the durability of your boat's vinyl seats and upholstery. For other advice and tips on marine restoration, protection, and boating in general, feel free to check out our other blog posts.