Replacing seat skins on your own?

[FLY6584]

Well it looks like I'm about to finalize the deal on a 2004 SAN 210. The boat is immaculate aside from a couple seat bottoms that show some wear. I am thinking about ordering new skins from either nautiqueparts.com (OEM skins) or nautiqueskins.com (Aftermarket Skins) and I have a couple of questions.

First of all how do the aftermarket nautiqueskins compare to the OEM skins in price and quality?

And secondly how difficult would it be to install the new skins myself if I am only replacing 3-4 seat bottoms and I have a staple gun with stainless steal staples?

Thanks!

[TRBenj]

$5 says the OEM seat skins that White Lake sells come from Christine's (Nautiqueskins). I would consider them OEM skins, not aftermarket. They are the same quality as the factory skins. I am not aware of Correct Craft making factory skins for boats that are no longer in production.

If the skins in question are basic squares, you might be ok doing them yourself... but theyre probably not cheap, and may be worth paying a pro to do. If theyre complex, Id definitely lean towards letting a pro handle it.

[peteb]

I just redid 4 seats on two different skiers within the last few weeks. I was going to order my new skins from Christine's and when they said best delivery was 6-8 weeks rough guess I searched for a different place to they them. I called Zach over at N3 Boatworks in Indy and ordered them through N3. Shipped my old skins to there other upholstery shop in Indiana and I had the new skins in a week. Make sure to order the plastic film cover to install over the new foam for ease when pulling the new vinyl over and the bottom mesh covering to replace the old with new. Be patient and make sure to take your time when installing the new skins. If you need to get any custom nautique graphics in the new skins I would go to Christine's and no other. If the seats are just bottoms and don't have the embroidery then N3 s guy is good. Match was perfect for a 90 skier and 2000 skier. If you want I'll send some pictures. Take a lot of pictures as your take apart the old skins and remember the order for the foam sections as well. It will pay off.

[pe4me]

What Pete said. I redid a 94 Prostar 205. Patience is key. Start on the easier cushions (basic squares) make sure the vinyl is warm sun/heat gun pull snug, not too loose, not too tight. Start in the middle of cushions and work to the side, probably the biggest thing for me. Skip the harbor freight type tools, get a Spot nailer/stapler and it is not as impossible as it first seemed. The reason I did it was cost 70% and 30% because I had the time and ambition. I got a new compressor, a few tools that dont really use and saved $1500.
In the end it was rewarding and learned a ton about the inner workings of a boat. I was surprised at how LITTLE there was to that prostar with a few hours of pulling upholstery.
Good Luck

[TRBenj]

90 skier and 2000 skier

I think you mean Ski Nautique. Correct Craft made the Skier from ~1968-1975, but thats quite a different model than the ones youre describing.

[Chexi]

Use the sun (best) or hair dryer (not nearly as good), but I would not recommend using a heat gun. It is way to easy to melt your vinyl with a heat gun.

Get a pneumatic stapler that has staples as wide as the ones you are pulling. I used a narrow crown stapler (which was recommended), and it was less than ideal. The wider the crown of the staple, the more holding power it will have and the less likely it will shoot through the vinyl. Also, the bigger staples go into fiberglass or plastic much better (there are a few spots where you may be tacking to fiberglass and not starboard). The little narrow crown ones bend like crazy. If I were going to do it all over again, I would definitely buy a new pneumatic stapler.

Check my album to see my vinyl redo (I did use Christine's / Nautiqueskins.com).

[peteb]

Ditto on pe4me's comment about working form the center towards the ends. Make sure to line up the skin at each end prior to your first staple in the center so you dont get to the ends and find out your off a little.
TRBenj: yes Ski Nautitque, skier is short for typing. But who cares what the boat is when your discussing redoing seat vinyl. It could be a seat on a canoe and its done the same, right!!!