06 Dash - anyone re-dyed the leather? To bring back to OEM

[biacs]

Hi all,
Thinking about a couple things over the winter to tackle. Now compared to my new seat skins, my dash pad looks pretty sad. The gray shows a little aging, and could definitely use a tuneup. Also has a small rip at the front thumb screw that never seems to want to come out.

Has anyone tried automotive seat dyes? I think seat doctor is popular.

It would be great to re-stain the dash and bring it back to a nice bright gray.

Just wondering, haven’t really seen much in web searches on just refreshing the leather dash material.

[196Mike]

biacs,

My 06 dash is starting to show its age as well. NautiqueParts shows my dash as discontinued, so I am looking to have it refurbished. If anyone has had there's done, I am interested.

Mike

[FMSKI]

For automotive, a latex/water-based paint, call it leather "dye" (its not) is used for surface refinishing. You can also fill holes with it using thickened paint. It's definitely a specialized formulation over house paint, as its got alcohol and some leather scent. Works well.

There are vinyl paints as well, oil based.

Good surface prep, clean with alcohol, scuff with 3M green pad. I like the water-based stuff from World Upholstery.com Put in a mini gun and spray on in light coats for a matte finish.

[NautiqueJeff]

First, the material is not leather. It is vinyl. Leather wouldn't last long at all in the marine environment. The only time I ever heard of Nautique using leather was in the original Ski Nautique Paragons from the mid-90's.

I might suggest removing the vinyl and using a textured paint like what we did on my speaker panels on my current restoration project. It looks just as good, and will probably hold up better than new vinyl or staining old vinyl.

[biacs]

Wow nice!

[NautiqueJeff]

More info here:
https://www.planetnautique.com/vb5/f...401#post658401

[bturner]

Jeff, do you have any information on the product that was actually used like the brand and part number.

[gun-driver]

I used this on my 2000 Sport, looks like new and has held up great.

[FMSKI]

SEM is good stuff. I've got a couple of cans of Classic coat too, I used that on my speaker rings.

I also used leather in the boat for my old motor box, driver and passenger seating. The seating was fine 10 years in of full summer use, & under the Bimini top. The exposed motor box cover did shrink in the weather, so lasted only the 10 years, chucked it.

[morfoot]

I've used Bumper black to restore the black vinyl on the 88' and 99' SN's that I have. A quick search on the "Magic Box" to see if there is a Gray equivalent resulted in this. Might be worth a shot.

Amazon.com: Solution Finish - Grey Plastic & Vinyl Restorer - Use for Car and Truck Detailing - 12 oz. : Automotive

[NautiqueJeff]

Wow Morfoot, those are some LONG Ski Nautiques!