The Upholstery Forum

well I have a new boat coming so I decided do my own seats and canopy. boat came with basic pedestal seats that will be removed and replaced with two air ride seats I got from kenworth dump trucks from a previous employer I still do work for at times, seats were replaced so I got them free and they were actually in good shape for what I needed, foam was good and mechanically they were good other then needing new shocks which is common.

the rear bench seat was an option for my boat and was $1400 which obviously I could do cheaper plus I wanted 2 storage seats placed lengthwise behind the main seats, I built both seats for about $700 and I like them more the whats offered by the boat manufacture.

old cover as a pattern


new material, I used spradling zander dove grey and burgundy


here's mine vs the better of the two stock seats, there's a cover on the seat back and armrest's, bottom cushion I guess wore out long ago. mine's not perfect and has a few wrinkles but I'm learning and for a fishing boat its good enough.

the bench seats I done an aluminum box 30"X18" and 16" high with a plywood based cushion and 4" medium foam.





for the backrests I made bolsters to mount to the gunnel.
my bolster clip's are for 1/4 plywood and I had 3/8, I dont own a wood router but I do have a milling machine so I worked around that.



here's the bolster all done.


and finally the whole setup, armrest's are done and reinstalled here as well. there is now snaps on the straps of the bench's to keep them shut as well.


when I actually get the boat I will post pictures of the seats installed, but here's the boat at the dealer, still waiting on athe engine.

That's awesome! Nice work! Those inside corners where you are experiencing wrinkling take a lot of practice to get right. Everything else looks really good

Cant wait to see it all finished up!

thanks John! its funny the first one I done actually had less wrinkles then the 2nd, and while I was sewing the 2nd I was convinced it was sewing better then the first. then I flipped it inside out and got a surprise.

I know you advocate steam a lot, is this a situation where steaming before/ during sewing would help reduce wrinkles ? if so would you do both color's in my case or just the burgundy thats wrinkling ?

No I dont ever steam fabric before sewing unless it has a crease from sitting around folded up for a long time. You want to use the steam when you are installing the cover to the seat. It will get everything to relax and allow you to pull the cover tighter. That's what will help with the wrinkles.

Also I'm not sure how you sewed it all up. I would suggest when you sew pieces with inside curves like that I would start with the red piece on the bottom and the gray piece on the top. I find its easier to get a smother corner this way. Also make sure to give yourself lots of relief cuts in the corners on the red piece.

I did sew in that orientation but I never made any cuts, how deep do you usually make them? would 3/8" on a 1/2" seam be good or to much and 1/4" be better.

3/8 is good and what I aim for on 1/2" seam allowance. 1/4 probably wont be enough.

thanks John, I cant wait to do another seat now to try that out!

still no boat due to yamaha's engine shortage but luckily I have a engine on the way so with the boat due in 2 weeks I got some measurement's from a friend's identical hull so I could at least get the frame and top done, when I have the boat I will pattern the side's and front.

first I built my frame, I wanted the front to cantilever out so when the side and front curtains are off its open and clear.


I was hoping the top would be one solid piece but while patterning this corner wouldn't lay flat.


so I struck a line above the wrinkle started then patterned in this piece


came out pretty good, my pattern plastic was folded in a box until 5 min before I done this so its as good as I can get it, should be better in canvas.


no sand bags but I do have a lot of cast iron skillets!


I had to do 3 pockets at the front due to the 2 upper bars on my cantilever overhang. also made up the front drop down that the windshield section will attach to afterwards. side's and back will be all snaps.


here's where I left off tonight, sewing the front assembly together, tomorrow I will do the top stitch then do a reinforcement strip where snaps will go and do the binding around the edge.

cutting shelter vinyl strips to reinforce the edges that have snaps.


all sewn up except zipper pockets.


test fit with some clamps, i'm happy with how its turning out.

Looks great! Nice work

well Ive been lacking on posting here so here is an update. I have the boat and have done a ton of work. including installing my seats, and basically finishing my canopy.

top on and patterning the front.


I also picked up a walking foot machine, the singer didnt like feeding the slippery topgun canvas. its the same as a sailrite ultra feed but with a longer arm and sold here in canada which was a big factor for shipping and dollar exchange right now, I also got the upgraded monster wheel and not in this picture but I replaced the little motor with a sailrite workhorse servo motor which was a MAJOR upgrade, cant say enough good about it.


windshield section on.


patterning the sides

sides on

inside view with the seats.



old picture showing the front of seats.



patterning the drop curtain


all finished just waiting on a shipment containing more sap so I can install on the boat.

Thanks for Sharing , you put in a lot of hard work! looks awesome!