Your boat’s upholstery is one of the most important ways to really showcase your personal style. It’s also something that takes the comfort of a day out on a lake to a whole different level! Unfortunately it is also extremely expensive to replace, which makes proper maintenance so incredibly important. Over the next several paragraphs I’m going to detail several ways you can maintain the integrity of your boat upholstery for years to come, saving you a great deal of money in the long run and increasing the resale value of your boat when it comes time to upgrade to something bigger and better.
First of all, the most important part of maintaining your boat upholstery is to protect it from the elements. Especially the sun. There is nothing as damaging to vinyl and thread as the sun’s rays and the best way to protect your upholstery is to cover your boat. A properly fitted storage cover will save you a great deal of time and money in the long and short run by keeping your upholstery clean and protected. A cheap, ill-fitted, leaking tarp from a big box store is not enough to protect your boat from the sun’s rays and will only allow water to pool into your boat’s interior, providing a warm, damp place for mold to grow. A well-fitted cover, while a moderate up front expense, will save you significant expense in the long run.
Winter conditions are also incredibly damaging to your upholstery so proper winter storage is also very important. Whether you rely on a boat storage company to clean and store your boat for the winter or you take care of it on your own, the worst thing you can do is leave your boat out over the winter to get destroyed by the elements. Once again, a cheap, ill fitted tarp is one of the worst ways to store your boat over the winter. You are almost guaranteeing problems with your upholstery and the rest of your boat’s interior. Your primary goal with your winter boat storage method is to allow for proper ventilation, while also keeping any moisture off out of your boat’s interior. In coming blog posts we are going to detail the different ways to store your boat over the winter and the advantages and disadvantages of each, as well as a product we believe provides a solution to the problem of winter boat storage.
The next component of taking care of your boat upholstery is to clean it regularly using products recommended by the material’s manufacturer or your upholstery manufacturer. This will not only keep them looking great, but will also condition the material and help protect it from mold growth. Mold grows in damp conditions on dirty surfaces, keeping your upholstery clean will go a long way to keeping mold growth at bay. Make sure you are gentle when cleaning your upholstery, never, ever powerwash your upholstery. Much like boat covers it will remove any protective coating and allow mold to grow quickly. Use soft cloths, soft brushes, approved cleansers, and clear low flowing water to clean your upholstery. Make sure you get into all the nooks and crannies as well. Remember, mold requires dirt and moisture to grow.
Following these easy steps is a great way to make sure that your upholstery is comfortable and stylish for years to come!
Stayed tuned for our next posting series where we will outline various winter storage options.
Happy Boating!
Jennifer