7 Steps to De-Winterize Boat's Upholstery

Getting ready to de-winterize your boat? When you pull back that cover for the first time, hopefully you see a pristine interior, but if not, with the help of our friends at Paradise Upholstery we have prepared a few key tips for boat de-winterization upholstery care.

1) When to start.  

It is prudent to attack the interior cleaning process after the mechanical de-winterization process. Engine and mechanical fluids and greasy hand prints can make their way on to upholstery. So, wait until the boat is running, then attack the interior last.

2) Do a survey.  

Don’t just jump in and start cleaning. Take time to survey the entire boat stem to stern to look at your upholstery including seat covers, carpeting, and other coverings.  Hopefully your issues are few, but in some cases mildew or worse – varmints – may have had months to degrade upholstery.  Once you have your list, start with the worst problems and work your way up.

3) Repairing cuts, rips, burns, and tears.   

Vinyl repairs smaller than a quarter can typically be repaired with a vinyl repair kit.  A caveat is when the damage is on a seam, which typically require professional repair. For small repairs, we recommend the following kits: 3M, Restor-It Quick, and Tear-Aid vinyl repair kits. Follow the manufacturer instructions and watch how-to videos on YouTube to help with the process. Most importantly when repairing small cuts and burns in vinyl, clean up the damaged area by trimming edges and frays.  You want a clean, crisp edge to start.  With burns, cut out the burn and insert a cotton or canvass backing below the burn hole before applying the patch.

4) Professional repairs. 

For larger rips, cuts, burns or discoloration, seek out a professional marine upholsterer. They are more familiar with the harsh outdoor and UV conditions that boat upholstery will face.  We suggest you make such repairs over the winter and simply reinstall after the de-winterization process. There are some OEM and aftermarket upholstery kits available that can also make this a DIY job. Shop around, check references.

5) Boat carpet cleaning.  

Most boat carpeting, except for fishing boats, is removable.  If removable, take it out and lay in the sun on your drive way, dock, patio or wherever you have a large flat surface. If possible, vacuum the carpet first. Then soak with a hose.  We recommend using Dawn or Simple Green as the shampoo or any of the marine carpet shampoos will do. (Note, Dawn can remove boat wax, so be careful with using it near waxed surfaces.)  Use a soft bristle brush and a moderate amount of detergent (two cap fulls per gallon max). Work the shampoo in circular motions into the carpet. Let it sit for a few minutes, then hose off. For extra dirty carpets, repeat. If possible, hang the carpets and continue rinsing the suds out, keep rinsing until the water runs clear with no suds.  Hang in the sun to dry.  Some people like to power wash carpets. This can be done, but use the wide spray head from about 10” above the carpet. Marine carpet has a rubber backing and intense spay can blow it right off the back of the carpet. Reinstall the carpet after the final interior wipe down and after all surfaces have thoroughly dried.

Car Wash Warning:  While taking your boat to the self-car wash may seem like a good idea, the soaps used on cars can remove boat wax and UV protectant. A garden hose and mild dish washing soap or marine grade detergent is all that is needed.

6) Wipe Down.

Cleaning Mildew.  Address any mildew growth before a general wipe down.  The best home-brew mildew cleaner is made from 1 ½ cups of ammonia and ½ cup hydrogen peroxide. Wear rubber gloves and wipe off the mildew areas. Maintain good ventilation to prevent nausea from the ammonia fumes.  There are many over the counter mildew cleaners too. The key is to kill the mildew spores before attempting a general wipe down.

Wash & Final Wipe down.  Use a mild dish washing detergent or marine grade vinyl cleaner for the final all-surface wipe down.  A half-gallon of water to 2 tablespoons of detergent is the appropriate strength.  Change the water often for heavily soiled jobs. Wipe down hard surfaces and appliances using appropriate surface cleaners.

Note: Use copious amounts of fresh water to remove soap and disinfectant residue before adding a UV protectant – see #7.

7) Apply a UV vinyl protectant.  

Like your skin, the sun’s UV rays can damage vinyl if left unprotected. Products such as 303 Marine Vinyl Protectant and 3M’s Vinyl Conditioner & Protectant will help keep your boat upholstery looking great all season.  Reapply as directed.

After you have your boat looking spanking new, get her in the water and take some great photos and turn those photos into a Stern Memories boat name portrait.  It will be a keepsake you will cherish forever.

Happy boating in 2017!

THE MOST UNIQUE BOATING GIFT YOUR WILL EVER GIVE OR RECEIVE!

www.SternMemories.com

314.403.2142

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Connect on LinkedIn

Follow us on Google+