Slight wrinkling on edge of new reupholstered vinyl seats?

J

joesearay2003

New Member
Oct 23, 2011
18
Maryland
Boat Info
2003 340 Sundancer
Engines
8.1 Mercruiser
Hello,
I just had the 3 bucket seats reupholstered on my 2003 340 Sundancer. The upholstery shop sent me photos of the seats (they are installing tomorrow) and I noticed some minor wrinkles around the curved edges of the buckets. Is this normal? I read that exposure to the sun will eventually shrink the vinyl once it gets hot out however my wife is upset with the wrinkles. Any insight would be appreciated.

JJ
seat.jpg
 
That would bother me too. Looks like they needed to strech the material out a bit more. I'm no expert at all but I had my seats done on my 320 Sea Ray and didn't end up with many if any wrinkles like that.

That does look like it would be a challange to make that top piece look perfect.
 
yeah. Guy removed my seats in November. He is finally installing now due to COVID-19 shutdown. Read that you can use a heat gun, steamer and/or just the sun to get out the wrinkles. Don't know if that is true or not?
 
I would tell him to put them in the sun and heat for a day. If that does not get rid of it he did not template right and it is too loose.
 
Filling out and tightening the vinyl would be dependent upon the foam cushion. Could be better or could be worse. Foam won't stretch. Maybe have to add foam cushion to stretch the vinyl.
 
ocgrant said:
I would tell him to put them in the sun and heat for a day. If that does not get rid of it he did not template right and it is too loose.
Click to expand...

I second this. Last year I had my upholstery replaced and had a wrinkle similar to yours on one of the curved pieces. The shop said it would disappear after a day in the warm sun. They were 100% correct.
 
joesearay2003 said:
Hello,
I just had the 3 bucket seats reupholstered on my 2003 340 Sundancer. The upholstery shop sent me photos of the seats (they are installing tomorrow) and I noticed some minor wrinkles around the curved edges of the buckets. Is this normal? I read that exposure to the sun will eventually shrink the vinyl once it gets hot out however my wife is upset with the wrinkles. Any insight would be appreciated.

JJView attachment 86091
Click to expand...

I don't think the wrinkles of that magnitude are going to come out. I would not accept it as once you have it installed and you pay for it then it becomes your problem. That vinyl needs to be stretched and restapled. When I install new skins I heat them up with a steamer to soften the vinyl and stretch them to fit and then attach to the backer. I would never have given a seat looking like that to someone who was paying for it.

-Kevin
 
I recently completed a 320DA set of helm seats which were much more complex than the 340s. Primarily because the armrests and the high seat back for one piece. Even the originals from the factory at a slight wrinkle at the turn of the arm rest.

The picture below is how it came out and how it was given to the customer (who also happened to be a friend).

IMG_20200401_172526251.jpg

Many people underestimate the amount of time required to properly install the skins once they are created. This one took hours to put back on.

-Kevin
 
Jeepers said:
Filling out and tightening the vinyl would be dependent upon the foam cushion. Could be better or could be worse. Foam won't stretch. Maybe have to add foam cushion to stretch the vinyl.
Click to expand...
Most of these pieces should be fabricated using foam backed vinyl. The foam backing helps to smooth out the contours of the foam structure.

-Kevin
 
KevinC said:
I recently completed a 320DA set of helm seats which were much more complex than the 340s. Primarily because the armrests and the high seat back for one piece. Even the originals from the factory at a slight wrinkle at the turn of the arm rest.

The picture below is how it came out and how it was given to the customer (who also happened to be a friend).

View attachment 86110

Many people underestimate the amount of time required to properly install the skins once they are created. This one took hours to put back on.

-Kevin
Click to expand...
Nice work!
 
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