Sunbrella fabric instead of vinyl for outside seats

Four Suns

Four Suns

Not a pot stirrer
TECHNICAL Contributor
Oct 4, 2006
10,533
Williamsburg, VA
Boat Info
2003 480 DB
Engines
QSM-11 Diesels
Hopefully this picture won't get deleted as I noticed the moderators keep deleting my pictures for some reason.

The 480DB has a single bench seat in the cockpit area against the transom. I believe all the Sea Ray bridge boats are this way and they don't have the plush wrap around u-seating. It's a simple seat and is even removable if you don't want to have any seating in the cockpit (like for fishing).

Anyhoo, the thing has seen its day with a few fish hooks and I need to get the vinyl replaced. I'm thinking about using a Sunbrella fabric as I've noticed this is becoming more popular for use in cockpit seating. Here's a Hatteras:

68ext2big.jpg


Note the seating... It's a lot warmer and more comfortable than the vinyl. I'm thinking of using a wide gray and white stripe instead of the all white vinyl. I would do the bridge seating to match... although the vinyl on the bridge looks brand new... but the fabric would really make it more plush IMO.

Does anyone have any experience with using Sunbrella on outdoor seating like this on a boat? I have some outdoor cushions at home here on the back patio made from Sunbrella and they are 5 years old and look brand new. They stay outside year round and are never covered.
 
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I think it's a great idea. On a past boat I owned I replaced all the interior with Sunbrella and it was much better than vinyl. It cleaned well and was very durable. In the cabin they were cooler and not sticky like vinyl. I now have black Sunbrella on my canvas and it gets hot. Be careful on dark color selection. I really like the new pattern Sunbrella or tweeds I bet they will hide staining better. I use trow pillows in cockpit that are Sunbrella and they give it a great look. It was my wife's idea (she's sitting next to me as I type this) By the way thanks for the outboard advice.
 
Here's one with the stripes although I think the stripes should be on the interior of the seat and the solid color on the outside... so this is reversed of what I would do but you can see what I'm talking about...

64ext2big.jpg
 
Gary...I noticed some of the Meridians have a blue and white "cloth" inset on the seat...probably is Sunbrella.
 
My wife really wants this... not me... She also wants a few throw pillows to match... Maybe a cactus plant also.
 
Tiara offers it. Don't care for the look personally although each to his own.
 
It must be good if Meridian and Tiara do it..............

I tend to think it is going to make the cockpit pretty "busy" unless you exercise some restraint in color and stripe sizes and I'm not sure you want to fish over fabric.
 
Gary,
Consider having the seats re-done in Vinyl, like stock and then have Sunbrella Seat Covers that can snap underneath. I don't know if there's relief under the seats to allow the snaps to not rub or scratch. Also, I don't know if the cost would probably double or not, but would give you something to remove and clean.
I don't know, just and idea.
 
Sunbrella has a great way to look at their samples:

http://www.sunbrella.com/FabricShowRoom.html?1&langu=en&region=1&

If you go to the "Furniture/Outdoor" section (not just the Marine section), you can see some of the patterns with coordinating solids (the chair and umbrella picture).

I hear ya on the "busy" look of stripes... Being an engineer, I'm going to take a picture of the cockpit and use my handy dandy mac and see if I can overlay the actual sample to see what it will look like. I'll also take the interior decorator from our house down and get an opinion. My wife wants to use her to redo all the soft goods in the boat anyway. This is a high-end person and not a "let me help you pick out some Rooms-to-Go furniture". You have to remember, however, this is nowhere near the amount of seating of a Sundancer.

The fishing thing will always be an issue regardless of fabric vs. vinyl. The fish hook issue happened when I used to leave the seat in the boat during the fall/winter.

I thought about the cover for the vinyl but it's just not the same. Having the job done right with proper cording, tightness, etc. really requires a permanent install. I will, however, get covers made for the seats anyway.
 
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Gary-
Why are you so hung up on looks all of the sudden?
I can see doing the bench in the cockpit, given that you remove it for fishing. But you also mentioned re-doing the bridge... you're not talking about the helm seats as well are you?
 
I'm not talking about the helm seats. The 480 DB has a large u-seating place in front of the helm:

DSC_0121.jpg


I would keep the cushions that are in there now and have new ones made with the sunbrella fabric... they are in great shape.. other than a few bullet holes.
 
I think it's a great idea. My canvas guy is coming over tomorrow to install a new mooring cover, I'll ask him about it.
I'm wondering if a closed-cell foam is required, as Sunbrella is not waterproof (especially after a few years) and water getting through the fabric might get trapped?
 
Be careful of the sunscreen on Sunbrella. It stains permanent. I have stains on the front cushions from it and that is why I did not recover the cockpit bench with Sunbrella. If you have covers or your family is better about putting towels down, great, but my tribe is, well, destructive.
 
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