Sunbrella fabric instead of vinyl for outside seats

I got really excited about the idea of replacing vinyl with sunbrella because of the warmer, comfier feel of fabric. I thought abought the dew in the morning that won't dry until it warms up or the air gets drier than the seating and every time someone sits down in a wet swimsuit while covered in sunscreen will make me neurotic about using a towel.

I concluded that this type of upholstering is meant more for the glamour set than my type of lifestyle. I am using a new color of Sunbrella(wheat) for the 1982 Mariner Bridge Canvas that I am refurbing. Still keeping the Searay until I know the Carver is reliable. Might be a while.

Eddie
 
I'm more of the glamor set... you should see the heels I wear on the boat....
 
The only shoes I wear are by sperry.. their boat-type tennis shoe is great. "Tennis shoe with a drain"

I can't believe that Hatteras, Viking, Lazzara, etc. are all using Sunbrella on their outdoor seats if it is so fragile as some people say. As I said, I have Sunbrella fabric on some of my outdoor furniture and it does not stay wet or get soaked like a normal fabric... In fact, I have a sunpad on the front of the boat in Sunbrella and its not all stained up... What the heck kind of sunscreen you people use?!
 
I think you should go with the nursing home look.
 
The only shoes I wear are by sperry.. their boat-type tennis shoe is great. "Tennis shoe with a drain"

I can't believe that Hatteras, Viking, Lazzara, etc. are all using Sunbrella on their outdoor seats if it is so fragile as some people say. As I said, I have Sunbrella fabric on some of my outdoor furniture and it does not stay wet or get soaked like a normal fabric... In fact, I have a sunpad on the front of the boat in Sunbrella and its not all stained up... What the heck kind of sunscreen you people use?!

From the posts and your own experiences, you know that Sunbrella is far from fragile. Evidently, 'sunscreen' is Sunbrella's kryptonite. My front sun pad has a 10" long smear of sunscreen that degreaser, bleach, pressure cleaner, etc. will not touch. I think it would be a nice upgrade, but the cockpit will require some diligence with the towels. I'm pretty sure the smear on my front sun pad was the result of a direct squirt of sunscreen that someone rubbed their hand over to 'clean it up'. I don't think it was secondary transfer from skin to fabric. So, it may not be that picky, but accidents are common among my tribe and, I would suppose, yours.
 
From the posts and your own experiences, you know that Sunbrella is far from fragile. Evidently, 'sunscreen' is Sunbrella's kryptonite. My front sun pad has a 10" long smear of sunscreen that degreaser, bleach, pressure cleaner, etc. will not touch. I think it would be a nice upgrade, but the cockpit will require some diligence with the towels. I'm pretty sure the smear on my front sun pad was the result of a direct squirt of sunscreen that someone rubbed their hand over to 'clean it up'. I don't think it was secondary transfer from skin to fabric. So, it may not be that picky, but accidents are common among my tribe and, I would suppose, yours.
Matt, Try Carbona dirt devil #5 on that spot. I had luck with a similiar stain and that was the only thing that worked after trying many other stain removers. It was listed on the Sunbrella website under "stain charts" and what to use to remove them. Good luck. Brian
 
To address Matt's sun tan lotion staining issue, I looked around a little more. I noticed that Front Gate offers a fabric upgrade on their outdoor teak furniture from Sunbrella to Crypton fabric. It says it is "completely stainproof". Anyone seen this stuff? I'm going to try and get some samples...

http://www.cryptonfabric.com/

Here's the stuff at Front Gate that has it:

http://www.frontgate.com/jump.jsp?i...DUCT&path=1,2,3558,3561,3597&iProductID=14762


We're in the process of completely refinishing the interior with this fabric (various designs carefully selected by those who should!). We talked to a couple people who have used it and they are completely satisfied. Easy clean-up after messy guests or children (same thing). I'm thinking of redoing the bridge seating with this stuff as well.

I'll post up before and after pics as soon as we finish.

We also avoid sunscreen since it seems to block the sun.
 
Yeah, I guess it better be (K)ryptonite for $50 or more per yard. That would have meant the Dinette cushions would have cost me $400 for fabric(8yds), $200 for foam. So probably close to $1000 if I would have paid someone to do it. Ouch.

I used the Sunbrella furniture, Dupione Palm, at $20/yd and thought it was pricey at around $375 total materials to remake my dinette. The outdoor Sunbrella can be bought for around $15/yd so too bad its not that stain resistant. I am definitely the sunscreen warden on my boat, too much skin cancer out there.

Eddie, still sticking(literally) to vinyl seating, Zuskin
 
I did it... The bench seat in the back and the backrest get installed tomorrow. I went by and looked at it today at their shop and I think it turned out great. It is far more comfy looking than the vinyl was.
 
I did it... The bench seat in the back and the backrest get installed tomorrow. I went by and looked at it today at their shop and I think it turned out great. It is far more comfy looking than the vinyl was.

Let's see some pictures. And make sure you're not wearing a thong with suncreen on your a$$ when you test them out.....
 
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

This is the first time I looked at this post and you probably won't care coming from me but I think replacing the white vinyl with a stripe of some kind will make the seating more distictive and inviting. I am looking forward to seeing the pictures.
 
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This is the first time I looked at this post and you probably won't care coming from me but I think replacing the white vinyl with a stripe of some kind will make the seating more distictive and inviting. I am looking forward to seeing the pictures.


Yeah I remember those. It should be really nice. I think it's a great idea.
 
Here's a picture....

IMG_2616.jpg


My wife is happy but as I look as this thing, it gives the boat more of a yacht look instead of a fish guts all over the cockpit look... hmm... I've been manipulated.

(Note the 55 foot Viking behind me and his electrical cord drooping in the water. I am going to go unplug him...)
 
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Wow, Gary. That looks GREAT. I had the idea and chickened out. Good move. Did you do the bridge too?
 
I did not do the bridge... but when my wife saw it last night and then went up to the bridge she said "You are going to take this boat to BIH with this crappy looking seating up here?" The vinyl on the bridge is in perfect shape.

Women....
 

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