How to Reupholster Back-to-Back Boat Lounge Seats

SKU: X-HT-300103
$0.00

Details

Details

On-board our Powerboat Makeover, a 1982 Regal 245 XL Ambassador, all of the original upholstery had seen better days, so we reupholstered all of the seating on the bridge deck. That included a back-to-back lounge seat, which also functions as the helm seat. In this video we’ll show you step-by-step how to reupholster a back-to-back lounge seat.

A back-to-back lounge seat is comprised of two chairs with adjoining backrests. All of the pieces of the chairs are on hinges, so the seats and backrests can be laid flat to create one, long lounger. There are several different styles of seats like this, so yours might not be quite the same as ours. We recommend paying close attention to how your chairs come apart, maybe even take photos of the disassembly process, so you can put it back in reverse order. It’s also a good idea to remove the old fabric carefully so it can be used to pattern your new fabric pieces.

We kept the upholstery in the same color scheme as the other seats on this boat, using three colors of Morbern® Seabrook Vinyl; a Lite Glacier channeling fabric, and Stinger Bisque and Midnight vinyl. To keep the look consistent we reused the pattern we made for the lounge cushion (#200704XHT) so we could replicate the same curved design.

We don’t cover the disassembly or reassembly process of the seats in the video, because this is specific to each seat design, but we do include how to upholster the base the seat sits on. We’ll also show you in detail how to pattern your fabric using the old fabric, how to cut the foam and how to upholster the seats.

  • Patterning the Seat Base - 1:01 min.
  • Sewing Vinyl Seat Cover - 3:52 min.
  • Applying Thin Foam to Base - 6:40 min.
  • Stapling Vinyl Cover to Base - 10:54 min.
  • Using Hidem Gimp Trim - 17:52 min.
  • Prepping Backer Board for Side Bolsters - 21:45 min.
  • Patterning & Sewing Side Bolsters - 24:18 min.
  • Cutting Foam & Attaching Side Bolsters - 31:36 min.
  • Patterning & Sewing Seat - 41:46 min.
  • Cutting Seat Foam - 1:00:52 min.
  • Stapling Seat to Backer Board - 1:03:04 min.
  • Assembly of Components - 1:09:12 min.
  • Materials List - 1:10:08 min.
  • Fabric Backed Sew Foam 1/4" #124306
  • Marine Vinyl Fabric (we used Morbern® Seabrook Stinger Bisque #105978 & Midnight #105987)
  • Marine Vinyl Channeling Fabric (we used Morbern® Seabrook Lite Glacier #105994)
  • Morbern Seabrook 3/4" Hidem Gimp (we used Lite Glacier #120132)
  • Tex 90 Polyester Thread or Sailrite® PTFE Lifetime Thread
  • Seabrook Vinyl Welting/Piping (we used Midnight #120144)
  • CushionRite® Premium Antimicrobial Foam #124236
  • Grosgrain Polyester Binding (we used beige #105423)
  • Seamstick 3/8" Basting Tape for Sailmaking & Vinyl #659
  • Sailrite® 21 Gauge 1/2" (12mm) Staples 10,000/Box (Stainless) #8012SS
  • Cushion Wrap Silk Film #103933 (optional)
  • Gingher® Scissors #19104 (right-handed)
  • Sailrite® Ultrafeed LS Walking Foot Sewing Machine #300500
  • 3M™ Super 77 Spray Adhesive #636
  • Sailrite® Long Nose Upholstery Staple Gun #121411
  • Tack & Staple Remover #104319
  • Clear Acrylic Ruler #102400
  • Magnetic Sewing Guide #102983
  • Pencil
  • Marker
  • Electric kitchen knife or Sailrite® Blade Foam Saw #121244
  • Wire cutters
  • Tape measure
  • Masking tape