Critters ate some of my boat seat - repair suggestions please

[Sandy Beach]

Originally Posted by Skipper of the Sea Que

The marina still has not come up with a suggestion or estimate.

Did you get your problem solved Skipper? I recently got upholstery damage on my boat that is too big to patch. I'm interested in what happened to you and your seat problem. I'm not sure what to do.

Do those vinyl repair kits advertised on TV work as they say and can they handle a large area?

The damage to your boat is awful but it looks like more of a nuisance than a serious difficulty. Mine also looks worse than it is. Don't let anyone drag anything with sharp corners across your seats .

Please share your experience. You must have done some research by now.

[Skipper of the Sea Que]

Originally Posted by Sandy Beach

Did you get your problem solved Skipper? {snip}
Do those vinyl repair kits advertised on TV work as they say and can they handle a large area? {snip}
Please share your experience. You must have done some research by now.

The seat is not repaired. The marina brought the seat to Tom's about the same time SAMIAM suggested them (nice folks). They said no problem repairing the upholstery, BUT... The seat back wood was in very bad shape and needed replacement first. No new/used seat could be found. The project stalled looking for a place that could custom build a replacement. It's a "J" shaped bench seat back and requires wood bending to make the 2 curves. And it was backed with fiberglass.

Finally my wife asked her brother to come up from Newport RI area and check it out. He looked and laughed - said that he would take care of it. He has amazing fabrication skills - curves in the wood - fiberglass - no problem. He took the seat to his home workshop Monday night.

Maybe I'll get out on the boat before the end of the month. I don't feel that I can boat safely without that seat. In a way this was a good thing - it got the wood under the upholstery fully inspected - It is a fundamental part of the boat transom area. If the seat back gave out with a few people sitting there they surely would dumped over the stern and into the water.

BTW: My insurance carrier EXCLUDES damage by critters. Some do, mine doesn't. Wonder what would happen if I collided with a swimming moose with resulting damage... Hmmm

[Seeker]

Whatever you do next winter DON'T use mothballs. Yes, they work. Yes, the stink stays around forever. DO use your Bounce sheets and hang some mildew bags in the boat. They seem to keep away critters and people.

We will need pictures of the finished product when it's finished.

[Wolfeboro_Baja]

I've used Bounce (or generic sheets) for years now and I've never had a problem. I'll use at least a box of 40 sheets just on the boat and another box of 40 in a Thunderbird we store for the winter. Unfortunately, I did have one bad year with the T-Bird but that was before I had heard about using dryer sheets; since then, no problems.

Seeker, I have to ask, what's a mildew bag? Sounds like something I should be using (or at least considering) but I've never heard of them. What is it?

[TriDad]

Read the warning label on the box of MOTH balls carefully. The primary ingredient in moth balls; Naphthalene and para-dichlorobenzene, are both potential human carcinogens.

[Seeker]

Originally Posted by Wolfeboro_Baja

I've used Bounce (or generic sheets) for years now and I've never had a problem. I'll use at least a box of 40 sheets just on the boat and another box of 40 in a Thunderbird we store for the winter. Unfortunately, I did have one bad year with the T-Bird but that was before I had heard about using dryer sheets; since then, no problems.

Seeker, I have to ask, what's a mildew bag? Sounds like something I should be using (or at least considering) but I've never heard of them. What is it?

Mildew bags are available at most marinas. Some are just bags and some have the bag inside a perforated box. Hang inside the covered boat in the winter to prevent mildew and musty odors from hull and fabrics. Check instructions to see how many cubic feet each bag covers, usually 400cu ft. Just Google mildew bag.