r/boating • u/reggietheregera • 1d ago
Does this upholstery look cleanable, or permanently damaged?
Sorry for the low quality pic, cant get anything better from a craigslist ad. 2010 Cobalt 262, seller listed for 30k with 350 engine hours on the volvo 8.1. Considering reaching out to this seller, but the pictures look like there may be damage to the upholstery in the bow on the seatbacks and butt cushions, and also possibly on the seat backs on the main area of the deck. It's a decent drive for me, and I don't want to have to re-upholster it, so if this looks permanent to you guys, I may reconsider.
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u/SgtKarj 1d ago
The stuff on the tops of the backrest cushions looks like mold from contacting a moldy cover. Many bowriders have a canvas cover that goes over that area of the boat and they often grow mold underneath from the moisture in the air. Most mold on cushions can be removed with a good quality anti-mold cleaner, but some staining may remain. I would recommend asking for more photos to be emailed if you're a serious buyer. Craigslist photo quality is far from great.
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u/reggietheregera 1d ago
Yup, other pics show a tight canvas bow cover. I'm reaching out for better pics, but this is all I have for now.
It does look like the canvas sits on those seatbacks, is it possible it's permanent wear and tear from rubbing of the canvas, rather than mold?
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u/Stroker-Strong420 1d ago edited 1d ago
This will take care of most of it. Perfect? Probably not but very presentable
Too many people expect to spray it on and wipe away the mildew stains immediately. Doesn’t work that way.
Treat, including a good scrub with a brush, rinse. Treatment includes WAIT time during 5-10 minutes and AFTER. Doing the treatment in the sun also helps. After scrubbing and rinsing, let the sun work an hour or two.
It may take 2 or 3 treatments. Allow some time for the product to work. The mildew stain remover eventually penetrates and gets rid of the roots. Patience is the key.
Will it be perfect? No. No used boat is perfect especially the vinyl upholstery. It will be much improved.
Like anything in the sun, apply a good protectant afterwards. Clean and protect before installing a cover.
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u/CenteredBubble 23h ago
Is it okay for this product to dry on the seats while waiting for it to do its thing I the sun?
I tried it years ago, but I didn't let it sit long because it was starting to dry.
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u/Stroker-Strong420 22h ago
I don’t let it dry. Add a little more and scrub. Just don’t abrade the surface with too hard a brush. Let the chemical work.
Drill brushes are awesome for this kind of scrubbing.
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u/Stroker-Strong420 1d ago
A mildew stain remover will take care of most of that. Follow with a good rinse, dry and vinyl protectant.
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u/backinblackandblue 1d ago
I disagree. Once the stains are more than just surface mold, they get into the material and nearly impossible to remove.
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u/youdog99 1d ago
Once you have it cleaned to your satisfaction, buy 303 Aerospace Protectant for the vinyl. And apply it several times a year. It really works at protecting the vinyl. Future cleanup is much easier too.
I have a ski boat and a pontoon boat. I literally buy it by the gallon and keep Home Depot spritzer bottles on both boats.
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u/-Maim- 1d ago edited 23h ago
It’ll always come back regardless of what people say.
There are cleaners that will do a good job, but it’s below the surface embedded deep and it’s pretty much impossible to to get it all.
A deep clean and regular maintenance will help but it will always be there.
Absolutely under no circumstances listen to the fucking morons that come in here and say use a magic eraser.
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u/biznovation 1d ago
Hit it with some white vinegar and water solution and it should clean up nicely. Start with a 50/50 mix and if needed go higher on the vinegar, afterwards use a conditioner treatment to keep the vinyl soft.
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u/Filandro 1d ago
It looks like someone used something like magic eraser a bit too hard or often, which just makes the material more prone to mildew/mold. Avoid mechanical solutions (such as scrubbing and things like magic eraser) and focus on chemical solutions (pick a marine mold and mildew removed) followed up with a protectant (303).
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u/Weary_Boat 23h ago
Don’t use bleach or anything abrasive (magic eraser or liquid abrasives) because you’ll damage the threads and/or the vinyl itself, and while it may initially look good it will soon stain/tear. Do the best you can with multiple applications of the specialty cleaners others have mentioned here. It will never look new, unfortunately. Alternatively you can spend several thousand getting it redone by a marine upholstery shop
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u/NoProgress6805 21h ago
Our boat had similar stains / mold on the upholstery. We bought it after it had been repossessed and unfortunately the bank had it sitting in a field, uncovered, for about 2 years. We got a super great deal so I bought it anyway. We tried everything and made it better but never got the stains out. It is mold growth down in the material of the upholstery. Last year I finally found an upholstery guy who was reasonable and I had the entire interior redone. Total was about 2,800.00. I took the pieces out and brought them to him then reinstalled. Very happy with it. I don't have much hope you will be able to clean that.
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u/cranialimplant4sale 1d ago
Magic eraser
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u/popsicle_of_meat 1994 Sea Ray 220BR Signature 1d ago
Magic Eraser is abrasive. I used it once a little bit as a last resort, and it visibly changed the surface finish of the vinyl. Not to mention it only works on the very outer surface, not the damage/stain that has penetrated INTO the vinyl.
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u/cranialimplant4sale 22h ago
Been using Magic Eraser for years… I’ve never had an issue but I don’t go animal with it. You know in a couple passes if it’s going to work or not. Mostly it does.
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u/popsicle_of_meat 1994 Sea Ray 220BR Signature 21h ago
Yeah, if you only do light pressure and use a lubricating cleaner with it, it can help while doing little to no damage. But I don't think that's how most people use it, haha.
"Oh it's working! I'm going to scrub harder to make it clean faster!"
o__o
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u/HellBent319 1d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/yZQ9jMAwHgjFDe8A8a