What's the deal... A story of two boats and vinyl

[SmokyMtnGrady]

I have a friend here who we will call KY to protect his guilt. He has a 228 that is 4 years older than mine and significantly more abused . I bought my boat new in 2009. John, I mean KY got his a couple years ago. I am getting my bolsters redone and the seat back bolsters on the stern seats. My boat is under cover most of the time. I use 3M vinyl cleaner, Maguire's vinyl cleaner and 303 protectent . I wash it and clean it and do all that. KY says his boat was sitting in the Tampa sun and said his boat was ridden hard and put away wet, my words not his. He now keeps his boat in a climate controlled warehouse.

I do not remove the seat backs or bolsters in the winter here. My other seating is removed and looks nicer. So, is it freezing weather?

I am posting two pics . His new vinyl bolsters which are from 2004 versus my seats which my bolsters match in terms of wear.

 

[Summertop511]

I got the same boat and cushions in the pic. Same deal been sitting outside since 2005. Where are you getting yours redone and do they say GW on the new ones?

 

[seasick]

Is your boat shrink wrapped in the off season?

 

[SmokyMtnGrady]

Is your boat shrink wrapped in the off season?

Nope. It is not. We have a covered boat shed. It's like a metal she shed but open on both ends. Maybe Sheryl is doing something in my she shed.

 

[SmokyMtnGrady]

I got the same boat and cushions in the pic. Same deal been sitting outside since 2005. Where are you getting yours redone and do they say GW on the new ones?

So, I call GW and ask them their opinion. They say while they still proudly make the 228 , they don't guarantee fit on models older than 10 years from the current year. My boat is now 12. They said I could my dealer and order them and they would gladly sell them to me new.

So, then called my two closest Grady Dealers which are in Columbia and Charleston,SC respectively. I asked each one for a couple canvas shops they use and got the names of the shops. The two in Charleston have more work than can handle and the folks in Columbia said sure. They are Nordans Trim Shop in West Columbia.

If you got the coin and your boat is 10 years or newer, then buy new is always nice. I am hoping these come out great and I figured if Mid Carolina uses them they should,but you never know .

 

[SkunkBoat]

Too much cleaning...
not enough fishing...

 

[SmokyMtnGrady]

Too much cleaning...
not enough fishing...

Actually, KY is a huge fisherman. It's mostly freshwater but I suspect he wets a line more than I do!

 

[Summertop511]

Well if either u or ky get new ones made I’ll gladly buy ur old ones I guess if your going to just get rid of them. Better then dropping more money after just buying the boat and better then mine with ripped stitches. Thanks again.

 

[Ky Grady]

I'm letting Smoky be the guinea pig on the re-do of his cushions in Columbia and I'll consider my bolsters. The only issue I have so far is the hole which Smoky posted, looks like a burn, not a clean hole, not real sure what caused it. All the other cushions are stored in my basement and appear to be originals. The only ones I use are the helm chairs and bolsters. The zipper pulls have rotted off due to full time install on my boat before I bought it and the salt wasn't kind to them.

 

[Ky Grady]

Here's my helm cushions too. Originals.

 

[Angler Management]

Anyone redo theirs by themselves? Where’d you get the material? How’d it look?

Mine are well overdue and I have the time...

 

[SmokyMtnGrady]

Anyone redo theirs by themselves? Where’d you get the material? How’d it look?

Mine are well overdue and I have the time...

If you have a commercial sewing machine that can do bigger weights of thread ,bigger needle and such, I suppose you could do it by yourself. I got quoted $175 for each bolster and $150 for the seat backs. It's a fraction of the costs buying new. I would think the upholstery people are pretty good at their job and significantly better than anything I could attempt.

 

[Summertop511]

Here's my helm cushions too. Originals.

View attachment 12795

What happened to the jump seat seat back?

 

[Ky Grady]

What happened to the jump seat seat back?

Took it off, was in the way for the style of fishing I do.

 

[Parthery]

I want to get some bow back bolsters...let me know how the outfit in Columbia does. The couple of places here in ATL that do upholstery and either waaaaay backed up or are doing masks now.