Main cabin seat covers

[rick441]

My Catalina 30 main cabin seat covers are faded and I would like to get them covered - instead of replaced. I live in central California ( Channel Islands Harbor area). Would anyone know of a local resourse where I could get this done ?

Many Thanks

Rick

 

[Old Skool Neil]

Rick,

I went through this a few years ago (full set of cushions though) and I was absolutely shocked at the prices quoted by the professional shops. They ranged from $4K to $5K for a 15 cushion set. There was no way I was going to spend that kind of scratch on a set of cushions, period.

My solution was to provide a project for our local school district shop class facility. They have auto upholstery classes there (they've done 2 cars for me in the past, very nice work). I provided all the materials, patterned the cushions and they did the rest. I kept it simple, no pattern in the fabric and plywood backs so the students could use their staple guns (it happened to be my preference anyway).

I'm completely satisfied with the result. The fabric and thread is synthetic, the staples are stainless, the foam is new and the stiffness I want, the plywood backing is covered with vinyl. Total cost out the door including a monetary gift to the class was $1500.

The instructor kept a close eye on everything. My strategy was to have them do the project near the end of the semester, sort of use the project as a final exam. The students are much more experienced that way. And the instructor was thankful to have a real world class project.

Here are some main cabin pics of the finished product:

 

[LuzSD]

Rick, beautiful interior on your 30, it gives me some new ideas for ours. Betty Boop is fabulous also! Where is she now?

 

[LuzSD]

Sorry, I was commenting on Neil2099's pictures!

 

[Old Skool Neil]

Luz,
Checking out my albums, huh? Thank you for the compliments.

The last I heard was 18 years ago, the Boop was renamed Aloha and was somewhere on the Chesapeake in the Virginia area.

My closing thought on the cushions is don't shy away from unusual sources. You just never know.

 

[rick441]

Many Thanks

Luz,
Checking out my albums, huh? Thank you for the compliments.

The last I heard was 18 years ago, the Boop was renamed Aloha and was somewhere on the Chesapeake in the Virginia area.

My closing thought on the cushions is don't shy away from unusual sources. You just never know.

Thank you Luz I will try researching Aloha and my local area upholstery shops.

 

[rick441]

Great Idea

Neil - great idea - I will check my local school district.

Many Thanks

Rick

Rick,

I went through this a few years ago (full set of cushions though) and I was absolutely shocked at the prices quoted by the professional shops. They ranged from $4K to $5K for a 15 cushion set. There was no way I was going to spend that kind of scratch on a set of cushions, period.

My solution was to provide a project for our local school district shop class facility. They have auto upholstery classes there (they've done 2 cars for me in the past, very nice work). I provided all the materials, patterned the cushions and they did the rest. I kept it simple, no pattern in the fabric and plywood backs so the students could use their staple guns (it happened to be my preference anyway).

I'm completely satisfied with the result. The fabric and thread is synthetic, the staples are stainless, the foam is new and the stiffness I want, the plywood backing is covered with vinyl. Total cost out the door including a monetary gift to the class was $1500.

The instructor kept a close eye on everything. My strategy was to have them do the project near the end of the semester, sort of use the project as a final exam. The students are much more experienced that way. And the instructor was thankful to have a real world class project.

Here are some main cabin pics of the finished product:

 

[Old Skool Neil]

Rick,
Our local facility is under the umbrella of the Regional Occupational Center (ROC), specifically the Southern California Regional Occupational Center (SCROC). It's an adjunct to the Torrance Unified School District, the place where some of the non-college bound high school students go to learn a marketable trade (not everybody goes to college). Expect there's something similar in your area.