242 Cockpit Upholstery Ideas
 

Hey folks! A new winter project is in the works, and I need some advice (I also put this up on the Formula Boat Owners group on Facebook).

I have some nice Palm Beach themed bolsters coming in after Xmas for my 242. Now I'm looking at redoing the rest of the cockpit to sort of match. I have covered the sunpad and bench in white, but it's only temporary because the existing pieces were rotted and I needed a functional boat.

I do not really want to go back to the full-on Palm Beach colors on the sunpad. Currently, it's in three sections, and I was thinking that I could make one section teal, and maybe one magenta, leaving white at the headrest. I would then duplicate the theme on the seat back, bench, and side supports. I will not use any black because it's too hot.

Any thoughts or suggestions? How about a place to purchase the materials (preferably foam-backed)? I'll be doing the work myself (the sewing isn't complicated, and I have a beast of a Bernina machine from back in the 70's... all steel and weighs about 50 lbs).

Here's a pic of how it looks now:

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Just don't use the carbon fiber look in white. It gets dirty just looking at it.

Do you have any local upholstery shops? They could tell you where to get good marine grade vinyl. As far as foam backed I wouldn't get my hopes up. Just some good weld wood cement to hold the foam to the sun pad then wrap it with the vinyl.

I found a guy on ebay that has old Formula vinyl that's foam-backed. It isn't cheap, but it seems like he's got everything except black.

No carbon fiber for me! Not a fan.

That is awsome! I wonder if he has any grey/white. I want to redo the rear seat bottom on mine it has a few seams splitting.

Share a link please.

Hey Tom the foam comes seperate. They call it sew foam. comes 1/4 and 1/2 inch. after you cut your pattern you glue it to the foam with a 3M upholstery spray glue and stitch around the entire outside edge. We have done a bunch of the seats on my boat and made a few rejects before getting things just right. LOL Just get extra everything and then you wont sweat a boo boo. Its kind of fun really and sure saves a ton of cash. We use a company called Miami-something for material. The marine thread is key too. Guess I need to upgrade my membership so I can post pics. sorry

I dont know how far you are from raliegh, but Keyston Bros. has EVERYTHING you will need at about the best prices your going to find. Books and books and books of various marine and out door vinyl, foam etc.... You will need some kind of buisness id to purchase from them but they will take about anything.

1200 Corporation Pkwy Ste 111
Raleigh, NC 27610

http://www.keystonbros.com/

I got all my materials from keyston also. Huge selection. Locations throughout the us. and they sold to me without a business acct but you pay more. Good luck.