Poorsche: I'm in the middle of refitting the interior of my '86 357 too. Here's what I've found and done so far: Whovever at Formula decided that carpeting the head is a good idea needs to be hung- just firing him is too easy. Not only is the floor carpeted but so are the hull-sides behind and to the side of the head etc. Carpet that spends 19 years in a head becomes a home to entirely new forms of life that science hasn't even thought of yet. Needless to say, I ripped it all out & am putting tile down on the floor. Next problem: the bulkheads between the sofa and V-Berth and forward of the V-berth are made of wood-framed CARDBOARD! No ****- cardboard. I have nothing but respect for Formula ,but again, that's a very bad idea. Mine were well on thier way to turning into dust. I rebuilt them with plywood and 1/16" luan paneling- not easy to get the curved radius right but doable. I took the florescent lights out from beneath the side valances and replaced them with 12V rope lights- bad idea-too dim. I'm going to remove that and replace it with several small 12V LED lights (available at West Marine, Boaters World etc.) They're super bright and super WHITE light and draw a fraction of the amps of incandescents. I installed a couple of medium sized round units on the bulkheads (see attached pic). I'm going to replace all the lighting fixtures with them. As for the hull-sides: The vinyl is backed with 1/8" foam. I stripped it all out while I had the bulkheads removed and replaced it with grey fabric. The foam was still OK so I just covered it with fabric using spray upholstery glue. I used a contrasting foam-backed grey fabric on the new bulkheads and the valences; again see the pic. On the cabin sole- I recarpeted with grey rubber-backed marine carpet: WWW.bassboatcarpet.com sells a very heavy pile interior/exterior marine carpet that's awsome. I also sent them a paper template of the cockpit sole and had them cut and edge-bind the same carpet for the cockpit. Its so heavy with the rubber backing that it stays in place without snaps. I'm now in the process of reupholstering the sofa and v-berth. In the attached pic, the seat cushions are done, the back is the same tacky red upholstery as your's. I,m going to do the back next- I've since removed it and it also needs to be rebuilt due to dry-rot. I plan to make the back a bit wider so it extends almost all the way down to the seats and also make the upholstery wrap around the top and extend back to the sides of the hull rather than have the shelf behind the seat backs. By the way: an auto reupholstery shop near where I live was a great source for the seat and hull-side fabric. They had tons of swatches of heavy close-out fabric from auto upholstery mfgr's at cheap pirces. Finally, I'm going to rip the mini-galley and opposite shelf out and have a custom cabinet shop near me build something new with a corian-like (but lighter) counter top material and face the walls with a burnished aluminum type cabinet surface. As for the headliner: my mousefur is in pretty good shape so I'm goin to leave well enough alone for now. I replaced it on my previous boat (Pachanga 32) and it was truely a pain in the ass. Its turned into a lot longer, more complicated and $'er job than I thought it would, but it'll be worth it in the end-

ctuck, very nice work!

Thanks for all the info and research--I tried to respond but my laptop took a dump and I lost all my thoughts--

I'll try and post later--but please keep me posted on your progress--it looks like we have same "challenges".

Hey Cass that thing looks great!!! nice job. I like the grey much better than the burgandy. Thanks for the email, I hate N.E. winters. Heres a pic of what that thing used to look like. MFB

Again thanks for your findings--I'm going to follow your lead on the LED lights. I was going to try the rope but the results you got saved me the experience. I may test the 12V neons behind the valance--they are fairly inexpensive but even the white light color might be too weird.

I just realized you were talking about the wall that seperates the sleeping area from the couch area being made out fo that crappy furniture board like the backrest is backed with. I'm going to check on using starboard (1/4" or 1/2") to replace those as another alternative.

For the bulkhead wall covering I'm thinking about using some Ultraleather like fabric from Majilite that has a real contemporary basketweave pattern embossed on it and glue it right over the existing wall-covering. According to Formula they do that sometimes when they have to repair dmage that happens during manufacturing--they just glue right over existing material instead of remove it and the foam backing.

I'm thinking of leaving the backrests as they are because it makes it more comfrotable to sleep on the "couches" since I need more room these days.

I've attached some pcitures I found someone posted -- an all grey interior--I like the look and may copy it. I also like your idea of replacing the mirrors with metallic Formica. The mirrors are too ahrd to keep the dust off anyway.

Keep me posted--

Hey mfb I sent you a Private Message. Can you check it out and let me know if oyu can help me or not...

Thanks Rob

Thanks Mark- its taking longer than I thought it would, mostly from not having the time to work on it, but its getting there. I'll keep you posted. By the way- I had the trailer sandblasted and painted and then rebuilt all the bunks, brackets etc- I need to have a friend do some welding around the fenders and have the brakes replaced & it'll be good as new.
Poorsche- Those pics of the gray & black interior looks great- pretty much what I have in mind. Keep in mind if you use starboard for the bulkheads you won't be able to curve them to follow the sofa backrest-

My backrests must have been already replaced--they are straight across--ie don't curve to follow backrest.

Another question to get answer to when I get back to boat next weekend.

Thanks

We replaced most of the upholstery, stained some teak and replaced the carpet in our 86 357. We had same int. color as yours & was in bad shape when we purchased. Did some dash panel work that i obtained from a local plastic's place. Not too bad of a job once you get into it. Here are some pic's for reference. Good luck!

WOW--that looks GREAT. I had started leaning towards the grey/black look after I saw pictures of Armani's new "boat" but your pictures convinced me.

How did you make the template for the dash insert? Do you still have it?

Would appreciate any other things I need to watch out for

AGAIN THANKS