Hey Low PSI, where can i purchase the vinyl dye and how is it used. i will be travelling to the US soon so i can pick it up then..i've been using soft scrub to clean my interior and it works ok..but since bermuda is so damp in the winter, milddew thens to be a big problem..so i looking to try a other options..

thanks, and congrets with the V

VInyl Dye is sold in most automotive part stores as well as paint stores. It comes in an aresol (my spelling sux...) can. It is used for dyeing plastic. I am not sure how long it will last, but I am sure I will get 1 or 2 seasons out of it.

Here are a few pics of the floor, it was in pretty rough shape (cosmetically). The floor is solid, just the Vinyl or PVC flooring is discolored pretty bad... I originally had intentions of just putting in a removable carpet, however the more I looked at the floor them more it drove me crazy. It had to go.
http://site.activesportsunglasses.co...city/floor.jpg
http://site.activesportsunglasses.co...ity/floor1.JPG
http://site.activesportsunglasses.co...ity/floor2.JPG
http://site.activesportsunglasses.co...ity/floor3.JPG

I priced out the OEM flooring its almost $600 + shipping. Ouch!!. Especially considering I plan to go with a drop in carpet. So I bought some no-slip vinyl flooring from the local marina. It's definately is not as thick as the OEM flooring, but it will serve its purpose. I ended up about $120 into materials (much better). I think it came out pretty good. Again, I have red drop in carpet ready to go over it.
http://site.activesportsunglasses.co...ity/floor4.JPG
http://site.activesportsunglasses.co...ity/floor5.JPG

That thick OEM material on the floor definately hides the fact that the floor is not level all the way across the cockpit. In the previous pics you can see the middle is slightly lower than the sides....... Oh well once the chairs are back in and the carpet is in it won't be noticable.


The steering issue looks to be a previous bad install... Who ever serviced this boat (it appears the steering cable may have been replaced) forgot to install a small plastic sleve/spacer between the steering wheel hub and the helm unit. This caused a sloppy fit and actually caused the hub to come in direct contact with the helm. Everytime you steer it you could feel the metal on metal grinding. It is a $3.66 part! However, discontinued....... I was able to find one in Virgina so it is being shipped to me.

It amazes me where people will take short cuts. I have been know to take one myself every now and then. But the Steering system and throttle controls are definately 2 areas I would never cosider taking a short cut.

Did you just lay the new vinyl, over the old? Looks nice.

No. I pulled the old floor surface out. Scraped all of the old glue off the fiberglass and then glued the new surface down. I had started scraping by hand and realized how long it was going to take... So I grabbed my angle grinder w/ a wire wheel and went at it. Only took about 10 min to remove all of the glue.

What flooring did the factory want the 600 for was it the carpet or the replarement vinal stuff that you had in it, i was thinking to replace my carpet also but for 600 my sun faded stuff is just fine, does any one know where i can buy a nice thick marine grade carpet like the stuff that that was originaly in the boat

The Vinyl flooring that comes factory is what I pulled out and replaced. I think it is called Longcoin or something like that. When I bought this boat it didn't have carpet. Going forward I plan to have a lay-in carpet. I bought a 6' x 7' section of Red Marine Carpet from a vendor on ebay for around $50.00. The carpet I bought has a rubber backing and is made for glue in applications. But with the no-slip vinyl floor along with the rubber backing on the carpet, I won't have to worry about it sliding around. I am trying to avoid putting snaps in the floor. I seemd to always on the snaps the wrong way in my Baja and it drove me nutz. I cut the new carpet to fit and took it to a local guy who does tops and canvases to have Black Binding sewen around the edges. He is doing the binding for $85 and I am having the Velocity Logo stitched in for another $50. So for the drop in carpet I'm in it $185. Velocity wants $800 for the lay-in carpet:eek:.

I will post pics of the carpet when I get it back. On to the rest of the vinyl.........

Here are some pics of the vinyl clean up and dye.
This is how the seats and headrests looked.
http://site.activesportsunglasses.co...city/seat3.jpg
http://site.activesportsunglasses.co.../headrest5.jpg
http://site.activesportsunglasses.co.../headrest1.jpg

This is after just cleaning alone:
http://site.activesportsunglasses.co.../headrest2.jpg

After the vinyl Dye:
http://site.activesportsunglasses.co.../headrest4.jpg
http://site.activesportsunglasses.co...ity/seat02.jpg
http://site.activesportsunglasses.co...y/interior.jpg

Here is the condition of the sundeck when the boat was delivered:
http://site.activesportsunglasses.co...y/sundeck3.jpg
http://site.activesportsunglasses.co...y/sundeck2.jpg

After cleaning up and a quick dye job:
http://site.activesportsunglasses.co...ty/sundeck.jpg

WOW it looks like new , looks like the color matched nice . Is this something anyone can do and does it hold up nice

I got real lucky on the color match. The first can I bought was too bright. The second can I bought is called Super White which is an off white. You can't even tell what areas are original and what has the new dye.

It was pretty simple and quick. As with anything else it's all in the prep work. I cleaned all surfaces with simple green to remove all the normal soil. Then cleaned again with a wax and grease remover (have to be careful because it is a bit harsh on the vinyl). Then tape off the areas that don't need the dye. Then spray it on. I used about 3 coats. Since it is a dye and not paint, it is absorbed by the vinyl so dry time is about 10 minutes between coats. Within about 1-2 bours it is ready to be handeled. Since it is sprayed on I would suggest removing the item to be dyed from the boat so you don't get overspay all over the boat.

As far as durability, I don't know..... This is the first time I have tried to dye vinyl on a boat. So I will keep you guys up to date as time goes on. As far as I am concerened if it lasts just one season that would be great. I just don't have the $$ to deal with having the seats and sunpad recovered right now.

Next project is a custom amp rack in the cabin. I will post pics once it is done (should be mid-week).

Got the carpet back today. They weren't able to embroider the Velocity logo in it because their machine broke..... He told me to bring the carpet back in a few weeks and the will stich it in.
http://site.activesportsunglasses.co...ity/carpet.jpg

I'm impressed, my interior looks just like that..thanks for the inspiration..i'm going to start in a week or so..hopefully mine will come as good as your's

Q

What was the brand of vinyll dye you used? the stuff i saw at the auto parts store looked like a paint, it was called duplicolor i think. and it looked way to white

The Stuff I used was by SEM and the color was called Super White. It does come in a spray paint can. It was a dead match for my interior vinyl.

thanks, i looked up the color chart for sem that super white lookes like the stuff i need, kind off like a french vanila color, how has it held up for you so far

So far so good. But I am in Michigan and the boating season hasn't really begun... I have had it out about 9 times so far. The seats have gotten a little dirty, but have cleaned easily with simple green. I won't really know until we get into the heat of summer.