Vinyl Cracking

So I bought my boat used from an auction hunter type guy who said he picked it up at a repo auction. It had Arizona stickers on it originally so I assume the original owners let it sit out side and bake in the AZ sun.

I have had some vinyl tears/breaks but this weekend took it to a whole new level gaining multiple be breaks in a number of different cushions. I 303 the seats everytime we take it out but I guess the damage was already done and there is no reversing it?? My seats are falling apart :-(


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Ouch. That stinks and I hate to say that you're probably right in that the damage is done. Never know what the prior owner may have used to clean the seats, if it was covered, etc.


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No way the 303 caused the damage?


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Is it cracking on the textured part of the vinyl? That part cracked bad on the v-drive seat and was starting to on a few other seats when we traded in our 08. The smoother vinyl always seemed to hold up well though.

I seriously doubt 303 caused this. This 303 is a UV protectant, not a seat moisturizer. If the seats were already dry and damaged when Dave got the boat the 303 won't really help or hurt them.

303 is to be used after cleaning the seats with conditioners that might or don't have UV protectant in them.

Only thing Dave could have done to save the seats is add oils and conditioning products but even that might not have helped if the seats were that fare gone when he got it.

Looks like you might be in the market for a new interior Dave.

Brandon, both smooth and textured parts are cracks, it's not very discriminatory. The vdrive cover seat however is holding up very well and it probably one of the softest in the boat. The two worst ones are the very rear starboard and port seats that go on either side of the vdrive bench seat. Also had the grey part on the storage lockers crack. It even made a very audible cracking/popping sound when it happened


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Sorry about the vinyl cracking.

i have a similar problem. our last ride of 2010 was thanksgiving day. it was kind of cold (28?) water started freezing on the cushions when we were getting in and out. we could not stand on the swim platform cuz it was in the water and that was cold. well the back of the engine cover cracked up really bad. i thought it was the frozen water and was really bummed. i planned to replace it in the spring, but never did. after we rode a bit more in 2011, more cracks and tears started showing up on other places. i think now we have a crack or tear in almost every piece of vinyl cushion, bow to stern.

i am certainly not the best in cleaning up, etc after a day, but im not negligent either. the boat is stored inside my garage always. has only been outside when in use, maybe a day or two in the beginning at the dealer for warranty issues.

so i don't really think the cracking is from the cold. i think it is poor material. oh well. a whole new interior will have to happen, but for now i have to yell at kids not to pick at the holes in the vinyl and keep it from getting worse.

David, same seats cracked on my 08. the two rear-most seats on port and starboard, as well as the textured part of the v-drive rear seat. The vinyl on the rear side seats was noticeably harder than all of my other seats. I'm assuming a bad batch of vinyl or something. Very different than all of my other seats.

Sucks David. Seems like they just hit the point of no return.

Last summer basically all of a sudden my cabin cushions seemed to all start cracking around the edges - basically all at once within a a week or so. Hit the expiration date?

I've had this happen too, though I am the second owner so I have no idea what was done cleaning wise before we got it. I have replaced several skins so far because of cracking, and I've got several more coming this year. There were and still are some of the vinyls that are noticably harder than others, like either a crappy batch of vinyl or poor cleaning techniques by the previous owner. All of the ones I've replaced to date have been the hard, crusty vinyl. Once it gets to that point, whether age, cleaning, or exposure, I haven't found anything that brings it back.

Luckily, they have deteriorated to cracking slowly, so I have been able to do a few per year. I'd hate to have to re-do the entire interior. Though, then you could get super creative and uniquie with patterns and colors and whatnot. So that could be fun, though fun usually involves lots of money...

think we are going to need a new updated thread on the proper way for new or used owners to clean and take care of vinyl. way to many stories of bad vinyl showing up


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I've got a Supra for sale with vinyl in perfect condition. That would solve your problem.

haha there ya go Dusty. maybe if you would share what is next up for you


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There is no plan to speak of yet.

Step 1. Sell
Step 2. ?

that's a good copy sir


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What??

I can think of a few:
2) Have massive regrets
2) Have massive withdrawals
2) Bum rides off (INSERT NAME)
2) Be waiting in line at 2013 boat show when they open and then "asked to leave" as they are locking the doors that night
2) Lay awake at night dreaming of a new boat
3) Design/build own new boat in ridiculously nice garage and go into business
4) Quit day job, tour events nationwide promoting new boat

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bergermaister

What??

I can think of a few:
2) Have massive regrets
2) Have massive withdrawals
2) Bum rides off (INSERT NAME)
2) Be waiting in line at 2013 boat show when they open and then "asked to leave" as they are locking the doors that night
2) Lay awake at night dreaming of a new boat
3) Design/build own new boat in ridiculously nice garage and go into business
4) Quit day job, tour events nationwide promoting new boat

---

I resemble some of those already...

I have an 06 LSV, am original owner always keep boat in boat house and covered, started noticing some cracks on the textured panels on sunpad covers. I have always wiped down and put 303 on it. I think the year round florida heat just cookls it under the cover. I also have an 06 center console, sits directly in sun a lot, my dad washes that boat with 20%bleach and water even the vinyl and its still perfect go figure. My neighbor has on 04 LSV his vinyl is the white his looks great. I guess just the cost of ownership.

Here are some pictures of the worst spots

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/...B372FD271B.jpg

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/...B3770F5FC4.jpg

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/...B379708EB8.jpg

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/...B37C1916FA.jpg


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http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/...B37EC7DC80.jpg

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/...B38199CCB3.jpg

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/...B3843F735C.jpg




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thats way worse than i was envisioning.

you may want to just get all the seat bottoms and sundeck pad redone at the same time this winter season. maybe even do them yourself

We have an upholstery shop close by so I plan on taking them to him one at a time if he can match them. Try to take the shock out of doing them all at once and try to get a higher grade or thickness vinyl then what moomba originally used. I had a repair guy come at the beginning of the season to fix a few small tears and he was having hell with it commenting that the vinyl was so thin it was hard to deal with


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Let me know if they treat you right cause I need to do some as well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by moombadaze

thats way worse than i was envisioning.

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I'm with ya daze! Wow is all I can say, especially that crack in the grey on the sunpad.

Stinks to see that David as I know you take good care of her.


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David, that really blows, looks like it just started and could not stop....

happend to my 04..looks like the last owner sold the boat to me right before it happened..i bought my boat in nov of 09.. summer of 2010 is when the sun pad seats went on me then after a few more years another few seats went on me..i think i might do some blue carbon fiber and white vinyl

Sucks to hear - be prepared to drop some dough on that. I don't personally know of any shops down in Katy, but looked around quite a bit when I completely rebuilt my new interior layout. The guy I ended up using was an old retired guy that did a nice job at a good price, but he completely retired from upholstery not long after finishing (mine might have been just a little too much for him).

Anyway, I had prices all over the board, so shop around. You might check out Scissors over in the barrio, Airline/I45N area.Good luck.

Trendsetters is in Katy and we have used them for Heidi's car before, there is also a place in Conroe that a friend mine is using. I'm thinking I'm just going to do them one at a time


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I've replaced some of my cushions over the years and I have another one starting to crack so I will locate an upholsterer this winter and take it in next winter as I might have others to be done. The fabric is usually common and easy to match.