Fixing Busted Upholstery Seams

RussWalters

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jun 25, 2018
Messages
34
I am looking for some advice on the best way to repair these seams on my upholstery. Are they sewable? Someone told me to put 5200 on the seam, but I have a feeling that would look awful!

If sewable, what would you think I should expect to pay someone who knows what they are doing to fix?

Thanks in advance,

Rusty
 

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chevymaher

Commander
Joined
Mar 29, 2017
Messages
2,937
Material is already shot. Sew it and it will rip right back out. A round needle and hog nose pliers and just tack it to hold a while.
 

tpenfield

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 18, 2011
Messages
18,445
5200 is not going to fix that. As stated, the material is ripped, not the stitching. Expect to pay a few hundred $ to get it all fixed. Is that the only area?
 

bruceb58

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 5, 2006
Messages
30,611
Hard to tell if the material is ripped or the thread disintegrated. Either way, have the upholstery replaced.
 

Woodonglass

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 29, 2009
Messages
25,930
Yup, it's gone. If You want to try, you could remove the cover, and use Spray adhesive on the back and glue a large backer piece on it once you pinched the seam back together. It would last another season or two, but as stated it needs replaced.
 

AlabamaNewbie

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 25, 2018
Messages
239
Hard to tell if the material is ripped or the thread disintegrated. Either way, have the upholstery replaced.

The last picture is zoomed in enough to see the vinyl tore away from the needle holes, the stitching is still intact.


OP - *IF* it was able to be sewn, the process for an upholsterer to do would be to remove the vinyl, remove all of the staples (which is almost as aggravating as grinding down fiberglass), sew it up (which will require stretching the vinyl to get 1/2" inch in from the current needle holes), reattach to the seat structure with staples. The only cost difference between that and reupholstering is the cost of the vinyl. Then you'll be paying for it twice - once now and once in 3 months when the "fix" pulls out again because the vinyl is too weak and stretched too tight.
 

RussWalters

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jun 25, 2018
Messages
34
Thank you all - seems like replacing the panel is the best route. Fortunately that is the only area that appears to be ripping on the boat.
 
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