Marine Upholstery Supplies for Boat Seats and Covers
For boat upholstery you need marine-grade vinyl for the seats, quick-dry outdoor foam underneath, a UV-resistant bonded polyester thread to sew it, and stainless fittings to hold it down. For covers and biminis, use a PVC hooding fabric rather than seat vinyl. Home Upholsterer stocks each of these, with Australia-wide delivery from Sydney.
Seats and cushions
Start with the seat cover. Our marine vinyl, Poseidon, is the heavy-duty, water-resistant option at 750gsm. For more colours and textures, browse the full vinyl fabric range, which includes Pacifica.
Underneath, use outdoor reticulated foam. Its open cells let water drain straight through, so the cushion dries almost immediately after rain, salt spray or a wash down. Our guide to outdoor foam cushions has more on choosing foam for seating that lives outside.
Covers, biminis and cabin linings
Covers take a different fabric from seats. Our marine PVC hooding is made for biminis, dodgers and enclosures and comes 205cm wide. Inside the cabin, boat hull lining carpet follows curved surfaces, and UV-stabilised marine suede gives a soft finish for indoor marine upholstery that still sees sunlight.
Sewing and fixing
Sew everything with marine thread: Dabond is bonded so the plies do not untwist in zig-zag stitching. Hold covers down with stainless steel press studs, and fix fabric to timber with stainless steel staples.
Marine materials at a glance
| Material | Use | Key properties (as stated on the product page) |
|---|---|---|
| Poseidon Commercial / Marine Vinyl | Boat seats and cushions | PVC on polyester; 137cm wide; 750gsm; 0.9mm; water-resistant; UV stabilised; flame retardant; anti-microbial; hydrolysis resistant; over 100,000 abrasion cycles; 12 colours; 3-year warranty |
| Pacifica Standard and Hide Marine Vinyl | Boat seats, flat or leather-grain look | PVC on polyester; 137cm wide; 600gsm; flame retardancy AS 1530.3; RESISTAIN stain finish; treated against mould and mildew; 3-year warranty |
| Aquatica Marine PVC Hooding | Biminis, dodgers, aft covers, enclosure panels | Water-resistant; 205cm wide; 600gsm; base cloth treated to resist UV, microbial attack and wicking; 9 colours |
| Warwick MacroMarine UV Suede | Indoor marine (cabin) upholstery | 152cm wide; 67,500 Martindale rubs; UV stabilised; stain, water and oil resistant; Pirate (black) |
| DF-FIRM Outdoor Reticulated Foam | Seat cushions | 32kg/m³; open cell, dries almost immediately; 2000 x 1500mm sheets, 12 to 150mm thick; no fire rating |
| DF-SOFT Outdoor Reticulated Foam | Back cushions and daybeds | 25kg/m³; same open cell structure, sheet size and thicknesses as DF-FIRM; no fire rating |
| Coats Dabond 18tkt Marine Thread | Marine upholstery, vinyl and canvas on industrial machines | Bonded polyester; resists UV, abrasion and needle heat; rot-proof in sea water; needle 130 to 160 |
| APEX Unbacked Auto Carpet | Boat hull lining | Flexible; 4mm; 450gsm; 200cm wide; fade and mildew resistant |
| #24 Ligne Stainless Snap Fastener Marine Kit | Fixing covers to a hard surface | About 15mm; 50 caps, 50 sockets, 50 screw studs plus setting tool; 201 stainless steel |
| 80 Series Stainless Steel Staples | Fixing fabric to timber | 6 to 12mm legs; 12.8mm crown; fits 80 series staple guns |
Why buy from Home Upholsterer
We have supplied upholstery materials since 1994 and dispatch from our Sydney warehouse to anywhere in Australia. Vinyls are sold by the metre, so you buy what the boat needs.
Not sure which vinyl or foam grade suits your seats? Get in touch and we will help you choose.
Frequently asked questions
Marine vinyl is a PVC coating on a polyester base cloth, made to handle sun, water and wear. Our Poseidon range is 750gsm and 0.9mm thick, water-resistant, UV stabilised, flame retardant and anti-microbial treated, and rated to over 100,000 abrasion cycles, with a 3-year warranty. The Pacifica range is a lighter 600gsm with a stain-resistant finish and treatment against mould and mildew.
Use outdoor reticulated foam. Its open cell structure lets water pass through, so cushions dry almost immediately after rain, salt spray or washing. DF-FIRM (32kg/m³) is the seat grade and DF-SOFT (25kg/m³) suits backs and daybeds. Both come in 2000 x 1500mm sheets from 12mm to 150mm thick. Note that neither grade carries a fire rating.
Use a bonded polyester thread with UV protection. Coats Dabond 18tkt is used for marine upholstery, vinyl and canvas on industrial sewing machines. It resists sunlight, abrasion and needle heat, and stays rot-proof in sea water. On a domestic sewing machine a finer 30tkt or 40tkt may suit better, and 10tkt is for sails and very heavy fabric.
For biminis, dodgers, aft covers and enclosure panels, use a PVC hooding fabric rather than seat vinyl. Aquatica Marine PVC Hooding is a water-resistant 205cm wide, 600gsm fabric, with a base cloth treated to resist UV, microbial attack and wicking. It is designed for marine covers and comes in nine colours.
Check adhesive compatibility first. BOND-IT Superstick Hi-Temp is listed for automotive and marine work, but its product page says it is not suitable for plasticised vinyls and PVCs, and our marine vinyls are PVC coated. It does suit foam, plywood and fibreglass. We do not name an adhesive for bonding vinyl itself. Contact us if you need help finding a suitable option.
Use stainless steel wherever fittings are exposed. Our #24 ligne (about 15mm) snap fastener marine kit has 50 caps, 50 sockets and 50 screw studs in 201 stainless steel, plus a setting tool, for fixing covers to a hard surface. For stapling fabric to timber, 80 series stainless steel staples come in 6 to 12mm leg lengths and fit 80 series staple guns.
Clean it at least weekly with a mild, lukewarm, pH-neutral soap solution. Avoid abrasive cleaners, steel wool, concentrated bleach and anything containing solvents, petrol, petroleum distillates or plasticisers. Those products can damage the surface and void the guarantee. A regular cleaning routine prolongs the life of the upholstery, especially on a boat that lives outside.