Trailering the boat without the tarp

Bambamski · Posted: Jun 29, 2011 5:57 am Post subject: Trailering the boat without the tarp

I've always towed the boat without the tarp unless it's an absolute downpour. Well last night the Seat blew out of the boat, (the back seat), and ripped up the seat beyond repair. The boat is 2005 so pretty much 5-6 years old with 500 hours on it now.

How much typically does it cost for new skins and Foam? The skins on the other seats are pretty decent, couple of small stains (more where you can't seen them) but no rips or anything. How much is new foam? The popular seat, observers seat is pretty flat these days and could use some new foam.

Sucks, Didn't really expect to have to do the seats this year and the rest are fine but I figure if I do one, I might as well do them all.

In the future, what do most of you do? I'm thinking about putting some weight on the seat so that doesn't happen again.

DJew Jake

jjaszkow · Posted: Jun 29, 2011 6:20 am Post subject:

I don't know about the repairs, but I typically tow with the cover on. Generally do four ~250 mile trips and at least two ~45 mile trips a year with no issues yet. We lost the cupholders out of the last boat and almost lost a seat cushion, so decided towing covered was the way to go.

3MileBayWaker · Posted: Jun 29, 2011 6:56 am Post subject:

I tow with my covers off if its nice out, but only go 66-67 max speed. Never lost or tore anything.

Towing with covers on stresses them and causes the covers to wear out sooner. Its a double edged sword, so I only tow with covers on when its raining.

PimpinD2 · Posted: Jun 29, 2011 7:14 am Post subject:

skins are pricy. $200 - $350 a section from dealer. For the foam take it to a place and have them do it.

shonuff · Criminal Joined: 23 Aug 2010 Posts: 58 City: Atlanta

The price for a new skin depends on size, pattern, number of colors, whether or not there's piping, etc. To give you an idea, I replaced the engine hatch skin on my SANTE. It has 3 colors, a swirl pattern and piping along the swirl. The engine hatch is huge too, probably 5 ft by 3 ft. I paid $235 for the new skin from a premium Nautique skin maker. I got another quote for half that price through Copycat but their reputation is bad so I paid the extra money for better quality. I can't imagine the foam costing very much. Mine was just a block of foam cut to shape and glued to the hatch.

Its not hard to do it yourself. Just get a pneumatic stapler and some SS staples. I'm assuming its a small single seat cushion so I would guess somewhere in the ballpark of $100-$200 for the new skin if you went with premium vinyl that's UV treated, etc. like I did.

New skin next to the old one.

Finished product.

Bambamski · Posted: Jun 29, 2011 6:17 pm Post subject:

most of the damage is on the part that you can't see. They figured they could repair the seat and get me through this year. Cost was around a 100 bucks. they said they could put a cord and a snap on it so it wouldn't flip up. I'll get the seats done at the end of the year I guess. They quoted me about 125 bucks for new foam, and the skins would be about 150 bucks for that seat. That's by far the biggest seat in the boat so I figured 1000 bucks and I could have new foam and skins.

It does kind of suck ,the skins are really pretty much ok, but they have some yellow brown spot stains on them (sides and crease areas where they fit under the cushions, they're not hugely noticeable but I see them!!). I've pretty much tried everything and nothing takes them off.

I was thinking, every truck I've towed the boat with has either had a canopy or been a Yukon tahoe type truck. This is the first truck I've had the tonne cover, would that cause more air flow into the cockpit of the boat you think? I still won't tow with the cover I don't think, I'll just be more careful or throw a sand bag on top or something.