Saving my upholstery.
 

When I see used Mariahs for sale, it seems that the first place the upholstery gets bad is on the rear edge of the sun deck in the center by the stitching.

I've noticed some small cracks forming in that location on mine, no longer than 1/8 of an inch. What can I do to keep these from getting worse?

You get that figured out Paul and you win a gold ring! Mine is cracked in the same area and starting to weaken in others....I've resigned myself to having the sundeck reupholstered....

One thing I did do, in areas on the sundeck where stitching was starting to weaken but still together, I laid in liberal amounts of superglue (or any other cyanoacrolate) right into the seam. This way the glue is holding the joint and not the stitching. One area that was starting to pull, I went back an inch or so the the area still together and laid in some glue....

Holding so far!!

upolhstery
 

try using clear nail polish that is working for me on two places on my sundeck it was sugested to me by an upolhstery shop for marine vinel

sundeck upholstery cracks
 

I've got to small cracks on the sundeck back edge - and now a large one as I stepped on the deck while it was cold. Noticed the material on that back edge is hard/brittle. I'm sure the hot sun will soften it up - but will also use more/better vinyl treatment there.

As for repairing the cracks - is there an alternative to replacing the vinyl? I thought I remember seeing some vinyl patch kit with an iron or something? Also, any estimates or feedback on replacing sundeck vinyl? Can I get it to look like original and how much $$$?.

A friend of mine had the sundeck redone on his 99 Glastron. 3 different colors and an average amount of stitching, it cost him $250. I"ve never had it priced, but with all the detail in the Mariah upholstery, I would be surprised if I got much change back from $500....

Mine's not in too bad of shape...usually when I'm parked I've got beach towels laid all over it anyway! An then hopefully a few hotties draped over the towels!:yes_grin:

Sundeck redo
 

I am dropping mine off at the shop Monday. I'll post pictures of the before and after and the price.

I hope it is sunny where you are, today we have the best day looming in a long time.

Water + weight + seam = cracking eventually in any boat. I have had four and it’s always the same. I just had the rear seat reupholstered also. It had got a large crack in the seam in the area people step in wet from the back. It cost me $100. I had it made without the seam this time. It doesn’t look as good without the contrasting colors (see pics) but I have never had the vinyl rip in an area without a seam and I won’t have water sucked into the cushion through stitching. If I ever redo the sides I will do them the same way.

On our old boat (20ft baja outlaw) my wife sewed 4 beach towels together and draped them over the rear deck, so when people got up out of the water wet they stepped on the towel rather than directly on the upholstery. Seems to work!!!