Custom Marine Upholstery Transformation for Alberta's Lake Season — Here's How We Do It

Wyatt Weatherfronts
Apr 23
2 min read

Spring is here in Alberta, and that means lake season is just around the corner! As boat owners across the province prepare to hit the water, ensuring your vessel is in top shape is key. Great boat upholstery not only looks fantastic but adds comfort and value. Recently, our team tackled a significant custom boat upholstery project right here in Alberta, transforming a client's boat interior just in time for summer. We're proud of the project and want to tell you about the process!

Three people sit on a boat seat in a workshop, smiling. The background shows tables, tools, and materials. Casual attire and relaxed mood. — Artem, Chris (the owner has to help, right?) and Kate enjoying the boat while they can

The Challenge: Crafting Marine Upholstery from the Ground Up

This project was more than a simple recover; it was a complete boat interior renovation, starting with the bare bones. Our repeat client trusted us completely, giving us creative freedom for the design. He brought us the framework for the rear seats – essentially sturdy wooden bases. The goal was to create a comfortable, stylish, and durable seating arrangement throughout the vessel. This meant not only building the rear seats from scratch but also reupholstering the front captain's and passenger chairs to ensure a perfectly cohesive new look.

Factory setting with workbenches, a wooden panel seat in the foreground, dark matte sheet on top, and a person walking in the background. — Before the work started: our blank canvas

Designing the Difference with Marine-Grade Vinyl

Working from a blank slate, our design team focused on creating something unique. We developed a modern, geometric pattern using interlocking triangles, perfect for a two-tone effect.

Man upholstering a seat with a staple gun in a workshop. Shelves full of materials are in the background. Casual setting, focused expression.

When it comes to marine upholstery, material choice is crucial. We selected premium, marine-grade vinyl specifically designed to withstand Alberta's strong summer sun, moisture, and heavy use. A stylish combination of black and grey-silver vinyl was chosen to execute the custom design.

Sewing machine embroidering "Thunder Jet" on black leather. Hand guides material, creating detailed stitching. Bright, focused setting.

Expert Marine Upholstery Process: Building Better Boat Seats

Creating high-quality custom boat seats involves meticulous steps:

Foundation is Key: We selected high-density boat seat foam tailored for marine environments, ensuring the right support and comfort for seating areas versus the large rear deck pad. Proper foam selection is vital for comfort on the water.
Shaping the Seats: The chosen foam was precisely cut and bonded to the wooden rear seat frames, building the desired shape and profile.
Sewing the Skins: Our skilled seamstress carefully measured, cut, and sewed the black and grey-silver marine-grade vinyl pieces according to the geometric pattern, crafting the custom covers.
Flawless Fit and Finish: The vinyl covers were stretched and secured to the foam bases, eliminating wrinkles and ensuring a tight, professional look.
Final Installation: The completed custom boat seats and deck pad were installed back into the client's boat, transforming the entire boat interior.

The Result: A Stunning Boat Ready for Canada Boating

In about a week, we went from basic frames to stunning, fully installed custom boat upholstery (not to boast, but...). The new rear seats and deck pad offer superior comfort and a modern, high-end aesthetic. This boat seat transformation dramatically upgraded the vessel's overall look and feel.