If there is one thing that lets many boat restoration projects down, it is interior trim. Many people can produce professional quality timber work for boats, but finish off the job by sticking carpet on the ceiling and cabin sides. Now I am the first to sing the praises of foam-back corded carpet as a soft furnishing, especially on steel vessels where its insulation properties will usually stop condensation dead but if it is used everywhere it looks pretty amateurish.

What About Vinyl on Boats?

Vinyl (or leatherette) is easy to work with and can be warmed with a hot air gun or hair dryer to make it more supple. It is also very easy to fix to thin ply, using stainless steel staples and a staple gun.

For a more luxurious look on boats, foam can be fitted behind it or ready made foam-backed vinyl can be used. To make a professional looking head-lining, the trick is to cut 6mm ply panels to a perfect fit and then cover them with vinyl. They can then be screwed into place, making sure the screws are in a neat pattern and the screwheads can then be covered with either matching plastic caps or screw caps covered with the same vinyl. Caps like this are widely available from upholstery suppliers.

The finished job gives a really professional look on your boat but it needn’t end there. Once you start working with vinyl you will find a load of other areas that can be trimmed or covered to match. You may even consider making your own cushions. Try it. It really isn’t that difficult and the results are great.