Upholstery Material.

[Sailfree]

With the heavy charter market the fax leather (much nicer name than plastic!) cushions on my boat have suddenly started to pick up nicks & tears.

SWMBO is insistant on keeping a light cream interior. I find this slightly worrying as we only spilt 2 glasses of red wine last weekend.

Had Alcantara on the last boat which stood up well to the charter market. A number of companies are suggesting an Alcantara substitute that is as good a specification but cheaper. Can anyone pass informed comment on replacement materials. Ability to clean off red wine etc must be a major factor.

Can anyone recommend a company that provides quality recovering at reasonable costs. I think I will be looking at £1500 fax leather, £2000 Alcantara substitute and £2,800 for the genuine Acantara so not a minor spend.

While I love saving money I also hate spoiling something by not spending enough!

Advice and recommendations much appreciated.

Edited to add the l in Alcantara - I thought that how you spelt it but not in one quote I have!!

 

[jeremyshaw]

Can't answer your question directly, but I found a company on Ebay selling genuine Alcantara at well below half price. Story is they bought a load of stock from the defunct Rover factory. The colours they had didn't suit us sadly, but might be worth a look - Portland Fabrics is the name.

 

[VicS]

Toomer and Hayter ?
Hawke House Ltd ?

 

[MM5AHO]

Try Microcare. Seems to be good at resisting red wine, the products of motion sickness, etc.
There's mention of it here ... http://www.goachersails.co.uk/covers.html

 

[Sailfree]

Thanks guys - please keep them coming.

Tried E Bay but only small 3 m lengths advertised

 

[AOWYN]

I am about to take the plunge with ultraleather, a fake leather product used on American boats. See http://ultrafabricsllc.com/

We need about 20 metres of Almond colour, maybe a better deal to get together and buy a roll?

I agree about wasting money, but the boss wants the interior to look and feel good even if we are only sailing 12 days per year!

Cheers, Bernard

 

[Drascomber]

Covered a couple of cockpit cushions in Microcare. Expensive to buy but seems rugged. Only problem is they take forever to dry when they get wet.

 

[Sailfree]

Well now been phoning round about 7 co's. None give a consistent answer.Many state use a vinyl or acrylic all state that Alcantara is expensive.

One interesting suggestion was Sunbrella which is an acrylic and used on Sunssekers.

Does anyone know what other expensive boats use on the more exposed cushions?

SWMBO is adament it must be cream or very light coloured as it make the boat attractive to women!!

 

[JKay]

http://www.brownandcook.co.uk/products.asp?CategoryID=215

We used the "Lionella Tempo Cameo"on our boat

give 'em a call ref it's ability to repell Red wine

Cheers Joe