Captains Chairs Arm Rest

[Throttle1971]

They are nasty, I have tried everything to clean them. Anyone come up with a solution on how to cover them? Also what have you found to be the best product to clean mold and mildew from your seat cushions?

 

[captain swag]

Mens ankle socks work great on my Pompanette armrests. Change easily.

 

[glacierbaze]

Some good info here on taking care of your vinyl upholstery.


LMorgan

Senior Member


Join Date: Jun 2012

Location: DeBary, Fl

Posts: 634

Likes: 2

Received 108 Likes on 65 Posts

I am a marine upholsterer and have been at it for 25 years....Here are some tips:

"the other thing that works well on those type of stains, is to clean it using a Mr Clean Magic Eraser sponge. the sponge is an ultra fine material that seems to be able to get into the small spots/grooves better than a standard brush or sponge that is too thick/course to get the micro spots." This is absolutely the WORST thing to clean your seats with. More info below on it.
"Chris, Whoever did that upholstery is good! That is one of the cleanest installs I've seen. Doesn't look like there's a wrinkle anywhere. " This is why you pay a professional and stop doing a lot of the DIY items.

Here is how to take care of marine vinyl:
How To Clean Vinyl Boat Seats & Upholstery
Marine grade vinyl is designed to endure harsh marine conditions, but without proper care and maintenance they will break down much faster. The best way to prolong the look, feel, and longevity of boat seats and other upholstered items is to keep them clean, dry, and out of the long exposure to the sun. Regular application of a UV inhibitor such is highly recommended.Routine Cleaning

• Hose off or remove any large dirt deposits, leaves, etc.
• Make a solution of mild soap and water (¼ cup liquid soap to 1 gallon fresh, clean water)
• Using a clean rag, sponge, or very soft bristle brush, wash upholstery as normal. Try to avoid pooling water into the seams, as this leads to water soaking into the foam and will result in mold
• Rinse the soap solution off the vinyl using fresh clean water with a light fan spray
• Wipe the vinyl dry with a soft, clean towel. Allow to sit in the sun if possible to assure complete drying

Deep Cleaning

• When thoroughly dry, apply a vinyl cleaner, such as 303 Fabric & Vinyl Cleaner, and rub into the vinyl with a soft clean cloth or soft bristled brush. It may seem redundant to clean with mild soap first but that step is necessary to remove sunscreen, sweat residue, dirt and particles so the vinyl cleaner will penetrate the vinyl uninhibited.
• Remove excess cleaner with a soft cloth.

UV Protection (highly recommended)

• Use 303 Areospace Protectant. Spray on vinyl completely wetting the surface.
• Using a soft, dry cloth, wipe until the vinyl is dry. Be sure to absorb all excess protectant by wiping and polishing until completely dry. This will provide a finish coating that repels stains and provides UV protection.
• Apply every 3 to 5 weeks for maximum UV protection, if the boat is used with great frequency or is left uncovered in the weather
• Highly recommended to prolong the life of your boat seats and marine upholstery. Follow label directions.

Mold Stains & Full Renewal

• Magic Eraser often works quite well at removing stains from the surface of marine vinyl, but use of this product will remove the protective coating on the vinyl and will expedite the decay process as it is a micro-fine polisher. I highly recommend to AVOID the use of Magic Eraser products.
• Mix a solution of IOSSO Mold & Mildew Stain Remover, Star-Brite mildew remover (or similar product) per instructions.
• Wet the area with the mixture then let soak for about 5-10 min.
• Scrub the area with a sponge or soft cloth. For stubborn stains, add ¼ cup Clorox bleach to the soap/water mixture. Having the vinyl warm from the sun may help in removing stubborn stains. Spot treatment of staining may be done with spray Clorox Clean-Up. Make sure if sprayed on stitched areas that they are rinsed well with fresh, clean water.
• Grease, petroleum, or oil based stains can be removed with Goo Gone (citrus based cleaner)…DO NOT use Goof Off, which is an acetone based cleaner!

Do

• Use mild and specialized cleaners such as – Dreft Laundry Soap, IOSSO Stain Remover, Star-Brite cleaner, 303 Fabric & Vinyl Cleaner, 303 Aerospace Protectant.
• Apply a UV inhibitor regularly to prolong the life and look of your marine vinyl upholstery
• Clean thoroughly after using the boat. Sweat, sunscreen, and dirt are the major enemies of your interior. The simplest and easiest way to protect your interior during use is to place beach towels or other coverings on the seats while using them. Preventative maintenance is always easier than repair or replacement.

Note: Nothing will clean Sharpie marker and ink stains off of vinyl boat seats and upholstery with any true effectiveness. When the ink penetrates into the vinyl it cannot be removed. The mark may be dulled in color and become a little bit less noticeable by using a solvent but the solvent will permanently damage the vinyl in the process. The only way to fix it is to replace the affected panel in the upholstery
Do Not

• Do not use harsh cleansers such as- Ammonia, Windex, Simple Green, etc., - while most of these won’t immediately effect the appearance, they slowly break down the vinyl reducing its lifespan.
• Use a Magic Eraser to remove stains.
• Use excessive amounts of bleach, especially pool bleach (chlorine), which is 10x the strength of household bleach

__________________
2003 Angler FX204
2001 Carver Voyager 374 Flybridge Convertible
2003 Renaissance Prowler 246
2008 Proline 210
2007 ProKat 2660 WA catamaran
2018 Renaissance Prowler 25

~Stupidity should be painful~

 

[nrtbmw]

Bought my first used Grady in October, 226 Seafarer, great condition but armrests needed replacement. Took them to a local upholsterer in Orleans (Cape Cod) MA and she recovered them . Great job, looks like new. . $200 for 4 arm rests. I can send pics if you are interested.

 

[BlueFlu15]

Bought my first used Grady in October, 226 Seafarer, great condition but armrests needed replacement. Took them to a local upholsterer in Orleans (Cape Cod) MA and she recovered them . Great job, looks like new. . $200 for 4 arm rests. I can send pics if you are interested.

Can you post pics, and provide her contact info? My armrest are due for a makeover, and I’m I’m not too far away from Orleans.

 

[Legend]

Here is a 10 dollar fix - women's ankle sock in natural beige

 

[Fishtales]

Pompanette makes the seats for GW. If the deluxe helm chair (shown above) there was a cover offered by Pompanette that glued over the armrest. GW had them for some time, you may be able to get one directly. If the Deluxe II helm chair, the arm rests screw on and Pompanette offers them as replacements. They seem to last about 7 years or so and then start to fade and hold mildew.

I've found that older vinyl will hold mold and it is impossible to get out. The only real solution is to recover.

 

[Timbo]

I removed both armrests on both chairs and was pleasantly surprised at how much more room I had to walk between the seats

 

[Fishtales]

If you like that option (I do), I think it is the best move. Just makes life in the helm space so much better.

 

[teaklejr]

Used this product plus the cleaner they sell for prep and it turned out very good. Not an exact color match but very close, looks way better than it did before and much better than the sock mod. Cleaned both arm rests very good, lightly sanded them, then sprayed a few coats of the vinyl paint and let dry.

SEM M25073 Marine Vinyl Coat Ranger Off-White

SEM Marine Vinyl Coat Ranger Off-White M25073 - Renew or change the color of your weathered boat chairs for a brand new look! Vinyl Coat is easy to use, simply clean and prepare surface, mask off and spray. Permanent, flexible and formulated with increased UV inhibitors to be fade resistant.

www.smsdistributors.com

 

[Gull Watcher]

West Marine mildew remover worked good for me

 

[jillyrubyjane]

To me is Marine 31 mildew remover, this stuff is amazing. When the bottle arrived I immediately went out and sprayed all of my seats, grabbed the brush to scrub them and the seat I sprayed first was totally clean. Yes you read that right. I would definitely recommend this product to anyone with a boat or who had outside furniture that gets any mold / mildew. It is safe on most materials and is water safe so you can use it on boats that stay docked all the time and not feel bad about it getting rinsed off and killing fish.

 

[NiceBass 272]

Used this product plus the cleaner they sell for prep and it turned out very good. Not an exact color match but very close, looks way better than it did before and much better than the sock mod. Cleaned both arm rests very good, lightly sanded them, then sprayed a few coats of the vinyl paint and let dry.

SEM M25073 Marine Vinyl Coat Ranger Off-White

SEM Marine Vinyl Coat Ranger Off-White M25073 - Renew or change the color of your weathered boat chairs for a brand new look! Vinyl Coat is easy to use, simply clean and prepare surface, mask off and spray. Permanent, flexible and formulated with increased UV inhibitors to be fade resistant.

www.smsdistributors.com

picking up some today ... how does it hold up

 

[teaklejr]

picking up some today ... how does it hold up

So far so good but its only been 5 months so we shall see.

 

[NiceBass 272]

Some good info here on taking care of your vinyl upholstery.


LMorgan

Senior Member


Join Date: Jun 2012

Location: DeBary, Fl

Posts: 634

Likes: 2

Received 108 Likes on 65 Posts

I am a marine upholsterer and have been at it for 25 years....Here are some tips:

"the other thing that works well on those type of stains, is to clean it using a Mr Clean Magic Eraser sponge. the sponge is an ultra fine material that seems to be able to get into the small spots/grooves better than a standard brush or sponge that is too thick/course to get the micro spots." This is absolutely the WORST thing to clean your seats with. More info below on it.
"Chris, Whoever did that upholstery is good! That is one of the cleanest installs I've seen. Doesn't look like there's a wrinkle anywhere. " This is why you pay a professional and stop doing a lot of the DIY items.

Here is how to take care of marine vinyl:
How To Clean Vinyl Boat Seats & Upholstery
Marine grade vinyl is designed to endure harsh marine conditions, but without proper care and maintenance they will break down much faster. The best way to prolong the look, feel, and longevity of boat seats and other upholstered items is to keep them clean, dry, and out of the long exposure to the sun. Regular application of a UV inhibitor such is highly recommended.Routine Cleaning

• Hose off or remove any large dirt deposits, leaves, etc.
• Make a solution of mild soap and water (¼ cup liquid soap to 1 gallon fresh, clean water)
• Using a clean rag, sponge, or very soft bristle brush, wash upholstery as normal. Try to avoid pooling water into the seams, as this leads to water soaking into the foam and will result in mold
• Rinse the soap solution off the vinyl using fresh clean water with a light fan spray
• Wipe the vinyl dry with a soft, clean towel. Allow to sit in the sun if possible to assure complete drying

Deep Cleaning

• When thoroughly dry, apply a vinyl cleaner, such as 303 Fabric & Vinyl Cleaner, and rub into the vinyl with a soft clean cloth or soft bristled brush. It may seem redundant to clean with mild soap first but that step is necessary to remove sunscreen, sweat residue, dirt and particles so the vinyl cleaner will penetrate the vinyl uninhibited.
• Remove excess cleaner with a soft cloth.

UV Protection (highly recommended)

• Use 303 Areospace Protectant. Spray on vinyl completely wetting the surface.
• Using a soft, dry cloth, wipe until the vinyl is dry. Be sure to absorb all excess protectant by wiping and polishing until completely dry. This will provide a finish coating that repels stains and provides UV protection.
• Apply every 3 to 5 weeks for maximum UV protection, if the boat is used with great frequency or is left uncovered in the weather
• Highly recommended to prolong the life of your boat seats and marine upholstery. Follow label directions.

Mold Stains & Full Renewal

• Magic Eraser often works quite well at removing stains from the surface of marine vinyl, but use of this product will remove the protective coating on the vinyl and will expedite the decay process as it is a micro-fine polisher. I highly recommend to AVOID the use of Magic Eraser products.
• Mix a solution of IOSSO Mold & Mildew Stain Remover, Star-Brite mildew remover (or similar product) per instructions.
• Wet the area with the mixture then let soak for about 5-10 min.
• Scrub the area with a sponge or soft cloth. For stubborn stains, add ¼ cup Clorox bleach to the soap/water mixture. Having the vinyl warm from the sun may help in removing stubborn stains. Spot treatment of staining may be done with spray Clorox Clean-Up. Make sure if sprayed on stitched areas that they are rinsed well with fresh, clean water.
• Grease, petroleum, or oil based stains can be removed with Goo Gone (citrus based cleaner)…DO NOT use Goof Off, which is an acetone based cleaner!

Do

• Use mild and specialized cleaners such as – Dreft Laundry Soap, IOSSO Stain Remover, Star-Brite cleaner, 303 Fabric & Vinyl Cleaner, 303 Aerospace Protectant.
• Apply a UV inhibitor regularly to prolong the life and look of your marine vinyl upholstery
• Clean thoroughly after using the boat. Sweat, sunscreen, and dirt are the major enemies of your interior. The simplest and easiest way to protect your interior during use is to place beach towels or other coverings on the seats while using them. Preventative maintenance is always easier than repair or replacement.

Note: Nothing will clean Sharpie marker and ink stains off of vinyl boat seats and upholstery with any true effectiveness. When the ink penetrates into the vinyl it cannot be removed. The mark may be dulled in color and become a little bit less noticeable by using a solvent but the solvent will permanently damage the vinyl in the process. The only way to fix it is to replace the affected panel in the upholstery
Do Not

• Do not use harsh cleansers such as- Ammonia, Windex, Simple Green, etc., - while most of these won’t immediately effect the appearance, they slowly break down the vinyl reducing its lifespan.
• Use a Magic Eraser to remove stains.
• Use excessive amounts of bleach, especially pool bleach (chlorine), which is 10x the strength of household bleach

__________________
2003 Angler FX204
2001 Carver Voyager 374 Flybridge Convertible
2003 Renaissance Prowler 246
2008 Proline 210
2007 ProKat 2660 WA catamaran
2018 Renaissance Prowler 25

~Stupidity should be painful~

Thanks for sharing added this to may maintenance file

 

[oliver305]

You can consider Star Brite remover, I used this on my boat seats and it was worked really well I just sprayed the area and left it for about 10 minutes and wiped the area and the mildew was gone. I am also impressed by the ability of this product to remove stains and clean from other surfaces aside from the boat seats. In fact, this product also works on wood, fiberglass, concrete, fabrics, vinyl upholstery, gutters, and even the roofs of the boat.

 

[Tuidawgs11]

I clean them with bleach white by black magic then hit them with the 303.

 

[Fishtales]

Seems like everyone has a go to cleaner for these arm rests!

 

[High Hopes II]

My arm rests on my 330 were disgusting, I took them off and soaked them in a bleach/oxiclean combination in a 5 gal bucket of water for about two weeks, they came out like brand new. Didn't affect the material at all. I used approx a cup of bleach and 1 scoop of the oxi, filled the bucket with water and let soak. I did take a scrub brush to them towards the end of the 2 weeks. Hope this helps.

 

[JAdams1]

see this post.

Pompanette armrest discoloration

I have a 2004 265 Express with the center helm Pompanette chair. Great chair but the armrests are discoloring- black streaks, blobs. I have read on this site about issues with these arm rests in this year. I talked with Grady and at one time they would replace them for free but they have run...

www.greatgrady.com