Tuck and roll upholstery is expensive!

[Carl C]

I'm getting my two rear seat back panels done locally for $1,127. They are at Seat Cover King which has been in business since 1963. I hope they do it right. Two shops didn't even want to touch this job! :crossfing:

[chip w]

Hope they come out nice. Let us know. I looked at replacing my interior last year but postponed that after putting the new motor in. Maybe next year.

[smokediver]

That’s a little steep. I recently had my complete interior including the sides for 2000. Top of the line vinyl and I had the rear pads a little thicker for more comfort.

[CHACHI]

According to John Harmon (original Bilt Rite), when the rear seat backs are done correctly, they should be curved and stand on their own.

Ken

[Carl C]

For that money they had better be perfect. We will see ...

[mattyboy]

According to John Harmon (original Bilt Rite), when the rear seat backs are done correctly, they should be curved and stand on their own.

Ken


I took my biltrite seats to an interior guy and he said those seats would give any interior guy nightmares he said that was true craftsmanship and they don't do work like that anymore. he said a top end hotrod shop was probably the only place to go to get that end product.

look at a biltrite candy cane interior the seams and colors are ballz on from seat cushion to seat back

[Morgan's Cloud]

When I did my resto I allowed myself 2 'treats' that were to be done by other people. The upholstery/cushions were one of them .
The gal who did my work was originally in the sail making trade and moved on to marine and high end interior work.
I knew it would be expensive but it came out flawlessly . I guess that if you want the real look ya gotta pay !

Now , when my brother redid the interior on his XK19 the shop he used got one of their newest hires , basically an apprentice , to do the job. The rear seat was very similar to the C22 and when he saw the end result he told the guy to stop right there. In the end the shop owner took over and re-did it and finished all the other work and it came out very well.

[mattyboy]

the biltrite corners are special one a thicker setup they need to add material on thinner setups they just use descending and then ascending pleat size to radius the corner

[Carl C]

I got the seats back and the work looks good but there isn't enough curve in them and I'm concerned about that. It's 14* in garage and I'll have to wait for a warmer day to put them in the boat.

[woobs]

Upholstery curves are difficult to do correctly. It's easier with tuck & roll but, you need an expert upholsterer.

My Greavette seats have a greater curve than a Donzi, plus they are not tuck & roll. I'm fortunate that a local boat club member happens to be an expert (has won numerous awards at ACBS shows) and does work for other club members. Plus, she is extremely reasonable on price.

You don't have to accept low grade or, bend over for upholstery if you do your homework. Our person is not the only one around!

[Morgan's Cloud]

Upholstery curves are difficult to do correctly. It's easier with tuck & roll but, you need an expert upholsterer.

My Greavette seats have a greater curve than a Donzi, plus they are not tuck & roll. I'm fortunate that a local boat club member happens to be an expert (has won numerous awards at ACBS shows) and does work for other club members. Plus, she is extremely reasonable on price.

You don't have to accept low grade or, bend over for upholstery if you do your homework. Our person is not the only one around!

Yep , that's nice work !
Do you think that guys who have the old classic woodies just seem to know where the good upholstery guys are ?
Most every time I see a beautiful restored example the interiors are really well done too .

[woobs]

I'd say because most people with a woodyboat are in the process of, or have already restored their boat(s). It's a good community and people love to help.
ACBS has recently welcomed fiberglass classics so, I'd say join a local chapter and you'll find the quality stuff you need pretty quick.

When I wanted to learn about my glass boats & performance, I joined the Donzi community and found the best people possible!

Just for fun... here's the original.

[yeller]

I took my biltrite seats to an interior guy and he said those seats would give any interior guy nightmares he said that was true craftsmanship and they don't do work like that anymore. he said a top end hotrod shop was probably the only place to go to get that end product.
I agree. Back in my upholstery days I would not have wanted to do the Donzi seats. Too many pieces to cut/sew perfectly and too much time. I have done similar jobs, but very, very, few people realized the time involved and couldn't justify the cost.


I got the seats back and the work looks good but there isn't enough curve in them and I'm concerned about that. It's 14* in garage and I'll have to wait for a warmer day to put them in the boat.
Carl, I'd take those seats back. Not enough curve and too many wrinkles. When you install them, they'll wrinkle a lot more in the corners. If done properly, no upholstery job should have wrinkles. Also, the piping is wavy too, which can be easily corrected. It only takes a couple minutes, so it shows they didn't care much about the finished product.
Do not let them tell you it's normal, or the wrinkles will reduce in the sun (which is a common line). Over time, the sun will take out some wrinkles as the vinyl shrinks, but they can do the same thing with a heat gun, so if they give that line, insist they show you and remove them to your satisfaction. I hate to say it, but those weren't sew properly and will never take on the curve of the back seat properly.

[Carl C]

New seats look like ****. How do I handle this? Take them back with the pictures? They need to be completely redone. It looked better before they were touched.(last pic) :mad:

[Greg Guimond]

Eat the cost and move on. Send them down to http://www.sturgisdesigns.com/custom_upholstery_portfolio.html

[craigdskilling]

Carl so about your seats but there is a guy closer to you on the Canadian side he's done my seats along time ago and they still look mint. He also rig my boat and did paint great work and cheap with your dallar.look up Ron banks marine. I can you send picks of mine by phone just pm me

[CHACHI]

Why didn't you go to PPI?

Didn't they do the originals?

Ken

[yeller]

How do I handle this? Take them back with the pictures?
Yes.

I'd try and get your money back, but they may not do that. If that's the case, insist they redo them. They may have someone else in the shop that has the experience to do them right.

[gcarter]

There's a local upholsterer near my business who does excellent hot rod
upholstery work, but he only works when he wants to. He helped me w/my
old original seats and explained the curves are generated using a special
foam that is sensitive to heat. He would start by generating the curve using
a heat gun and working off the new shape. IOW, w/o the special foam, you'll
get sub par seat backs.

[Carl C]

Thanks for the replies. I don't need another big headache right now and will wait to decide what to do. One friend told me to leave it and that I'm the only one who will notice. I think the only resolution that would work would be a full refund and then order them from DonziDirect for $1,500 ($400 more). Maybe I will just leave it.

[yeller]

Don't automatically assume it's going to be a big headache. You don't have to go into the place screaming and yelling.
Just go back with the cushions and pictures and tell them your not happy with how they fit.

After they've looked at them and responded, then you can decide if it's going to be a headache or not.

[mattyboy]

Carl

don't wait to long that might not work to your favor , did they have access to the original seats as a template. I would look at the foam on the old ones and see if there is any thing special about it. My seat backs are much thicker than a 22 and for the corners two pieces were glued together then trimmed down. hope it works out for you

[woobs]

Don't automatically assume it's going to be a big headache. You don't have to go into the place screaming and yelling.
Just go back with the cushions and pictures and tell them your not happy with how they fit.

After they've looked at them and responded, then you can decide if it's going to be a headache or not.

Totally agree! Also, I would not wait not fair to you or the shop (they have to plan the shop work flow.)

[Rob M]

Carl,

Bring him those pictures vs what they are supposed to look like. They should be taut and smooth where the cushion is flat, and they should not cram in the corners. The corner foam needs to be glued and sculpted to fit properly. Not acceptable craftsmanship and you shouldn’t have to pay. They will always bother you if you leave them as is. Try Cummins Canvas in Orillia Ontario.

Rob

[mc donzi]

Carl,

I live about 10 miles from Cummins Canvas...AND... I have a 2000 22C with 454-385HP with a Volvo DPX. My seats are in good shape(certainly good enough for templates).

The only problem is that I'm in Florida until the end of March/early April. I could drop mine off at Cummins so he could pattern yours from mine.

Rob...where are you located??

[Rob M]

Carl,



Rob...where are you located??


MC: In the GTA. But boat in Muskoka.

Used Cummins for a restoration interior. Was happy with the results - not cheap, but worth it.

[yeller]

My seats are in good shape(certainly good enough for templatesThat’s a nice offer but FYI: to be used for a template they have to take your seats completely apart. I.E. remove all the stitching.

[mc donzi]

Oops...not sure I want that done.

Besides no response from Carl so I guess he will work something out with the original guy.

[mattyboy]

maybe some helpful info I was at the nj boat expo yesterday had a chance to talk to the guys from Irwin Marine the new donzi dealer in NJ they had a new all white with red stripes 22 classic it was very nice fit and finish . we talked for quite a bit and wound up talking about the interiors they said the new interiors are done by a guy on the west coast . maybe a call to the factory may help

BTW the new boarding ladders they are putting in ARE ****ING BRILLIANT

[Carl C]

Thanks again for all of the replies and offers. The shop recovered my original seats and reused to back parts which I told them was fine. Starboard side is not perfect but is acceptable. Port side looks terrible. I think that I should have made it clear that the seats must have a 90* bend in them and I should have provided pictures. I'm still not sure how I will handle this.

[tmdog]

The shop has an obligation to make this right. Shop should of requested a photo of seats if they had doubts of assembly. Both parties have a share of responsibility for this error. Customer is always right. Stand your ground. Be firm but polite. Carl, good luck.

[yeller]

The shop recovered my original seats....
I'm still not sure how I will handle this.
If you gave them your original seats, then they should have done the new ones to have the same curve.
Take the cushions back, with pictures of the new ones and the old ones.
....but do it now, don't wait.