Adding value and keeping your marine upholstery looking great isn’t hard when you use the right marine upholstery fabrics.
On this page you can find everything you’ll need to know about marine upholstery fabrics when you are building your boat interior and want to improve the comfort as well as the appearance.
I’ve gathered here the most important information, tips, and full upholstery fabric reviews, to help you make the decisions that are best for you.
You can read my full guide to marine upholstery fabrics here.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Vinyl Fabric | Best Overall |  |
| Bry-Tech Marine1 Marine Vinyl Upholstery Fabric Off White Sample 3" x 3" Boat Auto | Budget Pick |  |
| Clear Marine Vinyl | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. Marine Vinyl Fabric
If you’re looking for the best marine upholstery fabric, a popular contender is Sunbrella Marine Vinyl Fabric. It’s very similar to the traditional marine vinyl fabric but with some added benefits including Sunbrella fabric, which is designed to be moisture and mildew resistant.
This kind of fabric is known to be highly durable and can be used for outdoor furniture and boat cabins. It’s made from 12oz marine vinyl and features an attractive light blue and grey color.
While it might be a little more expensive than the usual marine vinyl fabric it’s certainly worth it.
2. Marine Vinyl Waterproof 54 Inch
Pros:
- Waterproof, allows water to bead up and roll right off the vinyl
- Doesn’t require any special care and cleaning. Extensively UV-resistant, suitable for outdoor marine use
- Resists mildew, mold, and bacteria build-up
Cons:
- Must be stored indoors or in a garage when not in use
- Easily damaged; excessive change in temperature and sunlight can cause surface damage
- Must be hand washed
Designed by fans of boating and fishing, the Marine Vinyl Waterproof 54″ fabric is as tough as it sounds. The vinyl is heavy-duty, able to withstand an entire season of use, and is compatible with most marine upholstery projects.
It’s waterproof, and able to resist scratching, salt, and even the sun. Plus, it won’t fade and is resistant to mold, mildew, and bacteria. It’s stylish and attractive, coming in neutral finishes like white and gray.
It’s a quality material that can withstand rough use, and it’s inexpensive enough to never worry about it showing wear and tear.
3. VViViD White Weatherproof Faux Leather Finish Marine Vinyl Fabric
Pros:
- This is a marine grade product
- UV and scratch resistant
- Can be used for many projects, such as seats, doors, tops and veneers
- Easy to apply to boat or car interior
- It is easy to clean or maintain
- Comes in 4-inch width
Before we start to introduce to you some marine upholstery fabrics, you need to have a deep understanding of the marine standard. The marine standard is much simple than the common upholstery standard.
The width of the marine standard is less than the upholstery standard. For example, the width of upholstery leather is generally 54 inches but in marine standard is only 4-inch. To make it very clear every upholstery marine standard supposes to be finished in 4-inch width.
As the fabrics need to be strained, the horizontal gathering of the marine upholstery fabric is much more than the normal facings. Instead, the facings jump over 6-inch for every 2 inches of the width.
4. Plastex Marine Vinyl Snow Brite White Fabric By The Yard
Pros:
- Waterproof material
- Not affected by UV rays
- Resistant to mold and mildew
- Impact resistant
- Not affected by oily residue
- Unaffected by oil, water, acids, alkali, or alcohol
The Plastex Marine vinyl snow brite white fabric is an ideal choice for marine upholstery. It’s a high-grade marine vinyl that’s resistant to UV radiation, heat, and mold. As a result, it’ll last you for a long time.
5. Bry-Tech Marine1 Marine Vinyl Upholstery Fabric Off White Sample 3" x 3" Boat Auto
Marine vinyl is a rubber-like fabric that is designed for marine applications such as boats, canoes, and kayaks. It is a common material used by boat manufacturers and boat cover fabricators, but it is also used in other applications such as boat seats, boat floors, and even car seats.
The many advantages of marine vinyl include its water-tightness, ability to repel oil and gas, resistance to mold, mildew, fungus, and algae, and its durability and mildew-proof properties.
Although it is commonly used in marine applications, it is useful in many other applications that may be exposed to harsh conditions and need to be kept dry.
6. Sunbrella Canvas Natural Fabric By The Yard
Pros:
- Perfect for boat interiors
- Very durable
Sunbrella Canvas is a very durable canvas fabric. Sunbrella Canvas Naturals is available in 44 colors, 20 designer patterns, 54 weaves styles, and 32 abstract prints. It is made in the USA.
Sunbrella Canvas Naturals is made from acrylic, polyester, multi-filament fibers, and vinyl. It is best suited for uses like awnings, canopy tops, boat covers, marine interiors, marine sails, boat cushions, marine upholstery, boat sails, cabin and cockpit cushions, marine biminis, boat patio covers – both fixed and retractable, and tender covers. It has a density of 275gsm.
There are three factors that determine fabric durability: weight, density, and tenacity. Weight and density are both measured as grams per square meter. Tenacity is measured in ounces per inch.
7. Discount Fabric Marine Vinyl Outdoor Upholstery Choose Your Color White
Pros:
- This product is high quality and durable, so you can use it for a long time
- This type of material is waterproof and oil resistance
- This product weighs 1.65m per square meter, and weighs 1.45kg per pallet
- A variety of colors to choose from, unique style, strong texture, delicate workmanship, good quality, practical, warm, comfortable
- This product is easy to clean
The discount marine upholstery fabric is a 100% waterproof and oil-resistant fabric, used for outdoor upholstery, which takes the products resistant to the sun, rain and dust to the next level. Can be used for outdoor furniture, motorcycle seat, car bodywork and other parts of upholstery and decoration.
Furnishing materials have good stability, strong texture, light weight and high strength.
As a one-stop shop for marine upholstery, Discount Fabric Marine Vinyl Outdoor Upholstery Choose Your Color White Blue is perfect for you to choose the best materials for upholstering your boat, you can purchase it.
8. Ottertex Canvas Fabric Waterproof Outdoor 60" Wide 600 Denier 15 Colors Sold by The Yard
Pros:
- 60” wide
- 15 yard on one roll
- 600D
- Waterproof Canvas Fabric
- UV Protection
- 16 oz Canvas Material
- Anti-Rot
- Anti-Fading
- Sun Shade
- Non-Flamable
(White)
Are you looking for top quality and inexpensive marine upholstery fabrics? The Ottertex Marine Canvas is the Best Marine Upholstery Fabric Canvas available on the market.
The Ottertex Canvas is a high quality, thick fabric that is ideal for boat upholstery, marine upholstery, truck upholstery, auto upholstery, truck bed upholstery, and car upholstery.
9. VViViD Oyster Beige Weatherproof Faux Leather Finish Marine Vinyl Fabric
Pros:
- Available in five distinct colors
- Designed to withstand the wear and tear of daily wear and tear
- Approved for outdoor usage
- The backing is made from a weatherproof material (PVC)
- Very soft and plush, ideal for decorative upholstery
While it may seem like vinyl is just for car interiors, there are much more uses for this and similar materials. This piece of marine vinyl made by VViViD, is specifically made to withstand the strong heat of the sun and the moist environment found on ships or boats.
This vinyl fabric is a synthetic blend that is durable but also very lightweight. Vinyl fabric has an Abrasion resistance of: Friction: Good, Abrasion: Excellent.
This VViViD marine vinyl fabric is also perfect for upholstery because of its durability and colorfastness. While best for indoor uses, this fabric could withstand light outdoor use in a covered area.
10. Clear Marine Vinyl
Pros:
- Linear, high-density gauge of 54, 20” wide makes it easier to work with than the standard 54, 16”
- The backing of the vinyl is easy to remove, and it’s very flexible
- Stain, fade, abrasion, and mildew resistance; resists stretching and shrinking
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best marine vinyl for upholstery?
If you are like me and you want your marine vinyl seats to look like the ones you see in high-end, luxury motor yachts, do your homework before you decide what you want to use.
Ravelli vinyls come in a wide range of colors and are a little lighter than most others.
You can get UV protection in the fabric. Ravelli also has a small percentage of polypropylene in the vinyl, which helps add strength and improves endurance.
This company offers a lot of variety, including classic textures and colors, which can be matched to almost any type of boat.
However, to bring everything together, Ravelli offers a choice of elastic polyester and elastic polyurethane, which is great for a lot of people who want to be able to move more freely.
What is the best fabric for boat cushions?
The best fabric in 2019 is usually some type of Sunbrella. Sunbrella is made by Glen Raven Mills, one of the world's largest manufacturers of synthetic textiles and fabrics.
Glen Raven Mill's Sunbrella is a synthetic acrylic fabric made from renewable resources. It’s highly resilient and outdoor-friendly. The fabric is best known for its ability to resist water, mildew, stains, mold, and fading. It is completely weatherproof and stays looking good, year-round.
Usually, Sunbrella is available in durable canvas or leather material and also comes in a wide range of colors. Given Sunbrella's quality and durability, it makes great boat cushions.
What is marine grade vinyl?
We typically associate vinyl with road bike seats and faux crocodile skin shoes. This is mainly because it was used for such purposes in the past. Within the last decade, the market for marine grade vinyl went through a boom and vinyl can now be found almost everywhere.
Vinyl is a durable material and is actually very versatile when it comes to its uses both on and off the boat.
Nowadays, vinyl can be found in everything from flooring to decking to trim and even in boat tops.
Marine grade vinyl doesn’t …t only contribute to the beauty of your boat; it also makes it more weather resistant, less combustible and more affordable.
Is Marine vinyl waterproof?
Marine vinyl is not waterproof, but it is water resistant. It is impermeable to damage from rainwater and puddle splashes, but it won’t necessarily keep your boat dry from water seeping in during a rainstorm or a large swell.
Marine vinyl is a great option for seating and covers on your boat. It is also good for covers on inflatable boats when combined with the right seams.
Conclusion
The Best Marine Upholstery Fabric is all you require to beautify your boat and bring a new color to it. It’s a very beautiful and stunning choice of interior upholstery fabrics and you can totally trust in it.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Vinyl Fabric | Best Overall | |
| Bry-Tech Marine1 Marine Vinyl Upholstery Fabric Off White Sample 3" x 3" Boat Auto | Budget Pick | |
| Clear Marine Vinyl | Upgrade Pick | |