installing skins vs shop

[02ProstarSammyD]

Ok guys need an opinion. Running through some options on interior and this is a wee bit beyond me. Right now have a good price for skins. Which btw I can not say enough good about Jim at Viper. He has been fantastic to work with so far with options, getting me tedious quotes, and answering my assault of rediculous questions.

So how difficult is the installation of the skins and has anyone opted to have a local shop install someone elses skins in their boat. My problem is the logistics of getting a boat 8 hours down the road and then returning the next week to pick it up. Lots of gas burned on top of having it done.

[Sodar]

Any local upholsterer can do the install job. Personally, I'd rather have a pro do it, because I know if I did it that I would notice every wrinkle or loose spot and it would drive me crazy. That said, the job is not tough and can be made easier by letting the vinyl warm up out in the sun and using a steamer to make it nice and supple and to get any wrinkles out.

[mikeg205]

Originally Posted by Sodar

Any local upholsterer can do the install job. Personally, I'd rather have a pro do it, because I know if I did it that I would notice every wrinkle or loose spot and it would drive me crazy. That said, the job is not tough and can be made easier by letting the vinyl warm up out in the sun and using a steamer to make it nice and supple and to get any wrinkles out.

^^+1 - installing upholstery is a somewhere between a skill and art. The guys like at Viper have true feel for what the skin is doing and can see in their minds eye ... like guys who install vehicle wraps...they only like one type of vinyl and laminate...cuz they know how it will behave. Also it depends where you are on the MCOCD scale...

[02ProstarSammyD]

^yea I'm in the same boat but right now I'm looking at a G spot (gas etc) and 32 hours of road time to get the skins installed at Viper. I feel the price he's offered is fair for install (not a grand) but after thinking about it 800 miles of trailering the boat and 1600 total miles at 3.30 a gallon would be brutal to swallow (13.5 avg mpg and 8 with the boat). Would equal 490+bucks in gas and the 32 hours of lost time

[cbryan70]

what about drop shipping it all?

[76S&S]

Originally Posted by cbryan70

what about drop shipping it all?

What he said; why couldn't you remove the cushions and build a crate for them? Ship them to Viper and let him ship them back.

I'm thinking that someone on here did just that.

[CruisinGA]

Originally Posted by 76S&S

What he said; why couldn't you remove the cushions and build a crate for them? Ship them to Viper and let him ship them back.

I'm thinking that someone on here did just that.

Someone did. Can't find the thread.

Crate it up and uship it!

[02ProstarSammyD]

I can't imagine the shipping on sending the entire interior. WIll look into it though lol

[dfmaus]

There's an upholsterer in Clayton that has a good reputation - I have not dealt with them yet. I am planning on having them redo my driver seat cushion sometime this winter. They advertise on craigslist occasionally - I think I have their contact info saved off somewhere.

No idea if they can or will do skins.

Originally Posted by 02ProstarSammyD

I can't imagine the shipping on sending the entire interior. WIll look into it though lol

[captain planet]

Originally Posted by 02ProstarSammyD

I can't imagine the shipping on sending the entire interior. WIll look into it though lol

I've only read through post #9 on this, but my buddy just had ALL the seats in his 2007 X-2 redone and had them ALL shipped to his house from TN. I just texted him to find out how much that was. I can't see it being more than around $300 to $350 round trip in shipping.