How much VINYL do i need to purchase to recover the upholstery in an 18ft open bow boat?

Question

open bow ski boat with inboard/outboard and seats 8.

Answer 1

Measure each seat ... add 12" to each measurement.  Find out the 'width' of the vinyl fabric you'll be buying and 'lay out' the seats+ in several different ways, then measure the 'length' of the piece of vinyl you'll need and go up to the next nearest yard.  People make mistakes, and by doing this measuring before hand, you'll have the 'least you'll need to buy' with some 'goof room' just in case.  Make a 'newspaper pattern' of each piece (one for each 'seat' even if they are all the same size) and carefully lay the 'patterns' on the vinyl so they'll all 'fit' and will all go in the 'same direction' if you can see any pattern or 'grain', pin and cut carefully.  MAKE SURE THE PATTERNS HAVE 12" 'extra' material, for the 'underside' so they won't pull out ... if you are covering 'cushions' the 12" can be used to make the 'ribbing' around the edges or can be 'folded' so the vinyl won't tear (put a 'strip' behind each seam for more strength).