Does vinyl paint work?

[wijames]

I just purchased a boat that's been sitting for quite a while and had a lot of mold and mildue on the white seats. I was able to get most of it off but not all. The seats are still in good shape and I was wondering if anyone had any experience with any of the vinyl paints and if so, how they worked for them.

[VacationLand]

I've used a product by the name of SEM on a car to spruce up the vinyl door panels and interior trim. It worked very well for those. I don't know how it would hold up on seats with all of the usage they would get though...

[jrolin1]

I would try fairly strong diluted bleach before using the vinyl paint. I start with about 20% bleach diluted with water and let the sun do some work on it. Just avoid the threads/seams as much as possible. Move up the strength if needed. My seats are on the 10th season doing this with no problem and they still look good. I use 303 after getting them clean to protect them from the sun. I used the vinyl paint before on an older boat and on a waverunner and it works ok but wears off and feels different.

[wijames]

I would try fairly strong diluted bleach before using the vinyl paint. I start with about 20% bleach diluted with water and let the sun do some work on it. Just avoid the threads/seams as much as possible. Move up the strength if needed. My seats are on the 10th season doing this with no problem and they still look good. I use 303 after getting them clean to protect them from the sun. I used the vinyl paint before on an older boat and on a waverunner and it works ok but wears off and feels different.

Thanks. I really wouldn't be using it on the seats but on the runners and side consoles around the seats so maybe I'll give it a shot but I'll try the bleach first.

[babock]

Be EXTREMELY careful with bleach. Get ANY on the thread and your seams will be ripping apart in short order.

[Bamaman]

Upholsterers use vinyl stains all the time. You can completely change the color too.

If I was using it, it'd be a last resort--prior to having to get new upholstery.