Boat Seats and Selecting Dark Colors Versus Light Colors - Color Trends on New Pontoon Furniture

Boat Seats - Light vs. Dark Colors.  Pros and Cons

When selecting new boat seats, one of the important decisions is determining the color scheme on the new marine vinyl cover.  Taking careful consideration during this step of pontoon restoration will reap the benefits of a well thought out pontoon restore, with flowing colors lines, consistent coloring throughout the pontoon interior and exterior and the creation of a unique and personal pontoon furniture set.

Visual

Simple aesthetics and the visual component play a large role in selecting pontoon seat colors.  Concentrate on the complete pontoon as a whole, rather than each individual seat, with an emphasis on color flow throughout each bench to the next.  Looking at a completed pontoon furniture grouping should result in soft flowing lines, with colors guiding the eye to gently following contours.  Boat seat colors can be arranged, creating a choppy and broken up feel to the group as a whole, which is not normally as desirable.

Drive boat seat colors and accents from analogous, monochromatic, triads, complementary, compounds or shades of color.  For a guide and starting point, check out Adobe Color CC at https://color.adobe.com/create/color-wheel/.  To aid in decision making, Veada has free samples available at http://veada.com/sample-request.html.

Heat

Consider that heat and UV rays are drawn to darker marine vinyl colors, creating a hot seat to sit on.  In high UV environments in the south, darker colors may slightly reduce the life expectancy of darker marine vinyls due to heightened concentration of UV rays.  Pulled into accent colors, a darker
colored boat seat vinyl will not likely cause much issue with noticeable heat change because of the smaller size. If anticipating cover the boat seats often or used in a region with lower concentration of UV, darker colors can be incorporated into the main colors of pontoon boat seats.

Dirt

While bright white will make new boat seats pop, a bright white marine vinyl will tend to show dirt and residue more than an off white or gray color.  While matching a gel coat or pontoon railing, take into account both matching colors as well as the marine vinyl's ability to wear and hide dirt well.  With more and more new pontoons seeing ranges of colors, tans, off whites and grays work perfectly for providing a continuous 'new' look to a recently restored pontoon.

The WOW Factor

 

At the end of the day, the one designing and using the new pontoon boat seats must have the final say in marine vinyl colors.  Creating a WOW factor with inspiration from a favorite NFL or Harley
theme may be just what a pontoon restoration needs.  With hundreds of custom color combinations to create from, Veada has built inspiration readiness into its manufacturing process - the possibilities are endless!

View some custom seating applications by previous customers at http://veada.com/gallery.php?album_id=4.

As always, contact Veada Customer Service for any tips or suggestions on a possible color selection!
customerservice@veada.com or 877-311-4077

Cleaning Pontoon Boat Seat Mold and Mildew

Mold and mildew are a boaters worst friend.  Take a look at the following tips to keep your boat seats and pontoon furniture in tip top shape and mold free!

Additional information can be found at http://veada.com/cleaning.html. 

Mold and mildew are a bacteria that need dirt and grime to thrive.  Keeping your boat seats and pontoon furniture clean is one of the best preventative measures to stop mold and mildew in their tracks.

Cleaning Marine Vinyl on Boat Seats

For general purpose cleaning, use Z Clean, 303 Products Cleaner & Spot Remover, Fantastik (make sure the container says it is safe for vinyl) or mild dish soap (such as Dawn or Ivory) and very warm water. Using a soft bristle brush, gently scrub the complete boat seat.  Make sure to get in the small crevices and seams, where mold and
mildew are likely to start.  Rinse any remaining soap and cleaner off of the marine vinyl with plenty of water and towel dry.


Z Clean Cleaner is available at http://veada.com/marine-vinyl-boat-upholstery/zcare-marine-vinyl-cleaner.html 

For heavier soiled areas, use 303 Products Cleaner & Spot Remover.  Allow the cleaner to soak on your boat seats for approximately 10 minutes, then scrub gently with a soft bristle brush.  Rinse your boat seats as before.

How to Remove Boat Seat Mold

Taking preventative steps to stop boat seat mold and mildew before they start will save time, energy and money.  If marine vinyl mold or mildew is spotted, take action quickly to remove the mold using the cleaning steps above.  Marine vinyl on boat seats will have a clear top coat layer, which acts as the UV protection for the vinyl.  Catching boat seat mold before it penetrates this top coat will allow for easier removal.  Once mold penetrates the protective UV layer, the chances of cleaning the marine vinyl without removing parts of the UV layer at the same time become greater.  The boat seat mold may clean up, only to find your boat seats and marine vinyl, fading and cracking 6 months down the road.

What Not to Use

While some cleaners are safe to use on marine vinyl, many chemical cleaners are not.  Some will get the job done and remove the mold and mildew, only to eat away the top UV Protective layer.
use kerosene, gasoline or acetone, as they will remove the protective marine top coat.

Do not use the following products to clean mold from boat seats or marine vinyl.

• Silicone or petroleum based products. They will extract the plasticizers in the vinyl, leave it hard and brittle, and eventually cracking may occur.
• Kerosene, gasoline or acetone, as they will remove the protective marine top coat. 
• Never use a power washer on boat seats or marine vinyl upholstery.

If your boat seats have aged, given their useful life and are overcome with mold or mildew, it may be easiest and most cost effective to replace them with new boat seats.  Consider recovering your boat seats with new marine vinyl or custom colored boat seats at https://veada.com/pontoon-boat-seats.html.