Published by Upholstery World Auckland · Reading time: 6 minutes
Orams dry stack boat upholstery is easiest while your boat is racked out of the water: nothing is moving, the seats are out of the spray, and removable squabs and covers can come away for a few days while you are not using the boat anyway. We have worked at the Orams Marine dry stack on three occasions. Loose pieces usually come back to our workshop; helm seats and fixed upholstery are done on site. You arrange with Orams for the boat to be lifted out or made accessible, and we work around that.
Orams Marine Village sits at 142 Beaumont Street, Westhaven, and its Boat Park is Auckland City’s largest purpose-built dry stack, holding about 310 vessels. Boats there are lifted in and out by the facility, so upholstery work on a dry-stack boat has a slightly different rhythm from a boat on a berth or a trailer. This page explains how it fits together.
Why is dry stack a good time for boat upholstery?
- No fresh spray. Upholstery work goes better on dry foam and dry bases. With the boat out of the water, it is easier to see what is genuinely wet foam and what is just surface damp.
- You are not using the boat. If the boat is racked between trips, a few days without the squabs or cover usually costs you nothing.
- It is easy to see everything. Out of the water and still, the whole boat can be checked properly: undersides, bases, staple lines and cover fittings.
What can come off the boat, and what is done in place?
| Item | Usually | Price guide (excl GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Loose squabs and cushions | Removed, done in the workshop, returned | Repair from $80; recover from $100; replace $150–$200 each |
| Boat cover | Measured on the boat, made in the workshop, fitted | from $800 |
| Bimini | Measured on the boat, made in the workshop, fitted | from $600 |
| Helm seats and fixed upholstery | Worked on in place, on site | Helm seat $300–$450 each; other fixed upholstery quoted free from photos |
All prices exclude GST. Full price list on our boat upholstery cost guide.
Most marine repairs take about three working days from quote acceptance. Larger jobs, like a full seat set or a new cover, typically take seven to ten working days, and we confirm that with your quote.
How do I arrange upholstery on a dry-stack boat at Orams?
The one thing we cannot do for you is move the boat. At Orams the facility lifts boats in and out, so you coordinate that with Orams yourself. Here is how the rest fits around it:
- Send photos. Next time you are on the boat, photograph each seat, squab and cover — wide, close-up on the worst area, and the underside if you can reach it. Many jobs can be priced from photos alone.
- Get a quote. We tell you whether each piece is a repair or a recover, and whether it is a workshop job or an on-site one.
- Arrange access with Orams. Book with Orams for the boat to be available, then tell us the time. If only loose squabs are being done, you may prefer to take them off yourself on a normal trip and drop them in.
- We measure, collect or work on site. Covers and biminis are measured; loose squabs are collected; helm seats and fixed upholstery are done in place.
- We return and fit. Finished pieces come back and go on the boat at a time that suits you and the facility.
Our mobile service covers all of Auckland, so whether you would rather we come to the boat, pick the pieces up from you, or you drop them in, all three work. More on how we work is on our marine upholstery page.
Can boat upholstery get mildew while the boat is in storage?
Yes, and it is worth knowing about. A boat sitting out of the water is not automatically a dry boat. Under a cover, moisture that is already in the foam, plus condensation on cool nights, has nowhere to go. That is how a boat that looked fine when it went into storage comes out with spotting on the vinyl and a musty smell in the cabin.
A few things help:
- Dry everything before it is covered. Wet squabs put away under a cover stay wet.
- Stand cushions on edge where you can, rather than flat, so air gets round them.
- Fix open seams. An open seam is how water got into the foam in the first place. Restitching, from $80 (excl GST), closes that route for water.
- Check the cover. A cover that has split, sagged or lost its fastenings lets water collect and sit.
If the foam is already holding water, it is usually replaced rather than dried. Our guide to why boat seats fail explains why trapped water does the damage, and why closed-cell foam is the fix.
What should I check before the boat is relaunched?
- Seams on every squab, cushion and bolster — bleached or parting thread means it is time to restitch.
- Foam — press the centre of each squab; squelching means wet foam.
- Undersides — black spotting, a musty smell or rusty staples point to a base that needs attention.
- Cover and bimini — zips, press studs and the seams along the top, where the sun hits hardest.
The boat seat repair guide walks through five checks in detail. If anything turns up, send photos before the boat goes back in, so the work can be planned around when it is out.
Frequently asked questions
Do you arrange for Orams to lift my boat out?
No. Launch and retrieval at the dry stack is handled by Orams, so you book that with them. Once you know when the boat is available, we fit around it.
Can I just bring the squabs to you?
Yes. If the work is only on loose squabs or cushions, the simplest option is often to take them off on a normal trip and drop them in, or we can pick them up from you.
How long will my boat be without its seats?
Most repairs are about three working days from quote acceptance. Bigger jobs, like a full seat set or new cover, typically take seven to ten working days. We confirm the timeframe with your quote.
Is it worth recovering seats on a boat that lives in dry stack?
Often, yes. If the foam is still firm and dry and the base is sound, a recover over the existing foam starts at $100 (excl GST), which is well below the cost of a full replacement. Photos will tell us which one you need.
Get a quote for your dry-stack boat
Send photos of your squabs, seats, cover or bimini and tell us the boat is in the Orams dry stack. We will come back with a fixed quote, tell you what can come away and what is done on site, and give you a turnaround.
WhatsApp +64 22 634 3792 or call 022 634 3792. Quotes from photos are free, or use our contact page. We are open seven days: Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm, weekends 9am to 6pm.
Read more about our marine upholstery service in Auckland, what boat upholstery costs in New Zealand, why boat seats fail and what lasts, or which marine fabrics to choose.
About the author. Viraj is the founder and lead upholsterer at Upholstery World Auckland, working across furniture, automotive, marine and commercial upholstery Auckland-wide. Send photos for a free quote on WhatsApp: +64 22 634 3792.
