I received an inquiry about doing a job on a 1984 Sea Ray Sundancer replacing the seating. They are located about 68 miles from me, and it needs to be done from scratch. Replace the frame and everything. I've searched and searched, but am at a loss to find any specifics for those seats. Any suggestions?
Try looking at boat trader and yacht word sites that sell boats you should be able ro dint some pictures.
I have Googled and looked everywhere, but haven't found patterns. The only way I can see is to physically go and measure the boat. Due to the distance, I told her to measure length and width herself and should be able to estimate a price without having to drive over there. She had said if the price is right, there would be other projects to do. Frustrating!
Quote from: florida girl on January 26, 2011, 11:39:52 am
She had said if the price is right, there would be other projects to do. Frustrating!
I would be wary of an attitude such as that, dangling a carrot so to speak. Don't waste to much time on her she is probably using the same carrot on every other upholsterer in an 80 mile radius. Get her to email a photo with measurements and give her a ball park figure before you lift a finger for her.
Quote from: scottymc on January 26, 2011, 11:58:36 am
Quote from: florida girl on January 26, 2011, 11:39:52 am
She had said if the price is right, there would be other projects to do. Frustrating!
I would be wary of an attitude such as that, dangling a carrot so to speak. Don't waste to much time on her she is probably using the same carrot on every other upholsterer in an 80 mile radius. Get her to email a photo with measurements and give her a ball park figure before you lift a finger for her.
Thanks!
Boat trader had one 1984 Sundancer on there - might even be this same boat since the seats are missing. Have the owner send you pics of the cockpit.
http://www.boattrader.com/listing/1984-SEA-RAY-340-Sundancer-97430351
For older "project" boats, owners usually want a SUPER deal. If they only spent $8K for the boat they cringe at spending $8K for new seats. And to build a complete cockpit from scratch (unless it's a little 24') that's a rough guesstimate of what it would take. Probably more by the time you factor in measuring/cutting/building plywood or starboard frames, finding/buying aluminum/stainless fittings, cutting/shaping foam, sewing/installing covers, installing finished seats in boat. That's probably a $10-12K job for a 26 to 32 footer unless all they want is a transom bench and a captain's chair.
June
If you go to sea rays web site and go to the archives you can download the specs. I sent you the page to your e-mail.
I replied that because she was about 70 miles from me that if she could take a photo, measure length and width, I could come up with a cost of labor. Adding fabric, foam, and structure if needed. She replied:
QuoteApparently you misread the ad. I am looking for the entire seat because mine is missing. If I had the seat I could redo it myself, but you offered to make the seat. I assumed you had the pattern for the seat, frame ect. thanks.
She's nuts. RUN AWAY!!!!!
I'd tell her I can copy what you have , if you have nothing that is what you will get.
Quote from: florida girl on January 26, 2011, 05:33:31 pm
Quote from: Peppy on January 26, 2011, 05:22:11 pm
She's nuts. RUN AWAY!!!!!
Thanks!
Just to qualify that a bit...Where are you going to find a bench like that? Could a boat have sank and the front seat miraculously floated to the surface? Do people collect front seats of 1984 Sundancers? I would be shocked if a pattern existed. You could probably search for a thousand years for one. But you probably could build a seat in a week. I say Junes right. $8000. For the front seat. The bench with the flip down back with the cupholders in it. If she said yes then I'd
really be scared.
QuoteIf I had the seat I could redo it myself
I love people who tell me, I'd do it myself if I knew how. Give me a break.
Quote from: kodydog on January 26, 2011, 07:31:25 pm
I love people who tell me, I'd do it myself if I knew how. Give me a break.
Oh, but you don't understand, "
I" was an electrician*!....
*or any other trade
I woulndt wayste my timewhen she said she could
redo it ,right how would that lookbut she dosent have the frames
You know, I could build her what she wants, but I'm not going to drive all the way over there for nothing! In fact, I'm not going to do it for nothing! This is "SKILLED LABOR"!
Lol, Kody.. The other thing I just love is this: "...well, it's really a very simple thing to repair; all you have to do is...".
A friend of mine suggested I name my business, "You can't, I can". I loved it, but it really isn't practical now, is it?
Fl.Girl, I concur with the rest of the mob here... turn on your heel and keep on walkin', never looking back.
I've never found "patterns" for boat seats, or for most any upholstery job, have you?
Nope. Now wouldn't a pattern be nice.... Sure would make my life easier. :-X
June
My philosophy on this statement is, "So if I do this frustrating project for a loss, there will be more just like it?"
I can understand that if you are selling a truckload of corn (or a trainload), you can give a better price than if you are selling a bushel. But labor is labor, and there is no economy of scale unless you get into a production environment of the same thing over and over.
Quote from: florida girl on January 26, 2011, 11:39:52 am
She had said if the price is right, there would be other projects to do.
She would be better off having a carpenter frame another seat for her...$$$ Then have it refoamed symetrically...$$$ Then she can recover it to have it all look like crap...hahaha
Or if she wants to get into the upoholstery trade, she can buy all the right tools and machines...$$$$ Then spend the next 2 years learning how to make anything look good... "Because it's soooo easy" hahahaha
This thread just brightened my day...can't stop laughing at her ignorance.
Quote from: Highvelocity on January 28, 2011, 06:45:19 am
She would be better off having a carpenter frame another seat for her...$$$ Then have it refoamed symetrically...$$$ Then she can recover it to have it all look like crap...hahaha
Or if she wants to get into the upoholstery trade, she can buy all the right tools and machines...$$$$ Then spend the next 2 years learning how to make anything look good... "Because it's soooo easy" hahahaha
This thread just brightened my day...can't stop laughing at her ignorance.
Problem is that I'm a carpenter as well. I could do the whole thing!
I am sure you could do the whole thing... The point is the customer is taking things for granted when it's a bit more complicated then that... But hey I guess its all part of the game
Thanks guys, I appreciate the moral support!