Recolouring leather boat upholstery

With use and exposure to the sun, the colour of the leather on a boat bench seat, sun lounger or armchair fades and wears. In addition to the natural wear of the leather, the material and the foam of the seats can also deteriorate over time.

Rather than redoing all the leather upholstery on your boat, why not recolour it to revive the colour and give it a new lease of life?
Discover our range of pigment colourants, supplied in tins or aerosols, with an unlimited choice of opaque shades. Choose from the shades we offer or send us a sample so that we can create a 100% made-to-measure shade. You can also give us the reference of a colour from our paper colour chart to get a personalised shade.

Products for recolouring the leather of your boat

Why recolour a leather covering?

If your leather bench seat is dull and has lost some of its colour, be aware that this is an inevitable wear phenomenon. It is particularly pronounced on marine furnishings, since the leather is in direct contact with the sun, humidity and the marine elements.

Recolouring leather is the most economical and the most sensible solution for reviving the colour of your bench seats, seats and other leather items. In addition, this method avoids having to redo the leather upholstery on your boat entirely, allowing you to save money while keeping the look of your interior.

How do I recolour my marine leather upholstery?

To re-dye your leather marine upholstery, opt for Sofolk professional quality. Our products are intended for all types of leather on your boat furnishings and guarantee optimal results while durably protecting your leather.

Specific steps for painting:

1. Surface preparation: Clean the leather thoroughly, removing all dirt, dust and residue from products previously applied. Make sure the surface is completely dry before starting the recolouring.
   
   
2. Light sanding (if necessary): If the leather has imperfections, we advise sanding it lightly with fine abrasive paper to make the surface smoother and ready to receive the new colour.
   
   
3. Applying the colourant: Apply a first coat of opaque colourant evenly using a brush, sponge or spray gun (depending on the product chosen). Leave the first coat to dry for the time stated in the instructions.
   
   
4. Applying additional coats: Depending on the colour depth you want, apply one or more additional coats of paint until you obtain a uniform, even colour over the whole surface.
   
   
5. Complete drying: Leave the leather to dry completely after applying the final coats. Make sure the leather is in a dry environment, not exposed to sources of moisture.
   
   
6. Applying the protective lacquer: Once the paint is dry, apply a protective lacquer to seal the colour and protect the leather from the marine elements, UV rays, moisture and frequent friction.
   

Tips for recolouring leather

Our leather paints do not necessarily require an adhesion primer or a colour fixer. You simply need to clean your leather thoroughly beforehand, then protect your colouring with our silky lacquer or our high-performance marine lacquer.

The method of use for our products is described on each product page, and complete explanatory instructions are included in your parcel to guide you step by step through recolouring your leather.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to consult our forum. You will find the answers you are looking for there.

We advise you to test the colourant on a small area to make sure it does not damage your leather. Always apply Sofolk products to perfectly clean leather.

Finally, the recolouring of your leather covering should be followed up with regular maintenance. For this, we offer a range of care products for boat leather, specially designed to protect against friction and marine conditions.