Looking for a source for Marine leather

[kwmpa]

I am looking to redo the interior in my GarWood quick befor my wedding but I'm having trouble finding a source for marine leather. I need the hunter green color.

[Brian Robinson]

Green leather in a Gar Wood... sacrilege! If you want the proper heavy grain burgundy-black try Keleen Leather in Illinois or Rod Souza in California.

[mattbyrne]

I bought leather for my Gar Wood from Keleen Leather. They are great to work with and the leather looks great.

[kwmpa]

The 16' boats had dark green from the factory. I have the copies of the catalog that state that. Those boats are a little different than the rest of the line.

[Kerry Price]

Im my quest for leather for my boat I spoke with several upholsterers as well as leather companies and suppliers and I have yet to find anyone that sells or can even definitively define what "marine" leather is. I have not found any leather sources that will make any guarantees that the leather they sell will perform any better in a marine environment than regular automotive grade leather.
If someone knows differently please do tell.

[Brian Robinson]

Please post the catalog pages stating that, or email them to me. It certainly does not agree with my catalogs? I have only seen "Bright green Spanish Leather" mentioned as an option on the 1932-only 18'-only split. Thanks!

[kwmpa]

Brian I well post once I get off work.

[boatmanscm]

On the subject of marine leather : it is regular leather , but has other protectants added to protect from sun, water, oil, . No leather is stain proof. If you keep the leather clean and feed, any leather will do .
There was no marine leather when boat was made.
If you keep it covered , it may last years .Just think only the outside is protected so if the leather gets soaked it will shrink and finally crack.
I would make the first choice on color and texture, a protectant can be applied later. Plus the cost is, 900.00 or more for 45 square feet.

[cenger]

Brian,
Enclosed is a Gar Wood advertisement from 1932 offering two color options; Bright red bottom, white boot stripe with bright red Spanish leather upholstery. The other option is a green bottom, white boot stripe with Bright green Spanish leather upholstery.

[Brian Robinson]

Yes. This is the page I mentioned three posts up. Only for the 18' split.

[Kerry Price]

I found this interesting so I pulled out my copy of Anthony S. Mollica's Jr.'s "Gar Wood Boats" and found his section on the 1932 18' models. I see where he states that 1933 was the first year that "moved the cockpit ahead of the engine" so that implies that both 1932 foot Gar Wood models have a split cockpit.
Brian, So other than the upholstery and bottom color, are there any differences between model 18-30 and 18-35?

[Greg Wallace]

If I am not mistaken the difference is in engine selection and as such the "30" and "35" signify advertised speed.

[cenger]

Correct, the 18-30 had a 73hp Chrysler and the 18-35 had 92hp. Gar Wood used the first two didgits to designate the length, last two were the speed. 18-30 had speeds up to 32mph, 18-35 has speeds up to 36mph.