Sewing a Leather Wheel Cover for a Boat

Leather is a high-quality option for creating a wheel cover for your boat.

Decorating the interior of a boat is a task that requires taking every small detail of the boat into consideration. Most often, boat owner’s spend money decorating the door panels, replacing the flooring, and amplifying the light systems inside the boat. One of the least expensive and most effective ways to decorate the boat's interior is by creating a wheel cover, which is often used to protect the quality of the wheel to prevent damage caused during normal wear and tear. When it comes to decorating the interior of your boat, creating an attractive leather wheel cover is a brilliant way to personalize your boat.

Things You'll Need

• Flexible tape measure
• Leather fabric
• Straight edge
• Craft knife
• Heavy-duty hole punch
• Large sewing needle
• Tape

Instructions

1. Measure the boat steering wheel with the flexible tape measure. Measure the overall circumference of the steering wheel as well as the thickness of the steering wheel. Record these measurements.

2. Cut a section of leather to the measured circumference of the steering wheel as well as the thickness of the steering wheel. For example, if the wheel measures 36-inches around and 4-inches thick, cut a strip of fabric to 36-by-4-inches. Use the straightedge to guide the craft knife in order to cut this section of leather.

3. Punch evenly spaced holes through the ends of the fabric section as determined by the thickness of the steering wheel. For example, if the steering wheel measures 4-inches thick and 36-inches in circumference, you will punch a hole every 1/2 inch along both 4-inch edges.

4. Place the section of leather around the boat steering wheel. Pull the ends together and apply a piece of clear tape to hold the leather in place temporarily.

5. Cut a 1/4-inch thick strip of fabric to 12 inches longer than the measured circumference. This will be used to wrap around and sew the ends of the fabric shut.

6. Fold the 1/4-inch thick strip in half to determine the direct center length of the strip. Loosely wrap the 1/4-inch strip around the steering wheel. Place the center length location at the point of the steering wheel directly across from the end areas. Continue to wrap the strip around the steering wheel until you reach the end locations.

7. Thread the ends of the 1/4-inch strip through the holes punched at the ends of the large section of leather. Use a large sewing needle to weave the strip in and out as if you are lacing a shoe. Tie the ends of the fabric once all holes are threaded. Remove section of tape.