What is the difference between Laminate and PVC coated material?

The primary difference between laminates and PVC-coated material is in how the components are held together. Laminate material is held together by fusing or rolling a top and bottom material around the base cloth, simply fusing the laminate coating layers to each other through the open spaces of the base cloth. PVC coating, however, is bonded to the base fabric by using a special adhesive process.

The first step in this process is to spread a high-strength adhesive in and around each base cloth thread. Then the PVC coating, which is in a liquid state, is spread over the glue. Finally they are all fused together using heat and pressure.

Typically PVC-coated fabric has stronger adhesion qualities due to this bonding process. ABC boat lift fabrics are PVC coated.