Headliner replacement

G

GilBry210

Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2006
RO Number
24489
Messages
74
The cloth headliner in our cuddy has fallen. It seems as though the adhesive is old and drying out, if you touch a spot that is still up it will come loose. The foam pad is still attached to the celing but I'm not sure what kind of condition it's in. I have looked for a way to drop the fabric and try to come up with a game plan to repair it but I can not figure out how to do this. I have searched around for a DIY guide and found nothing. I am about to give up and just take it to a repair shop. Before I do this does anyone have any suggestions? I can post some pics if needed.
 
Replacing a headliner can be very pricey. Have you tried 3M spray adhesive it works great. I redid everything on my last boat but I just couldn't afford to do the headliner.
 
I do have some of the 3M spray adhesive. That has been my original plan, to drop the cloth, spray and pray. My biggest obstacle is getting to that side of the fabric so I can inspect the foam pad and then spray the surface with the glue.
 
Probably when you look at the foam pad, you'll see that's the reason it let loose. I doubt that spray adhesive will cure your problem.
 
Using the 3M spray won't help a thing. Probably cost you more if you do that. Just as with cars, when the headliner falls the only thing that can be done is to pull it down and scrap or brush the bad foam down, spray the adhesive on both parts then apply. We do this on cars and boats all the time. It's just easier with cars because you can take out the headliner board.
 
I got a quote from a repair shop, $900. It's less than I thought, but it was just a rough estimate so it may cost more. I think we will just deal with it for now and get to it later, the damage has already been done.
 
I had that problem in a Parker pilot house. I used stainless screws and fender washers. It doesn't look bad, no one really stares at the cieling anyway. If your boat is really fancy it may not go but works ok with the Parker which has about a 5/8 wood roof w/fiberglass.
 
Sure wish you were closer to Missouri. We could get you in and out for a lot less than that.
 
I'm taking it in for some minor fiberglass repairs tomorrow. I'm gonna see what this place could do the headliner for. (Fingers crossed) Hopefully less.
 
Bryan...did you get the estimate for the headliner? Mine is starting to go and I'm considering my options.
 
The guy that looked at it quoted me $1100. This is only the first real quote I've had, I'm gonna keep looking around. Either way it will be fairly pricey. I'm just trying to keep it closer to $800.

Also, we have some friends that sustained some pretty bad damage to the interior of their boat and they got it covered by insurance.
 
The same thing happened to me with the boat I owned before my present one. I tried everything to reglue the headliner back...with no luck. I
talked to one installer and he said it's a big job and difficult (he even declined the work).

I ended up screwing strips of teak about every two or three feet along the "ceiling" into the foredeck to hold up the headliner.

It actually looked pretty good and did the trick.
 
That's intersting you say that, we kinda had the same idea. I'm just nervous about screwing into the celing. Is there some kinda of board or just fiberglass? About how much room to play with?
 
Just fiberglass on my old boat (it was an '88 Doral Tara Cuddy)...plus the headliner of course. I forget what length of screw I used but I took out a screw that was already there (from the hatch I think) and bought some similar screws. I put a touch of glue on each one to hold it in place.
All you have to do is get a little of the screw into the fiberglass. A small pilot hole will help get it started. Once you feel the screw grab..that's about all you need. A good strong glue will hold it.
Screw slowly, by hand, and if there is someone on the foredeck they can tell you if it's beginning to come through at the top.
In my case, none went through the top to the foredeck...save for one...which barely made the surface. I filed it down and it was virtually invisible.

It was an inexpensive and relativley easy solution to the problem.

I sold that boat about three years ago and the buyer had no issues with the set up.

As I mentioned the headliner on my present boat is beginning to loosen. It's not as bad but I may consider doing something similar.

~Norm
 
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