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Headliner woes/replacement?

peaman

peaman

Contributing Partner
I wonder if anyone has found a good match to the factory vinyl headliner? I'm considering fabricating some vinyl "access ports" for access to certain items through-bolted to the deck, using a small round of matching vinyl for a neat cover-up.

I ordered a few samples of Naugahyde from Sailrite, and the two closest matches are either too pale, or too tan, and both have a finer grain. The paler one may be okay for use, but I'd like to know if a closer match exists.
 
goldenstate

goldenstate

Sustaining Member
Blogs Author
Ottertex on Amazon, beige.

Replacing Sideliners

sailboatrefit.com sailboatrefit.com
peaman said:
I wonder if anyone has found a good match to the factory vinyl headliner? I'm considering fabricating some vinyl "access ports" for access to certain items through-bolted to the deck, using a small round of matching vinyl for a neat cover-up.

I ordered a few samples of Naugahyde from Sailrite, and the two closest matches are either too pale, or too tan, and both have a finer grain. The paler one may be okay for use, but I'd like to know if a closer match exists.
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K2MSmith

K2MSmith

Sustaining Member
I was able to get most of my zipper pulls working or replaced and I think my headliner is in similar or worse condition . In many cases, needed two sets of hands. I bought all the zipper grease , cutters etc and that helped . When I first bought the boat, I asked owner at Hood sails if he knew anyone that made new headliners and he had told me that not many services around anymore that do it because of the labor involved.
 
Christian Williams

Christian Williams

E381 - Los Angeles
Senior Moderator
Blogs Author
Sailrite has some headliner videos, but they're not really our kind of headliners.

Replacing them is a challenge. On my boat, many bulkheads were installed after the headliner. I think if mine were really bad I'd interview upholsterers, who know all the tricks. Even better, custom auto upholsterers. Probably expensive, but it's a trade looking for work and having had a few couches recovered lately I thought the prices were fair for the skills required.
 
Prairie Schooner

Prairie Schooner

Jeff & Donna, E35-3 purchased 7/21
A good friend has been doing marine canvas and upholstery for decades. Prior to that she got a BA in costume design and worked for a decade with opera companies. One current project is massive deck cushions for an 90' high-end catamaran. She also does stuff like fiddley complex dodgers. In short, she's got some chops. She HATES doing headliners. Avoids them as much as possible. Christian's suggestion of auto specialists is a great idea, if you can't find a marine tech.
 
Filkee

Filkee

Sustaining Member
Christian Williams said:
Pretty sure that all the zippers can be made to work, and in fact the Nylon teeth are probably as new. The aluminum pulls are replaceable. A little awkward, but we've all done it.

I am a fan of the vinyl headliner and of the foam underneath it. I've taken down sections and been able to successfully reinstall using staples, as before. It looks hard to get taut but the material stretches and is pretty forgiving.

I'd think replacing the entire headliner, however, somewhat beyond my personal abilities. If I couldn't get the vinyl clean enough to pass muster I;d probably call in an upholsterer to have a look and give an estimate for the whole job (not a "marine" upholsterer). What looks hard for us is routine for them.

Sailrite--yeah, maybe. I doubt I would glue vinyl to a flat surface. If I had to strip a cabin surface flat, perhaps because the laminate was destroyed, I'd sooner paint it. Just my opinion.

Regarding construction sequence: we have some factory photos that show cabinetry being installed before the deck was put on, but the headliner obviously came after the deck. The reason the headliner vinyl is so tight to the bulkheads is that the bulkhead top trim was installed last. They're just screwed on with plugs and can be removed. That's the way it is on my model year, anyhow.
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What’s the best stapler to use in the tight spaces? My originals are disintegrating en masse.
 
Nick J

Nick J

Contributing Partner
Moderator
Blogs Author
The one I purchased isn't available anymore, but it's something like this:


It jams frequently, so it isn't perfect, but when it works, it's fantastic. Very easy to get staple exactly where you want them. It's a little difficult to bring a compressor down to the boat when I'm working on the headliner, but I think it's worth it. Sailrite has a similar model for a little more $. With Sailrite, you'll have better support and know it's been tested more than a cheap one off Amazon.
 
Filkee

Filkee

Sustaining Member
Nick J said:
The one I purchased isn't available anymore, but it's something like this:


It jams frequently, so it isn't perfect, but when it works, it's fantastic. Very easy to get staple exactly where you want them. It's a little difficult to bring a compressor down to the boat when I'm working on the headliner, but I think it's worth it. Sailrite has a similar model for a little more $. With Sailrite, you'll have better support and know it's been tested more than a cheap one off Amazon.
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Compressor is an additional consideration. Getting up in the zippered areas with the long next looks like a real advantage though.
 
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