At the boat, stuck with a ceiling panel, tips welcome

scubaman

scubaman

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I’m trying to remove the last backrest from the saloon sofa. The one closest to the skippers seat. To get to the bolts you need access behind the backrest, which in the case of a phantom 43 is gained by removing the second cabin ceiling panel.



I have removed the light fixture and slipped two spanners inside to spread the load and then pulled with all my weight. It doesn’t budge. I’m worried about destroying the panel if I put any more pressure on it.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated!
 
I take it the reason for removing the panel is because of sagging due to the degradation of the foam back. (Quite normal after 15 years) Haven’t tried it so just a theory. Can you just scape off the old and reglue the new straight onto the panel. I’m sure I read on the Sealine forum that someone has done this.
 
Unless someone has stuck it down with sika it should be on industrial Velcro.

I have a tool with a 90 degree end on it which can be used to get under the edges - so perhaps you can try something like that. The panels were designed to be removable ... when it left the factory.

If done with sika you may well need to destroy the panel.
 
I’m removing the cushions to have them restored.

@jrudge: I had a peek with an endoscope and they appeared to be velcroed with dual lock, but can’t tell for sure. It is very sticky indeed, it can easily support my body weight...

Regarding the tool, do you mean that you prise it under the outside edge? Tried that with a screwdriver but it damages the vinyl. I need to think of something else to use.
 
scubaman said:
I’m removing the cushions to have them restored.

@jrudge: I had a peek with an endoscope and they appeared to be velcroed with dual lock, but can’t tell for sure. It is very sticky indeed, it can easily support my body weight...

Regarding the tool, do you mean that you prise it under the outside edge? Tried that with a screwdriver but it damages the vinyl. I need to think of something else to use.
Click to expand...

I once fed a wheel barrow inertube in the light hole then inflate with a lot of pressure ,it worked
 
Got it! A cake server was suitably round edged to be slipped under a corner of the panel.

The glue on a some dual lock pads let go in the process, but that’s a minor damage and easily fixed.

Thank you for the replies, everyone!
 
scubaman said:
Didn’t know such tools existed. Need to get some for next time. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Yes, they put a localised point load on the velcro. When you hung off the panel you spread the load over the whole of the velcro which meant it could easily stay joined. Once to break the join in one place keep applying a bit of pressure to the panel and work the break round all the velcro.

Henry :)
 
scubaman said:
Got it! A cake server was suitably round edged to be slipped under a corner of the panel.

The glue on a some dual lock pads let go in the process, but that’s a minor damage and easily fixed.

Thank you for the replies, everyone!
Click to expand...

I have found that the velcro on my ceiling panels is often stronger than the adhesive that holds the velcro to the plywood panel. Superglue works very well to reattach the velcro to the plywood.
 
I have found an IKEA cheese slicer works perfectly as its got rounded corners and will slip into small gaps, fortunately nearly every boat where I have had to remove interior panels has one in the cutlery drawer seeing as I live in Scandinavià!
 
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