Foam backed Headlining

Keith 66

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Does anyone know if such a thing as foam backed headlining that lasts is made? Replaced all the headlinings on our boat about 12 years ago, now find that the dark grey foam backing is starting to disintegrate.
I will be resealing the windows next winter as the mastic used to assemble them has failed as well.
Now looks like i will have to tackle both poxy jobs again!
Any pointers to a decent foam backed vinyl that actually lasts will be appreciated!
 
My boat had foam-backed lining in the fore-cabin when I bought her. After a few years it began to fall off, leaving the foam stuck to the Hull.

I scraped it back to the bare Hull and applied 2 coats of Dulux Bathroom emulsion. After several years it still looks OK and I can easily give it another coat when it needs it
 
Westerly used to paint their interiors with some type of paint with cork bits
Sbips' interiors used to be painted with that. I have an idea it was called Korkon but I can't find it online.
You can by cork granules so I suppose they could be mixed with in with ordinary paint to make your own.
 
That is fst, it usually lasts about 25+ years.

Hawke House do some self adhesive closed cell foam and then you can use vinyl on top top of that.

Self Adhesive Linings | Hawke House
Our replacement foam backed headlining from Hawke House Marine lasted five years before it fell off. We used their HT adhesive. It was useless. The foam turned to dust . We replaced it all last year with new vinyl straight on to new headlining panels. No foam. Looks great. Hope it's still up there in 25 years
 
About to undertake a similar job in a new to me boat. Can you tell me more about this four way stretch stuff please. Never heated of it.

cheers

Steve
 
About to undertake a similar job in a new to me boat. Can you tell me more about this four way stretch stuff please. Never heated of it.

cheers

Steve

these types, they usually come with high temp spray contact adhesive which you need or it will fail.

It easy to apply, spray on the cabin and also the lining. leave for maybe 5 mins to tack then put together. but one together it will not be coming apart to easy.

It stretches very good in four directions so great for all shapes. When going to say a window frames/edges similar try not to stretch it to much.

Cut with sharp scissors or new stanley type blades.

once you get the knack its easy really. i have done complete cabins on my own so it is doable if you take your time and think about it before you do it.

campervan lining: Search Result | eBay
 
I used 4 way stretch carpet too. It was 2 (long) days for my wife and I from removal to completion for first cabin and 1 day for the second. Mix of panels and straight to hull.
 

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The foam backed vinyl i used was supplied by Hawke house, windows by Technautic, glass to frame is black butyl rubber sealant, seeing as both lasted just 12 years before failing im not keen to repeat using either!
 
Would youdecorate any rooms in your house with padded vinyl? Whydo it in a boat? The stuff is shit and looks naff, just get creative with ply, wood or pvc cladding or veltrim. You would make a great job of any of them, and it will look Much better.
The obvious reason is that the interior walls of yachts are not plastered. OK, so you can clad them - and some yachts come double-skinned. But if you have rough interior walls foam back is a quick and easy way to get a decent looking finish, which ought to last 10 years if its been properly applied, as mine has. (In particular, warmed as stuck on - it won't last a couple of years if stuck on cold).

To my mind, the real negative of foam-backed headlining is that it offers little insulation. I used to own a go-anywhere steel yacht that had 2" - 3" polyurethane foam insulation everywhere above the waterline, covered by ply. It took up a lot of space but was great for temperature regulation not only during winter but also in the tropics. Wish I still had that in the present heatwave.
 
It always surprised me that any reputable boat builder would consider using this material, judging by the numerous sad posts concerning the stuff pealing off or disintegrating one can only hope that no-one is even remotely thinking about using it again.
 
Would youdecorate any rooms in your house with padded vinyl? Whydo it in a boat? The stuff is shit and looks naff, just get creative with ply, wood or pvc cladding or veltrim. You would make a great job of any of them, and it will look Much better.
I have rarely seen a home build cladded yacht ceiling with complex shapes in ply or plastic that looks anything other than naff. Garden shed interior springs to mind. The benefit of vinyl was it's washdown ability and ease of cleaning in a salty environment. Camper van type fabrics are all well and good but in a damp boat in winter in the UK they take on their own particular odour that doesn't tend to leave.
 
I have a small area on the headlining on the cabin coachroof filling a gap between two areas of the main headlining. The main areas are painted ply and look very good, the area between is foam backed Vinyl. The foam has now disintegrated but the vinyl is good. The GRP has quite a reasonable finish (chopped strand mat), I was thinking of removing all the foam and cleaning the GRP and then stickling the vinyl direct to the GRP. Would this work? The edges of the Vinyl are trapped under the main ply panels.
David MH
 
Our replacement foam backed headlining from Hawke House Marine lasted five years before it fell off. We used their HT adhesive. It was useless. The foam turned to dust . We replaced it all last year with new vinyl straight on to new headlining panels. No foam. Looks great. Hope it's still up there in 25 years
I used the self adhesive closed cell foam from them and it was as good as new 10 years later when I sold the boat. No messy glue, no foam deterioration, better insulation, foam was water resistant, softer feeling lining. Can't think of any downsides
 
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