Headlining, paint, or other... Advice please!

Clearly all the posters have given suggestions that represent a range of options. You need ot decide what you want to do. This will depend on your desire to take on a project or just fix a problem. Obviously if you live in the cabin a lot then condensation will be a problem. If you are a bit more like me a day sailor using the cabin for storage then condensation won't be a problem. In which case just scrape off the old paint and repaint. Interior house paints are fine. If you go for a major lining job you will lose some headroom although you may also cover up bolts sticking out which can hurt your head. Perhaps if it is a new boat to you do a quick paint job, experience will soon show if you neeed to do a lining. good luck olewill
 
Iain C said:
Steve

The previous owner made the window surrounds...they are just strips of wood, and the front end is in a few pieces cut out on a bandsaw or similar. TBH they could do with being a bit more substantial...but that are fine for now.

Am I right in saying you are a Hardway member? If so, come and have a look...
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Thanks, I'll take you up on that offer. Feel free to drop in if you see Jissel on the Pontoon, though it's looking increasingly unlikely that I'll make it down before Christmas in spite of the growing winter job list!
 
Iain C said:
Just to prove that even a ham fisted amateur can get good results with a bit of time and patience! Hawke House are a good source of this kind of kit...however I would thoroughly recommend a couple of their "face off discs" to remove all the old paint etc very quickly...but be prepared for your boat looking like a complete mess inside afterwards! Take ANYTHING out the boat that you can!

Foam backed vinyl in the saloon...

Van lining in the forepeak...

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I've got to say... You've inspired me! I've got a forepeak that's ok although it could be better as the paint is only just starting to flake a little. After seeing your results I'm going for it :-) The way I see it more comfort for the crew = A happier boat!

Found this place Vanguard Conversions they seem to sell the contact adhesive, the carpet the lot for what seems a very reasonable amount. Handy video here too on how apply it. In this case it's a van wheel arch but example of how to apply the material and how it works on curved surfaces.

For those that are interested in how to do it here's the video...

I'll post the results of my efforts early next year.
 
MM5AHO said:
I find that painted insides seems to condense more condensation that lined.
The forepeak area (painted) is wet inside - condensation.
The main saloon area (lined) dry.

Seems to me that insulating the inside will prevent condensation.
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I'm sure it does when it's in good nick but I had a lot of damp & water running down behind it in inaccessible places & you can't see what damage is being done.
Now I'm looking forward to airing the whole boat out & being able to inspect the fixtures & fittings more thoroughly.
 
Nicholas123 said:
How long does it last?My last boat I just emulsioned & I found I practically had to go over the whole boat every other season because the damned stuff was endlessly pealing off.:(
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3 yrs in and mine was still going strong when I sold the boat... a useful enough experience that I'm doing the same with the new boat... the key is to prep the surface well to remove all contaminants - I use sugar soap - after that I roller it on; small boat (Hurley 20) so I can do the lot in about an hour.... I like the fact that paint doesn't conceal anything - I can see all the skin fittings, and as one of the previous posters mentioned leaks become apparent very quickly...

At 20 foot I don't live on her for long periods so condensation is not an issue - and I have decent ventilation...
 
Fantasie 19 said:
3 yrs in and mine was still going strong when I sold the boat... a useful enough experience that I'm doing the same with the new boat... the key is to prep the surface well to remove all contaminants - I use sugar soap - after that I roller it on; small boat (Hurley 20) so I can do the lot in about an hour.... I like the fact that paint doesn't conceal anything - I can see all the skin fittings, and as one of the previous posters mentioned leaks become apparent very quickly...

At 20 foot I don't live on her for long periods so condensation is not an issue - and I have decent ventilation...
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Three years dos'nt really sound like a very long trial period although I like the sound of it being anti-mould paint.
I don't expect to have got rid of all the headlining & glue until the spring & then paint when it gets warmer.Until then I shall monitor the situation,thanks.
PS:May even leave it bare for the ultimate maintenance free experience.Shall see how it looks.
 
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Iain,

How did you do the van lining - did you apply it to the bare fibreglass or did you install foam insulation first?

How did you deal with junctions/terminations at hatches, windows etc - do you precut the material to exact size or leave it oversize and trim after installation?


Gavin
 
If only summer weekend sailing (IE not needing heating), I would say condensation not to much of a problem use paint.

Cork could be a solution can look good and be cheap, although in the end to a purchaser it still looks good but cheap (just because its cork).

Just remember the boats overall value will not go up by what you spend on it... You could be better selling and buying the boat does not need that much spending on it (all boats need money its what keeps them afloat, just some more than others).
 
William_H said:
Clearly all the posters have given suggestions that represent a range of options. You need ot decide what you want to do. This will depend on your desire to take on a project or just fix a problem. Obviously if you live in the cabin a lot then condensation will be a problem. If you are a bit more like me a day sailor using the cabin for storage then condensation won't be a problem. In which case just scrape off the old paint and repaint. Interior house paints are fine. If you go for a major lining job you will lose some headroom although you may also cover up bolts sticking out which can hurt your head. Perhaps if it is a new boat to you do a quick paint job, experience will soon show if you neeed to do a lining. good luck olewill
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What the hell does someone in Perth know about condensation?
Its probably sweat, or spatter from your XXXX can/stubbie. ;)
 
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Van lining as shown above is also known as Veltrim.
Google it and you'll see there are lots of options on colours etc.

An alternative ( and cheaper) source for vinyl, is Dunelm.
They have rolls of vinyl in various colours for about £7.49 a metre. I recently bought some white vinyl for a small project I'm doing.
It's exactly the same material as fitted originally to the boat, so is perfect for me.
(Note: it's not foam backed. You can buy this separately from Dunelm if you wanted though)

Just cut out pieces of 6mm ply, cut the vinyl bigger than the ply leaving a margin of about 30mm all round, fold it over and glue on the back tabs only using some grab adhesive. I used Screwfix No Nonsense grab adhesive, around £1 a tube, it's solvent free, easy to use, nice to work with and works a treat.

Edit: Forgot to add, fix up the vinyl covered ply panels with self tapping stainless or brass screws and cup washers.
If you're using slot headed screws, get the heads in line ;)
 
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Does a carpet-like lining material stuck to the GRP do any more than trap moisture, which will then be given back to the atmosphere when the boat warms up? Perhaps a passing insulation engineer or physicist can help with that question ...
 
Hydrozoan said:
Does a carpet-like lining material stuck to the GRP do any more than trap moisture, which will then be given back to the atmosphere when the boat warms up? Perhaps a passing insulation engineer or physicist can help with that question ...
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A soft covering like veltrim stuck to the bare grp will significantly reduce the likelihood of the surface "striking" and condensation forming.
Yes it'll still feel cold if there's no insulation, but there won't be any condensation unless the conditions are extreme, i.e. very high internal humidity and very cold outside.

Condensation needs a hard / smooth surface on which to form.
So covering the external facing surfaces with a soft trim doesn't trap moisture, it prevents it forming in the first place.
 
Thanks - I have some areas of such a lining, but wondered (as I use a dehumidifier) if it really did prevent condensation, or just conceal it.
 
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