Hunter Horizon 23 headlining replacement.

[ProDave]

We might be buying a hunter Horizon 23.

The boat we are considering has the headlining peeling at the edges and joints in multiple places. A short term fix would be just glue back the peeling bits but I feel longer term it really needs replacing.

I wonder if anyone has done this or any advice please?

 

[steve yates]

Doing it on a longbow. My bedt advice is buy another boat that doesn't need it or had had it done. At very least, never buy a boat that does not have panels for headlining if you intend to redo it.

 

[Tranona]

This is a good source of all things to do with interior trim, particularly headlinings. hawkehouse.co.uk

 

[ProDave]

I don't think the headlining needs totally replacing, at least not yet. It is just a few places around the windows which for now we will just glue back as best we can. We think the windows were leaking until replaced 2 years ago.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

I’ve seen an expert do a total replacement in a camper van. If it were my boat I think I’d get him, or a similar man, to do it for me. Small repairs, super glue and disposable gloves. I think that would put the day for replacement off by a few years.

 

[StevieD]

I've done it on a HH23, it's an awkward enough job to get a clean finish around the windows tbh. Leaks likely to have been the cause - but 30 years old too! Not as bad or messy as my current boat - with a just foam backed straight to the hull making a mess - the HH was normally but not always home finished, so varying quality. Mine has thin foam behind the vinyl , that the water leaks had more or less peeled off the hull anyways. I ended up replacing with foamex board secured with industrial velcro, as the vinyl was poor condition anyways. Hunter owner club have a good forum with lots of owner advice.

 

[tross]

I've done it on a HH23, it's an awkward enough job to get a clean finish around the windows tbh. Leaks likely to have been the cause - but 30 years old too! Not as bad or messy as my current boat - with a just foam backed straight to the hull making a mess - the HH was normally but not always home finished, so varying quality. Mine has thin foam behind the vinyl , that the water leaks had more or less peeled off the hull anyways. I ended up replacing with foamex board secured with industrial velcro, as the vinyl was poor condition anyways. Hunter owner club have a good forum with lots of owner advice.

I did exactly the same. It also stops a lot of the condensation as well

 

[Clancy Moped]

A guy in the marina was a carpet fitter, he did a wonderful job for us in a fraction of the time it would have taken me.

 

[srm]

Following advice on the forum many years ago I found the adhesive "No Nails" or similar worked for gluing small areas. Decaying foam backing is a pain and probably a health hazard as it crumbles. I used a vacuum cleaner to remove loose foam.

 

[Refueler]

Once that foam back powders - its a lost cause

I tried all the tricks of cleaning out from behind - spray adhesive trying to get at least the vinyl to go back ... next day - fallen away again.

Finally bit the bullet and bought a roll of Van Lining and started replacing ... I've completed forecabin and the change is amazing. No longer condensation on the vinyl .... nice to touch. Easy to clean ... most just brushes out. Amazingly easy to apply.

In fact I plan to headline my smaller weekender (with left over after main boat finished) - which has never had any liner in ...

 

[jamie N]

Remove it all, and take it back to the natural wood finish.
Oh, I see the problem..........

 

[[193211]]

As mentioned above, the H23 has closed cell foam sheet behind the vinyl. Degrading sponge foam isn’t the problem. On the area where the bond has failed, I managed to clean the old adhesive off with acetone and re-stick with a high temp contact adhesive (horrible stuff) with good results.

Originally, on the windows and the hatch, the vinyl was taken over the reveal and stuck down and trimmed off on the outside. The gasket for the windows is applied over the trimmed edges and the windows fixed over the top, sandwiching everything in place. Complete headlining replacement is a strip down job to be done under cover. Hopefully, your boat’s windows will be fixed with interscrews and not self tappers. If not, you should tackle that first as it’s the only way to eliminate leaks. Mine is dry as a bone.

The association website has all the details.

Hadlow Marine are the people to speak to about windows.

Great little boat. Good luck!