Interior lining

[bobbyb]

The interior lining on my 20ft cruiser needs replacing as the old stuff had perished and had gone dusty. I have therfore taken all of this out now and plan to replace it.

I am slightly daunted by the task and wondered whether anyone can point me to a source of info on how to tackle it - i wondered whether anyone knew of a particular PBO article on the subject - I couldn't find one when I searched PBO online?
A friend has suggested Flotex as a replacement lining - I am not too concerened on the finish as long as it is neat and the cost of the material isn't too high.

My plan of attack is: decide on a material, get a Stanley Knife and some suitable glue and get on with it - Any tips would be appreciated!

BOB

 

[geoffatstanpit]

The carpet - type foam backed stuff in my Parker let go when the foam turned to dust. It was fairly easy to pull it off, hoover up all the dust and stick it back with "Tikatak vinyl carpet and cork adhesive" from B&Q. The Westerly vinyl type stuff would be much more difficult (voice of experience!)

 

[VicS]

Cheap carpet and a contact adhesive is the cheapest solution other than painting.

Foam backed vinyl gives a nice wipe clean and smart appearance. It is much more expensive but it is my preference. It is stuck on using a contact adhesive but it is certainly not what I would call an easy job to do.

For really nice luxury appearance at a price then a polypropylene pile carpet material is available.

Remember solvent based adhesives are somewhat hazardous unless you arrange good ventilation and wear an "Organic vapours" mask but the coverings can be stuck on to ply panels where appropriate using a water based and water resistant PVA wood glue.

I and others on here will recommend Hawke House in Gosport for materials (except cheap carpet), adhesives and advice (Google will find them)

I have done my 19 footer twice. Once when I built it and again some 20 years later.

It's worth considering replacing/ overhauling windows at the same time.

 

[willie4646]

make a roof panel out of light plywood(3 PLY), Glue the foam backing and the vinyl covering on to the panel returning the edges. Screw the panel on to the roof and cover the scew heads with vinyl buttons it will be there forever. if necessary glass wooden pads on to the coachroof to hold the screws.
Willie

 

[srp]

I've just done about 2/3rds of the interior of my Corribee, which had disintegrating foam-backed vinyl.
The worst bit of the job is cleaning up the hull - I used a wire brush on an angle grinder (which was a bit fast, might have been better on a slower speed drill). You need full-body protection! Goggles and face mask are essential.
I bought the cheapest non-foam backed carpet I could find from Carpet Right - 100% polysomething with a synthetic felt sort of backing. It was a bit thick but for a total of £40 I couldn't complain.
Don't drill any holes through the carpet after you've fitted it otherwise you'll pull a whole line of thread out. Make a hole with a soldering iron instead (I'm thinking of fittings that may need screwing on after, such as curtain tracks etc).
I bought spray-on carpet adhesive from B and Q (£4 a can, and used 2.5 cans).

 

[DavidTav]

I have replaced the headlining on my boat. I used foam backed vinyl, almost identical to the original and after 2 years I am still very pleased with the result. There is a trick to fitting the new panels that makes it little more difficult than wallpapering. Use the very strong impact adhesive on the hull side only and spray the foam with aerosol adhesive. The result is you can move the panel around easily while it sets, but still get a strong joint. I bought the materials from Jeckells in Norfolk.

 

[holly1]

Another vote for ply with a covering stuck to it .Good tip about soldering iron to make a hole.

 

[VARNE]

I've just used FLOTEX for my cabin sole, having done sides & headlining with vinyl. [Flotex recomended on this forum.]

Brilliant stuff -----Soft feel, scrubable, in a huge range of classy patterns and should last forever. Google home site for all info.
Not what I would call cheap, but then again it's less than half of what Hawke House sell sidelining carpet for, and I would say a far superior product.
I would buy "high heat" contact adhesive from Hawke House.
Ask them for Headlining booklet---full of useful info.

 

[ShipsWoofy]

I was interested in flotex until I priced it.

Annoyingly the local hospital had just thrown out a few corridors worth, the parts by the walls in some places looked untouched. You can bleach, wash and probably set fire to the stuff and it wont mark.

Hence the premium.

I used rubber back carpet in cabins in the end.

 

[aidancoughlan]

tip: for removing the old stuff, use the "paint remover" disks available from halfords and B&Q. These are plastic mesh disks that fit on a drill or angle-grinder. Get the angle-grinder ones - I found a drill mount is useless.