Lining an old boat

[PhillM]

Corribiee MK2 to be precise. She has been used and abused and I picked her up in a real state. She had been partially submerged due to a seacock being removed on a drying mooring ... and the tide came back in ... before it was replaced. Anyway, last year I did the stuff needed to get her seaworthy and fun to sail. I still have some stuff to do this spring (seacocks actually!) but thoughts are turning to what to do to the interior. She is stripped back to bare GRP and there is a light splash of unknown paint over it. It looks dirty and messy.

I was thinking about sanding and painting then started to wonder about other coverings, to make her more cosy. What would you do, and why?

 

[Sandy]

I am currently relining the boat. Insulated flooring tiles that look like a jigsaw, used in covering gyms, and a van lining material to cover.

 

[lustyd]

On my Vivacity I used the closed cell foam from Hawke House with self adhesive both sides. I covered in cream leather effect vinyl. It was insulating, comfy to lean on and looked like new 10 years later. Most importantly it was very easy to fit.

Self Adhesive Closed Cell Foam 5mm – Double Sided (RW70) | Hawke House

Ivory Unfoamed Headlining Vinyl (EM198) | Hawke House

 

[Sandy]

On my Vivacity I used the closed cell foam from Hawke House with self adhesive both sides. I covered in cream leather effect vinyl. It was insulating, comfy to lean on and looked like new 10 years later. Most importantly it was very easy to fit.

I did my last boat in that stuff. NEVER, EVER again! The double sided stuff stuck, usually itself, in two nanoseconds and could never unstick...

 

[lustyd]

There’s a technique to it for sure. Stick strips to the hull, not sheets. When adding the vinyl line it up and remove the backing on the foam one strip at a time then smooth the vinyl down. I used strips about a foot wide after a bit of practice. You can also use sheets and then score the backing on the top after sticking to the hull.
You’re right, it’s incredibly sticky but that’s what you want in a foam liner!

For the record, although expensive that was the best upgrade I did to Live Magic.

 

[steveeasy]

Id skip messing with coverings and vinyl. work with what you have. Not sure what you have to work with, but A good mix of contrasts between varnished wood and white can work and feel good. GRP interior roofs can look great with a good durable paint applied well. Add some wood strips well varnished to break up the areas. The areas where you have wood will or can look great again with fresh varnish. Recover the seating in something you really like the shade off. what really transformed the interior of my previous boat was some Xmas lights on the roof. So nice to look up at while on board. Perhaps finish it off with a framed picture. Little touches can transform a dull boat. SS fittings, these can be made cheaply and really adds to the feel.

Not quite the advice your after, but these are the things ive done on my previous boat and it just made it feel such a great place to sit back and look at the stars. Of course makes little difference when sailing,
Steveeasy

 

[lustyd]

The problem with paint and varnish is that in the UK it ends in condensation. The foam insulates to prevent that. It also cuts noise and it’s way more comfortable to lean back on in a small boat where you’ll definitely lean against the hull. Agree it will look good but before it does there are many hours of sanding filling and fairing. Hate to admit that I slapped the foam on over the old glue to save time.

 

[salar]

I used a layer insulating foam from Hawke House stuck to the GRP then van carpet (buy the stretchy type) to cover. Insulating the GRP first is important for both cosyness and prevention of condensation.

 

[PaulRainbow]

I'm using foam backed vinyl from Hawke House.

If it goes onto ply, stick it with waterproof PVA (recommended by Hawke House).

If sticking to GRP i use CT. Squirt it on and spread evenly with a filler applicator. Go over the vinyl with a roller, not fingers. Might need to go over a few bits 2 or 3 times until it cures enough to hold, but at least you get time to get it all in the right place.

Removable ply panels, stick the face with waterproof ply and leave for a few minutes. Fold the edges round and stick with contact adhesive or stainless staples. I leave the foam on the edges, gives a neater finish wher the panels come up against each other or the hull.

 

[dunkelly]

There's also the polyprop ribbed carpet solution . We used to use that to line the hurley 22s out when we made them . Easy to fit easy to clean good insulation looks good for years

 

[lustyd]

I'm using foam backed vinyl

I avoided this stuff because the open cell foam holds moisture and eventually turns to dust. The closed cell stuff is warmer and doesn't hold moisture, no idea on longevity but didn't degrade in 10 years (not that the open cell stuff usually does either). The closed cell was also a lot easier to install due to the self adhesive backing. That said, the foam backed vinyl is probably better for ceiling panels in ply

 

[Beneteau381]

Corribiee MK2 to be precise. She has been used and abused and I picked her up in a real state. She had been partially submerged due to a seacock being removed on a drying mooring ... and the tide came back in ... before it was replaced. Anyway, last year I did the stuff needed to get her seaworthy and fun to sail. I still have some stuff to do this spring (seacocks actually!) but thoughts are turning to what to do to the interior. She is stripped back to bare GRP and there is a light splash of unknown paint over it. It looks dirty and messy.

I was thinking about sanding and painting then started to wonder about other coverings, to make her more cosy. What would you do, and why?

I have just relined the front cabin of my boat. Cleaned back to the glass with a hand held wire brush. I spoke to Hawk house but the logistics of getting ready glued stuff out here to Portugal defeated us. So, we spotted 6.5 mm thick yoga type mats in Decathlon, closed cell. €3 euros each. They worked perfectly. We used contact adhesive from Leroy Merlin, tested the foam first and it was ok. Glued that on first, then cleaned the old vinyl, as recommended by HH and then stuck that on to the foam. Plenty of ventilation with ALL the electrics switched off! Used a roller to roller the material on to the substrate. Fingers can leave dents. Looks perfect now

 

[lustyd]

So, we spotted 6.5 mm thick yoga type mats in Decathlon

It's basically the same closed cell foam in a lot of those, just choose one that's not too rubbery feeling and more aimed at flooring. I imagine the double sided tape sheets must be available somewhere too which makes the job a lot easier than wet glue just because most of it is covered in plastic most of the time until you need it

 

[harvey38]

We used 4 way stretch van lining material to very good effect in the dinette and saloon.

 

[steveeasy]

View attachment 151653

We used 4 way stretch van lining material to very good effect in the dinette and saloon.

Looks very smart indeed. love the contrasts of different finishes and materials.

Steveeasy

 

[dancrane]

Terrific thread! I've looked at many otherwise-fine yachts with collapsing linings, so it's great to know there are manageable solutions.

Faced with the relatively small task of replacing foul old vinyl linings backing the saloon berths of my Achilles 24, I acquired two square metres of grey van-lining at the pleasing cost of £10.

I then spent about five times more on the contact adhesive I expected to need, plus a proper respirator in order to survive the grim business of going head-first into the long tunnels of the sofa-berth trotter-boxes to apply the adhesive...

...I was glad to find the two square metres, cut longways into 2.0m x 0.5m, fitted the space that needed covering, exactly. But the best bit by far, was discovering that the rough fibreglass finish inside the hull, with numerous fibre-ends sticking slightly proud of the bulkhead, held the van-lining fabric secure, like fuzzy-felt. I did not need contact adhesive, nor the respirator, and the job was done in minutes, for a tenner.

I secured the bottom edge with Gorilla tape so the cushions wouldn't work the lining loose. The cushions concealed the tape.
.

 

[Refueler]

Van Lining ....

eBay does it and you can buy with the recommended number of spray adhesive cans ....

I bought 20m of it in a roll with 10 cans of adhesive. I have two boats to line ... my main 25ft Motor Sailer which I already completed forecabin ... main cabin still to do. Plus a 5.5m two berth boat which will be done with the remaining lining once main boat completed.

I found it was easier than expected ...

I did not consider it necessary to put anything between the GRP and lining ... as the original was that horrible foam backed vinyl that the foam turns to powder years later ... direct to the GRP ...

Here's GRP after stripping off the old vinyl ... a good stiff brush to remove any loose stuff ... decided not to sand or grind away as some do ...

Here's after applying lining to above :

I could have shown a better picture - but decided that I would show the one that has the error ... the line on the right is where I misjudged the joint and it did not meet as neatly as other side ... but once in place ... I took a brush and after brushing - you'd have to look close to find it.

 

[harvey38]

Thanks for the positive comments, a couple of before and after photos using van lining, very easy to use, reasonable cost, very easy to use and quick to get quality results. Quite a few more on our FB blog, we have yet to tackle the forward cabin that I currently use as a workshop

 

[Refueler]

Corribiee MK2 to be precise. She has been used and abused and I picked her up in a real state. She had been partially submerged due to a seacock being removed on a drying mooring ... and the tide came back in ... before it was replaced. Anyway, last year I did the stuff needed to get her seaworthy and fun to sail. I still have some stuff to do this spring (seacocks actually!) but thoughts are turning to what to do to the interior. She is stripped back to bare GRP and there is a light splash of unknown paint over it. It looks dirty and messy.

I was thinking about sanding and painting then started to wonder about other coverings, to make her more cosy. What would you do, and why?

This is the next boat of mine that will get the Van Lining installed ..... as well as a new rubbing strake .... after I complete my main boat.

 

[PaulRainbow]

View attachment 151715View attachment 151716View attachment 151717View attachment 151718
Thanks for the positive comments, a couple of before and after photos using van lining, very easy to use, reasonable cost, very easy to use and quick to get quality results. Quite a few more on our FB blog, we have yet to tackle the forward cabin that I currently use as a workshop

Nice job