Lining Ply - Alternatives

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yachtorion

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I understand the traditional thing for making up panels of headlining is very-thin semi-flexible ply behind the vinyl. The thing is, it's expensive, prone to rot, brittle, not really actually all that suited...

I figure there must be something better. Anyone know what?
 
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yachtailsa said:
I understand the traditional thing for making up panels of headlining is very-thin semi-flexible ply behind the vinyl. The thing is, it's expensive, prone to rot, brittle, not really actually all that suited...

I figure there must be something better. Anyone know what?
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Thin ply is not expensive, easy to source (you can use any WBP ply not marine ply), doesn't rot unless you have leaks which boats shouldn't have anyway, not brittle unless you don't use sharp tools and I find it is very well suited - I have just lined out my cabin and wheelhouse and very pleased with the results!
 
prv said:
They shouldn't, but sadly they often do :)

Pete
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:) Reminds me of a slightly nutty professor at my Uni many years ago. He had a pile of cushions under a picture on the wall, because the picture hook was dodgy. His solution was to minimise the problem caused by the outcome, not to fix the root cause! Yes he was an Arts prof...
 
On compound curved surfaces the ply struggles to fit, where screws etc go through ply thin enough to bend is prone to tear. At some point you will get some damp in the boat.... it lives at Sea. I just can't help feel there must be something better.... and ply thin enough to bend well (e.g. 1.5mm) IS expensive, seems to be roughly twice the cost of 3mm.
 
We replaced all our headlining on our 12m yacht with Altro Whiterock wall cladding plastic 4 years ago. It was easy to cut and fix, has maintained its shape / camber with minimal fixings. It hasn't faded, there is no mould and it is easy to clean. We've lived aboard for nearly 3 years, 2 of those in the tropics, and it's as good as the day we fitted it.
 
Ashman said:
We replaced all our headlining on our 12m yacht with Altro Whiterock wall cladding plastic 4 years ago. It was easy to cut and fix, has maintained its shape / camber with minimal fixings. It hasn't faded, there is no mould and it is easy to clean. We've lived aboard for nearly 3 years, 2 of those in the tropics, and it's as good as the day we fitted it.
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Ashman, thats very interesting, thanks for posting. I have still to replace my galley / nav area lining in the current refit. What is your finish is it hi-gloss or satin, smooth or lightly textured? The literature suggests that hi gloss, satin and coloured finish is available. Personally I could be interested in a non gloss, slight textured finish.

http://www.altro.co.uk/Latest/Case-studies/Leisure/Axe-Vale-Canoe-Club
http://www.altro.co.uk/getmedia/b61...d-Altro-Whiterock-Clapper-W.pdf.aspx?ext=.pdf
 
I lined the heads of my motor sailer using pvc sheet, 3 mm thick. Readily available from many sources on line or local suppliers. I made paper patterns of each wall before cutting the sheet, which was easy to do.

IMG_2399.jpg
 
yachtailsa said:
That looks amazing. Did you find the stuff fairly flexible?

This looks interesting... the fact that they supply it rolled suggests a certain degree of flexibility! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/8x4-8ftx4...1-5mm-Thick-/190817297826?hash=item2c6d98e5a2
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It was a couple of years ago and neither of us can remember exactly how thick it was. Could well have been 2.5 or 3 mm. It was quite flexible although we transported it flat from a local supplier near Milford Haven.

Edit: looks exactly like the top one in daveyw's link, same colour protective paper so ours was probably 2.5 mm.
 
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vyv_cox said:
It was a couple of years ago and neither of us can remember exactly how thick it was. Could well have been 2.5 or 3 mm. It was quite flexible although we transported it flat from a local supplier near Milford Haven.

Edit: looks exactly like the top one in daveyw's link, same colour protective paper so ours was probably 2.5 mm.
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Something like this:

http://www.gbplastics.co.uk/Products/Hygienic_Cladding_Panelling_wall_PVC_UPVC_plastic_ceiling

have used it on many a wet room installation.
 
BlowingOldBoots said:
Ashman, thats very interesting, thanks for posting. I have still to replace my galley / nav area lining in the current refit. What is your finish is it hi-gloss or satin, smooth or lightly textured? The literature suggests that hi gloss, satin and coloured finish is available. Personally I could be interested in a non gloss, slight textured finish.

http://www.altro.co.uk/Latest/Case-studies/Leisure/Axe-Vale-Canoe-Club

We used the satin finish, I think an off white and it's a little bit shiny but certainly brightens up the boat. We recessed our lights into it, they are led and don't get too hot.......having said that the cabin temp is often 30C here.

http://www.altro.co.uk/getmedia/b61...d-Altro-Whiterock-Clapper-W.pdf.aspx?ext=.pdf
Click to expand...
 
yachtailsa said:
I understand the traditional thing for making up panels of headlining is very-thin semi-flexible ply behind the vinyl. The thing is, it's expensive, prone to rot, brittle, not really actually all that suited...
I figure there must be something better. Anyone know what?
Click to expand...

We had exactly the same thoughts and took advice from the forums and redid the headlining using Foamex, instead of plywood. Lightweight, strong, flexible, insulating, easily cut, no dust and WATERPROOF! Great stuff.

We glued small blocks of hardwood to the hull and used (very) strong Velcro to attach the panels to the blocks. We were a bit concerned about using Velcro but it was incredibly strong. The end result was that we could remove panels to access wiring, etc. BTW - We mocked up the panels using stiff cardboard and used them as a template for cutting the Foamex before we covered them in vinyl. We got the foam backed headlining and glue from the usual places. It all worked rather well. The Foamex was great to work with.
 
Ravi said:
The Foamex was great to work with.
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Knowing as I do from an exhibition background, its also non flamable too, I use it quite a lot as its so useful.

Available in loads of colours and various thickness from 1,3,5 and 10mm. 3mm being the most popular, 10mm being very very strong.
 
salar said:
Thin ply is not expensive, easy to source (you can use any WBP ply not marine ply), doesn't rot unless you have leaks which boats shouldn't have anyway, not brittle unless you don't use sharp tools and I find it is very well suited - I have just lined out my cabin and wheelhouse and very pleased with the results!
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I agree. I re-used the ca. 3mm ply panels which had formed the basis for foam backed vinyl headlining, replacing the latter with fabric-backed vinyl. They had not rotted in nearly 20 years and cleaned up fairly easily, but even if they had not I would have used new ply for the reasons you give. I did spend quite a lot of effort looking at alternatives like Altro Whiterock (quite expensive IIRC, but perhaps justifiable for a liveaboard) and pvc (OK for heads, but not aesthetically to my taste for a saloon, and in my application as a structural base not better than ply).
 
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