Re-gluing old vinyl headliner – tips and product recommendations?

[Matt]

I’m looking for advice on temporarily re-gluing some old vinyl headliner that has come loose and is hanging down at the corners. I’d appreciate any recommendations on:

Adhesives that work well for this kind of job (vinyl to fiberglass).

The best way to clean and prep both surfaces (back of the vinyl and fiberglass bulkheads) before re-bonding.

I’m aware this is just a stop-gap solution. Eventually, the vinyl will need to be removed and replaced properly. However, that’s a long way down the to-do list, and for now I’m just looking for a reasonably tidy, practical fix to keep it from sagging and flapping about until I can tackle the full replacement.

Any tips, product names, or lessons learned would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[Keith-i]

Is it foam backed? If so it is nigh on impossible to get glue to stick if the foam is old and disintegrating.

 

[mrming]

I first scraped all the old foam off both the GRP and the back of an area of headlining. I used a plastic scraper for this so as not to cause damage to the GRP or tear the headlining,

Then I used SAF111 from Hawke House on both surfaces. Read the instructions carefully - you need a proper mask with filters and good ventilation. In my experience it’s totally possible to repair the edges, but if you scrape the foam off a larger surface and re-stick it down, you’ll see the bumpy GRP underneath and it will look bad.

 

[Refueler]

I would imagine that the number of people that have tried to re-stick headlining must be literally so many to be uncountable !

I know I tried when lining first started to sage ... I watched videos of people with hypos - injecti9ng glue ... watched cleaning - regluing ... but none worked for me ... believe me - I tried !

Finally gave in and bought 20 sq.m of Van lining along with the required number of Spray adhesive cans .... best decision ever made.

 

[MikeBz]

If the vinyl is on plywood boards you could add strips of wood screwed around the edge, if it suits the style of the interior:



If you can pull the vinyl tight then it doesn’t really matter that it’s not glued to the board.

 

[pioneer]

As others have said if the existing is foam backed that has now perished the residue needs to be cleaned off if regluing. As a temporary measure Hawkhouse also sell foam pre-glued on both sides that needs heating to release the glue. In my experience independently supporting the newly glued area whilst the glue dries helps . I used off-cuts of sheet wood tensioned in place with garden bamboo sticks. Use of the pre-glued foam greatly reduces the need for masks etc. a huge advantage IMO, having reheadlined 3 boats (one twice). Good luck!!!

 

[langstonelayabout]

Foam backed vinyl? Don't even bother trying.

My boat (Westerly Konsort) was professionally re-lined (Hawke house labour & materials) by the previously owner in 2018. For the last 2 years (since 2024) the vinyl lining in the main cabin and fore peak has started drooping.

I found some off cuts of the vinyl from the re-lining in my garage a few months ago. It had been stored in dark and reasonably cool conditions and all the foam was now dust.
I'm underwhelmed as this was £4000+ spent, and now none the better for it. It seems that the materials aren't up to the job, and Hawke House is a company supposedly reputed for doing the job properly.

There must be a worthwhile alternative that isn't removal and painting on the back of the GRP?