Westerly Centaur Headlining - remove the old gunk

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vidapura

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Hi Folks,

I bought a Centaur recently. It came with no headlining in the forecabin.
Whats left is some really mucky looking stuff on the ceiling. Presumably the glue that was used to put up the original headlining.
I hope to put up a new lining this winter.. But just for now I would like to remove the yellow and black mess and have it at least look a bit tidier.

I have heard autoglym tar remover might be an idea.. anybody got a better suggestion?

Thanks
 
vidapura said:
Hi Folks,

I bought a Centaur recently. It came with no headlining in the forecabin.
Whats left is some really mucky looking stuff on the ceiling. Presumably the glue that was used to put up the original headlining.
I hope to put up a new lining this winter.. But just for now I would like to remove the yellow and black mess and have it at least look a bit tidier.

I have heard autoglym tar remover might be an idea.. anybody got a better suggestion?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Make sure you wear a good mask when removing the black foam remnants as I believe it is considered toxic.
 
Assuming mains available. I used a cup brush on an angle grinder. Good eye protection and mask essential. Check out my other posts. I have just done same on a Jeanneau Tonic.

Auto Glym tar remover is fine for removing recent spots of new adhesive. Not sure how you would fare removing a lot or what the fume situation would be.
 
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Not a bad idea from Davidpbo, not tried that myself but I did have luck when I used a heat gun & scraper.. A mask is a must and make sure you have all the hatches open plus you do in 5 minute stints then go top sides.. I done mine (different boat, maybe different glue) in no time at all that way...
 
Thanks guys,
No power available at the moment.. have her on the water.. will be drying her out to get the prop looked at and was thinking I'd have a go at cleaning the forecabin... but where she'll be dried out has no power either... sigh...
I might just have to don the mask and goggles and just get the wire brush out... then just stick some sticky backed white film over it for now... the stuff we used to put on the old schoolbooks eh? heh heh..
That might just do me for the summer... then I can get a proper job going on it this winter...

Thanks again...
 
As a temporary relatively quick on the water solution when our headlining was dropping I pulled down as much I dared without it falling down (a bit at a time, in my case 1/2 width of forecabin) , scraped off the decayed foam to a reasonable degree from the vinyl and the hull and used Copydex to stick the vinyl back up again. It stuck firmly and needed a good pull to get it down. I used copydex because the fumes weren't bad and it stuck to surfaces that were not overly prepared. I bought 0.5L pots of Copydex the small ones did not go anywhere near far enough. You might have success with a spray glue.

A good quality scraper and wire brush will your friend and get enough off to do as above.

If using glues use a decent mask for vapour. I have a Scott and have been changing the filters weekly when I start to smell fumes putting it on.
 
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Copydex?
I thought that stuff was water based.. but I see now that its latex.. hmm.. very good... that just might save me a lot of cleaning off....
Excellent!

Yeah, I won't get away without a certain amount of brushing off the black powdery stuff.. but at least I could probably leave the remaining latex'ey stuff in place.. I mean if its not coming off then glueing TO it will probably work fine...

Thanks very much.
 
I only wish I still ahve the original vinyl.. the silly sod of a previous owner binned it.. so I have to go to the hassle of making the templates again as well.. sigh...
 
I've been replacing my headlining over the last few weeks. It is a long job and I will post about it soon. I am very fortunate in that the boat is by the house with a garage to cut in. The old panels have been invaluable but cut over size on hidden edges and DON'T TRIM TO SIZE until you fit. Not as I keep doing.
 
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vidapura said:
oooch....400 for the forecabin?
Think I'll look for something a lot cheaper...

Thanks though...
Click to expand...

Might be worth talking to them and seeing how complete the panels are. My material cost for a similar sized boat is cc £700, 20% of which is of course VAT. It is very time consuming making the panels and any infill pieces, although you do get quicker.
 
Pressure washer gets the old glue of easy peasy. Stripped all the headlining glue & foam residue from our Sabre from stem to stern in half an hour flat.
No dust but it does make rather a mess though!
 
zambant said:
Tried everything
DONT go near it with solvent
Try these Polycarbide abrasive wheels
Its messy what ever way you do it but at least it will vaccum up this way
Loads people do them
http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Poly+Abrasive+Disc/p18114
Good luck - its an awful job.
In my centaur main cabin I glued 3 battens up and covered 2.5mm ply and screwed them up
Worked a treat
Click to expand...

What size screws did you use?

Dougie
 
davidpbo said:
Might be worth talking to them and seeing how complete the panels are. My material cost for a similar sized boat is cc 20% of which is of course VAT. It is very time consuming making the panels and any infill pieces, although you do get quicker.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I suppose.. but I think time is something I have, money less so...
Might take a leaf out of Mr Hastie's book:
http://www.hastie.org.uk/headlining.html
 
Keith 66 said:
Pressure washer gets the old glue of easy peasy. Stripped all the headlining glue & foam residue from our Sabre from stem to stern in half an hour flat.
No dust but it does make rather a mess though!
Click to expand...

Woo, its a bit close quarters for that in a Centaur forepeak...
I can just see the headlines now .. man drowns INSIDE boat... ...or Skinned Alive in Boat...
 
Keith 66 said:
Pressure washer gets the old glue of easy peasy. Stripped all the headlining glue & foam residue from our Sabre from stem to stern in half an hour flat.
No dust but it does make rather a mess though!
Click to expand...

Watched your rebuild with fascination mixed with awe, I seem to recall you previously stripped the entire cabin out and drilled a hole in the bottom to let the water out :-) Probably a bit extreme for most of us, especially when doing this afloat :)
 
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