Which glue for vinyl headlining?

[Quandary]

The head lining in our aft cabin is that off white stretch vinyl sheet about 2mm. thick with the crinkly surface that is used to cover surfaces in so many boats. Where it is stretched into an internal corner under the cockpit it has started to come away slightly so I decided to buy some contact adhesive and ease it back into place. Before buying a tube of Evostick I took the unusual step of reading the instructions on the packaging and was surprised to notice that it warned that it was not suitable for vinyl. I looked at at the alternative makes of similar contact glue on the stand and all had the same warning. I fitted out a couple of boats from mouldings many years ago and I am sure I used litres of contact adhesive to fix vinyl, almost to the point of asphixiation and do not recall a problem with performance so perhaps the solvent (toluene or similar?) has been changed. Or perhaps the makers are now just being over cautious and the stuff is still effective. There is no fabric backing to the vinyl as it needs to stretch to fit neatly to the concave curved surfaces so the glue will be in direct contact, it would be a disaster if the vinyl fell apart as it is a continuous piece with no visible around the perimeter of the ceiling area.
This must be a common scenario so someone is bound to have the solution?

 

[earlybird]

I think the stuff you refer to is called Mural Mousse. Firms like Toomer & Hayter sell an adhesive for it, I don't know its characteristics, but it's probably some sort of contact adhesive.

 

[Quandary]

I think the stuff you refer to is called Mural Mousse. Firms like Toomer & Hayter sell an adhesive for it, I don't know its characteristics, but it's probably some sort of contact adhesive.

No, I know what that is and have used it, it is much softer and thicker than vinyl almost like a thin foam with a softer feel and very easily torn if you try to stretch it or abrade it, the vinyl fabric lining on our boat is thinner and a lot stronger; its the same stuff you see glued and stapled over the removable plywood headlining panels but in this case it is glued directly to the flow coated underside of the grp moulding in the curved margins around them.
I still suspect that an ordinary contact adhesive will work but before I risk trying it was hoping to hear from someone who has used it on this type of vinyl fabric.

 

[LittleShip]

Try Copydex

I have used it several times when putting headlinings in old cars.

Tom

 

[KREW2]

You should find what you looking for here.
http://www.hawkehouse.co.uk/

 

[VicS]

If you are gluing a plain vinyl surface I think you may have to use Bostik 1782 or Tradegrip SAF 60.

See Hawke House http://www.hawkehouse.co.uk/default.asp

 

[planteater]

I used high temperature contact adhesive in a spray can from Ebay. Worked perfectly but a bit expensive if you only want to secure a corner.

 

[agurney]

Last season I relined using a soft flooring vinyl and used spray-on vinyl adhesive designed for floors + I used double-sided carpet tape to hold the lining in place until the glue set.

The glue didn't work but the double-sided tape is still holding well.

 

[Quandary]

I think I will try the double sided tape idea first as I have some somewhere and it seems a fairly fail safe option. If it does not hold it should not be too difficult to remove without damage and I can then try some of the other suggestions. The existing adhesive does look very like Evostick though.
Thanks to those who took the time to respond, your effort on my behalf is appreciated.

I have been using 50mm.white heavy vinyl duct tape to protect areas of gelcoat on deck subject to abrasion. In front of fairleads, across the step in to the cabin and I even have a strip down the bow where the anchor can sometimes touch the hull if I am careless, it lasts over three years exposed to the elements and is easy to replace when it gets worn or the adhesive fails. Its the dear stuff which is so much thicker that there is only 10m. in a roll, almost invisible against the white grp.

 

[electrosys]

[...] The existing adhesive does look very like Evostick though.

I tried sticking some back in place using spray-on Bostik/Evostick and it lasted about six months - then the lining just fell off ...