headliner

[racepassage]

Whilst 90% of the headliner is in good order the male/female connections have pulled apart in areas, particularly over the windows/ports. I suspect that the sun has shrunk the vinyl headliner material in these areas. Is there a fix, i.e. apply heat from a hair dryer and attempt to stretch the material to reconnect or other. Any ideas please.

[michael bennett]

I wish I knew, same thing happened to mine, almost impossible to get back in place without two pairs of hands, considering holding up with a wood strip of some sort.
Anyone else have similar?

[Jeff]

Yes, same here. Extremely difficult to get it all re-connected. I want to put up some insulation behind it in the saloon but after a previous job running a power supply to an extractor fan I was lucky to get the section clipped back in, with a mates help, but it’s still not right on one side. I’m afraid to touch it now as I have no idea where or if I can renew the plastic m/f runner to clip it back in. I still have 2 spots around the boat where I just cannot get the material clipped in, so I’ve left it. The only way I’ll tackle it again is if I decide to pull a section off altogether & unscrew the plastic runners from the deckhead & then replace them with glued-on timbers so that I could screw on the material to the timbers.
Jeff

[Ronar M]

Again, same here. I have resorted to holding it back up with wooden strips screwed on the outside of the headlining. I have used nice varnished mahogany and s/s screws. Looks good. I have not used any backing strips – just screwed into the existing deck head with no problem
Trevor

[michael bennett]

Sounds exactly what I need to do as 95 % of the head lining’s are in very good condition, just one corner that requires support, I am considering fitting similar all the way around for uniformity.
What size strips did you use Trevor?

Mike

[Ronar M]

Hi Mike

I cut the wood to about 1.5 inches wide and to the appropriate length. It’s about 3/16th of an inch thick. I have a thicknesser/planer machine at home which helps.

Trevor

[michael bennett]

Hi Trevor,

Sounds perfect for the job, I was thinking of rounding the outside edge of the mahogany strips just for cosmetic reasons.
I am lucky where I am there is quite a sophisticated merchant/supplier who can cut and plane to order.
What length screws did you use as I am not sure of the thickness of the fiberglass coach roof to which I will be fastening it to. I like to use solid brass screws, with a countersunk french head which is a gentle dome on top, seems in keeping with what CN did when building, at least where I have had to take something apart I have found all brass screws.

Regards Mike

[Ronar M]

Hi Mike,

The coach roof has a balsa core (in my case synthetic foam as I have had the balsa party removed) You only need to screw through the inner GRP skin. The screws (I used s/s self tappers) should not stick out behind the wood more than, say, 15mm.

Trevor

[michael bennett]

Hi Trevor,
Many thanks, I have found some brass countersunk french head (domed)x 5/8 long which I prefer with varnished mahogany or teak.

Many thanks for your help.

Mike

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