Replacing Headliner?

O

oknoproblem

New Member
Sep 30, 2008
43
Central Florida
Boat Info
Sea Ray 340 EC
Engines
2 X 340hp 454's
Stupid Quicksilver 6.5 Gen
Have an’89 340EC with the usual stains from leaking port holes etc. Pulling the boat out soon and will repair all windows and porthole, window, rub rail, bow rail anchor holes etc. When this is all complete I want to replace the headliner in the forward berth and tend to a few other fixes along the way. Question, have any of you replaced the headliner yourselves, and if you did would you be so kind ad to pass along you experience and tips for installation. I did a search and really didn’t come up with anyone who has done this, and passed along their advice, and experience.:huh:

Thanks in advance.

Dave
 
Did you ever get any PMs or other info about this? I need to rebed all the deck hardware and I'm not sure if the headliner has to come out or what? Any help would be appreciated.
 
I replaced my headliner. It came out in four panels. I took them home to the garage to do this project. At first, I used 3M headliner adhesive (bought on eBay), but didn't like the reults.

I was placing a quality fabric backed vinyl over an original all fabric healiner (bought at JoAnne's Farics). When I glued the vinyl down, I could see the fabric texture and imperfections in the vinyl. I laid out the vinyle on a large folding table and then laid the panel on top of it. Stretched the vinyl tight and stapled it. No big deal.

When I installed the panels in the boat (each one is about 8' long by 2.5' wide), I then took my shop vac and "sucked" the vinyl back off of the adhesive. Since it was already pulled tight before stapeling, it looks great. There is about a 1/8" gap between the vinyl and original panel, but you wouldn't know it unless you touched the panel. This left a very smooth finished look.

So, yes you can do it yourself. Be sure you like the finish of gluing the new stuff over the old stuff, or remove the old stuff so you don't end up with the small headache I had (which thankfully turned out ok). Another consideration I had was that leaving the old material on meant that the panels were slightly larger after adding the new material. This created a bit of a squeeze at install, but was no big deal. In fact, I installed them single handed.

Hope this helps.
 
Wileecoyote, no I didn’t get any pms but the information Skeetobite (thank you):thumbsup: posted has given me the confidence to try this on my own. Like you, I plan to re-fit the deck hardware in addition to reseating the portholes, hatches, and side windows. I’m still giving the process for refitting the side windows some thought. I remember someone posting that they took out the original window hardware and put in a single piece of Lexan Polycarbonate, basically caulked it in place, no leaks. I have actually never opened the side windows on my boat so I don’t think this an issue.
I think I’ll take down the old headliner and perhaps use is as a pattern for the new, provided it doesn’t disintegrate upon removal.:grin:
 
Let me know what you find OK. Skeet, Do you have any pics of what you did and maybe what it looked like along the way?
 
Sounds good...I have a '91 sundancer, 31'...how do I go 'bout taking the overhead down? I'd like to see some before and after picturers if you have them...
 
I did mine last fall, pain in the @ss. My headliner was the "mitten" type, like the inside of a wool mitten. My boat doesn't have any panels, it is just glued right to the roof in the cabin. If you guys have panels in your boat, that would make it a LOT easier. When I did mine I took the old stuff down and glued up some felt type material in its place. It looks better, but after I was done I saw some actual headliner material at Jo-Ann fabrics that is the same felt, but backed on foam. That would have been a lot better. I almost tore it back down and put that stuff up, but I was really sick of the project at that point. All the window treatments, cabinets, some walls, ect. needed to come down. And lots of wood trim in my boat too. Oh, I used the 3M adhesive in a spray can to stick it back up, worked well. Don't spray it too thick or it'l bleed through the felt. Dont spray it too thin or it'l fall down again.
 
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Thank you Guys for postings related to this headliner issue. I too have the one piece headliner with seams but no panels. It appears to be a linen type material that has now disintegrated. The hull underneath is curved. I have had upholsters look at this and walk away. I was feeling a headache coming on at that time. :smt021

Hopefully you did take pictures. My boat also looks like cabinets will need to be removed to replace the headliner. How much trouble was that?
 
Kay said:
Thank you Guys for postings related to this headliner issue. I too have the one piece headliner with seams but no panels. It appears to be a linen type material that has now disintegrated. The hull underneath is curved. I have had upholsters look at this and walk away. I was feeling a headache coming on at that time. :smt021

Hopefully you did take pictures. My boat also looks like cabinets will need to be removed to replace the headliner. How much trouble was that?
Click to expand...

By seams but no panels, do you mean they kind of folded the material to hide the screws?

I just did this, replacing the original panels (which were about 8x3.5 and 9x3.5 or so?) with new wood. Rather than replicating the seams, and to make installation easier, I cut the panels and wrapped each with foam-backed vinyl individually. I then used white screw caps. Looks a lot like the newer Rinkers now.

I'll get some pics when I finish the trim.
 
Is there anyway to clean up the head liner after the staining happens do to the water leaks.
 
I've used carpet cleaner and had fairly good results. Read the instructions, some say NOT to scrub, and that technique worked best for me too. Just spray it on, let it sit, then dab it dry.
Good Luck!
 
oknoproblem said:
I've used carpet cleaner and had fairly good results. Read the instructions, some say NOT to scrub, and that technique worked best for me too. Just spray it on, let it sit, then dab it dry.
Good Luck!
Click to expand...
Do you remember what kind it was? I have used Tuff Stuff alot in the past for cars.
 
I think it was Resolve? I liked it because it was in a spray bottle and I could hold the bottle at an angle and it would still spray. I tried a can of Woolite, I think, and it didn't work as well. And I had trouble using it in a flat position, would not flow very well because it likes to have the nozzle pointing straight down, like being aimed at the floor/carpet.

You'll have good luck with it if you dab and press when cleaning the Resolve from the headliner. Don't scrub, just spray, wait (5 minutes?) and dab residual away.
 
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