Cabin Headliner Restore

randyp · Post by **randyp** » Sun Sep 12, 2010 12:48 pm

Howdy folks.

I'm tinkering with the idea of totally rehabbing/restoring the cabin headliner in my F-26. It's still the original, and it's vinyl fabric that's getting a bit shabby after 33 years. I saw something in Boat US about a similar rehab where the headliner fabric was replaced with white melamine (I think) paneling with wood strips between the joints. I think this might be a nice upgrade, and I'd plan to insulate between the panels and the cabin top (maybe thin foam panels or strips?). It would give me more headroom and conforming the panels to the curve of the cabin ceiling would be a nice look. The panels would be very easy to keep clean.

Any ideas come to mind or any prior experiences you'd care to share?

Thanks

Danny Bailey · Post by **Danny Bailey** » Sun Sep 12, 2010 7:46 pm

Get an upholsterer to replace your headliner. It will look better and be a lot cheaper and easier in the long run.

g36 · Post by **g36** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 7:14 am

i sure would like to have the insulation but my headliner looks great and i am afraid to touch it. good luck please let us know what you do decide

jwhalen · Post by **jwhalen** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 3:36 pm

Randy,

My headliner was removed and they just painted. I want to replace and was thinking the same as you. Guy 2 slips down did it to his Owens and said it was great. Only suggestion he had was to keep the screws fairly close together and put lots of them. He didn't and it sags in certain places. Keep us posted.

John

randyp · Post by **randyp** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 5:15 pm

Thanks for replies so far. I'm going to track down the Boat US article. It was a rehab of an F-26 hardtop. I think the panels were glued in place and then wood strips used as molding between the panels, stained to match the rest of the teak trim used on the original headliner. Biggest issue I see is fitting around the front cabin windows over the v-berth. To remove the teak trim around the inside you have to remove the entire exterior window frame to get at the screws holding the interior frame in place. I did all this 5 years ago when I repaired/replaced the front windows and I don't want to tackle that again. I'm still weighing this method vs reupholstering the current headliner.

gettaway · Post by **gettaway** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 11:07 am

A friend of mine has a boat repair / maintenance company and they just finished a complete refit of a 53' hatteras SF. they replaced the headliner with door skin covered in a cream / white upolstery vinyl and attached using industrial velcro for the complete length. The panels are about 24"wide and sit between the overhead ribs which are varnished wood.
By using this method, they were able to install "can lights" in the overhead, they are small marine recessed lights that really look good.

The finished product is absolutely beautiful. The boat is a few slips away from mine. I'll try to get some photos of the healiner and boat next time I am at the boat.