Headliner, help!

[Mike36c]

I removed my entire headliner, pulled the staples, and have the replacement material on hand, my problem is finding someone to install the new one. I found a local guy but he's so busy it feels like I might be waiting a year, does anyone have any recommendations in the Stuart, FL area?

 

[rsmith]

Bad time of year all the Yankees are in town!

 

[tjshuler]

Put it up yourself? Staple gun, utility knife, scissors, you tube videos and patience. If I recall, headliner install is a pricey proposition.

Figure I could mess up a bunch of material before I get to what an installed cost is.

 

[Boatsb]

I had a customer that got a referral from sams in ft Lauderdale. I believe he was from s fl. He did come up to port canaveral to do the work.

I'd be more likely to do it myself but it is hard on the neck and hands..

 

[Pascal]

I have redone mine in the saloon and will be redoing the master when I get back

Most modern boats have the headliner stapled on 1/4" ply and the panels are velcroed in place although the heavy duty Velcro needs to be stapled as the adhesive isnt strong enough

Not much more work but a lot easier for maintenance as you can remove the panels to run wires etc

I used foam backed headliner vinyl from sailrite

 

[SKYCHENEY]

If you do want to give it a go yourself, here is what I did. Starts on page 6 of this thread:

http://www.samsmarine.com/forums/sh...-thoughts-questions/page6&highlight=HEADLINER

 

[SEVEN]

It is a two to three person job, not to difficult if you have a little talent. Make a few jigs and practice on them before you tackle it. Just make sure you get a good staple gun and air compressor to make the job go smoothly. Good luck.

 

[SeaEric]

I did my one headliner, by myself. - marked it off the bucket list. You MUST have an air powered staple gun. Repeat - MUST.

Call a good yacht broker in Stuart who knows Hatteras and ask for a local recommendation.

 

[MikeP]

There is almost nothing on the boat that I haven't done the work myself and am comfortable doing so. But a new headliner...no way I'd do that. There is a point where, as has often been pointed out, it's best to know your limitations. I KNOW that I don't have the skill or (mostly) patience to do that job sufficiently well for it to look like it could have been original; so in this case I'd hire someone who can.

OTOH, there's certainly nothing wrong with attempting it if you are willing to pay someone to do it if your own work ends up not meeting your expectations.

I should add...if we are talking about some of the hard headliners that I have seen, I'd have no hesitation installing that. But the original style perforated headliner? Nope.

 

[Boatsb]

The fabric headliners are not rocket surgery. There is no reason to make it a solid one either BUT you can do either yourself. Its a neck breaking finger torturing job but the skill required is minimal.

 

[Mike36c]

Thanks guys, and could probably pull off an install but I'd rather just have someone knock it out in a day be done with it.

 

[johnjen50]

On my list eventually and I'm curious why no one has mentioned Luan as a backing board instead of quater inch ply. It's lighter and more flexible and I believe it would hold form. Has anyone tried that?

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I can see the benefits of removable panels, but I have yet in 13 years to need to get under the headliner. I'm glad I just put mine back in OEM.

 

[Boatsb]

Most the larger salons are over 12 foot wide. Panels just don't look right. The have to have seems and never line up again perfectly. That's why the original headliner was used. I can't see a reason to put in the solid panels but having a way to drop sections of the headliner may be possible if its installed right.

 

[Mike36c]

I like the panel idea too but the existing headliner has been up there a happy 39yrs, I am changing to the non-perforated material but done right it should last another 40yrs.

 

[bobk]

I had the salon headliner changed to solid when I bought Chateau de Mer almost 10 years ago. I left the original wooden light frames and fixtures and really like the result, but then I'm a wood butcher.

Bobk