The last item holding up me getting my boat launched for the summer is the marina finishing up the repairs to the cabin headliner. The boat is a 2006 282 Sailfish and the marina where i keep it ( a Grady White Dealer) has been doing repairs to the headliner and other assorted chores over the winter. From what i have been told cracking of the headliner in northern climates was fairly common on boats of this era. The marina told me there used to be a repair kit available through Grady White for this repair. My marina tried to get the kit through Grady but it had been discontinued but they were able to go to the individual suppliers and source everything in the kit except the paint that was supplied in the kit to cover the repaired cracks. Their original plan was to have the headliner vinyl wrapped to give a nice finished appearance in the cabin. My wife and I overnight on the boat fairly often during the summer so I want it to be a nice finished appearance. We are having difficulty getting a vinyl guy to come wrap the headliner; the guy who was originally planned on apparently is out of business, every other vinyl guy in the area is unable/ unwilling to do the job. They want the boat moved to their shop, they need premade vinyl piece, a whole litany of reasons why they can't do the job. I'm wondering is why couldn't you paint the headliner versus the vinyl? Has anyone on the board had to make this repair or a similar repair and followed that up with a paint job on the headliner? Any advice or input on paint process for the headliner would be apprecitated. I've used SEM vinyl products on automotive vinyl seats and interior plastics with good results in the past. That involved a cleaner/prep product, an adhesion promoter and finally the color coat. The color coat could be tinted to match existing pieces. If this product or a similar product would work I'd be glad to hear it. TIA for any input
sailfish cabin headliner repair
- Thread starter used2sail
- Start date
It's just fibeglass/gelcoat, right? Sure - paint it (after you fix the crack). Something like Pettit Easypoxy.
Fishtales
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2005
- Messages
- 8,031
- Reaction score
- 1,286
- Points
- 113
Headline Crack
I was convinced these were temperature related. Not so sure now. I got one over the winter, very mild up here for winter. I am going to try to fix it myself. Thinking of the JB Weld plastic/fiberglass product then sanding lightly and painting. Anyone try to do the repair here?
www.greatgrady.com
The paint dealer was a Benjamin Moore and the tinted paint was also a BM product. Came out great.
Fishtales, thanks for the input on the plastic paint. I'll look into it at Benjamin Moore dealer.
Fishtales
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2005
- Messages
- 8,031
- Reaction score
- 1,286
- Points
- 113
Primer was INSL-X STIX. It was white.
Paint was Ben Moore Regal Select Matte finish tinted to match a chip.
The epoxy is sold at HD prob other places as well. Apply so you don't have more build up than you want. I went with a little more to ensure I had enough to cover the crack and have some additional for strength. It's sandable so you can take it down if desired.
Paint was Ben Moore Regal Select Matte finish tinted to match a chip.
The epoxy is sold at HD prob other places as well. Apply so you don't have more build up than you want. I went with a little more to ensure I had enough to cover the crack and have some additional for strength. It's sandable so you can take it down if desired.
Fishtales, Thanls very much for the specifics on the paint you used, tats a big help!! When you mention the epoxy are you talking about the paint being an epoxy paint and being available at home depot or are you referring to the epoxy that you used to repair the crack??
Fishtales
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2005
- Messages
- 8,031
- Reaction score
- 1,286
- Points
- 113
The epoxy to fill the crack. I used JB Weld for plastics. It's in the caulk isle at HD. It is a two part expoxy that you squeeze out (2 tubes connected together so you can't mix incorrectly).
Get a couple of tongue depressors or popsicle sticks and mix it together and then apply. Very easy and does the job. You can drill a small hole at the ends of the crack to stop the migration prior.
Get a couple of tongue depressors or popsicle sticks and mix it together and then apply. Very easy and does the job. You can drill a small hole at the ends of the crack to stop the migration prior.
Thanks Fish, The repair is already done, all that is needed is to finish the surface,. They used a metal grid that i believe was heated and pressed ino the headliner to stabilize the crack and then they faired the surface in with something. The plan was for the vinyl wrap guy to wrap the headliner to conceal the repair and give a nice finished surface but he has disappeared it seems. At this point if they can use some matching paint to blend the repair into the rest of the headliner I'd be happy.