----- Original Message ----- From: MDusanic@aol.com To: islander36-list@sailingsource.com Sent: Friday, January 18, 2002 1:13 PM Subject: Headliner Replacement

It's beginning to look like the headliners on my '80 I-36 are about to go. The original liner was held in place with plastic molding strips that had staples imbedded inside (so nothing shows) and the staples are rotting out in places. In other places the zippers are disintegrating.

Has anyone had experience in replacing the headliner?
Replacement ideas?
Did anyone use a shop that might still have patterns?
Did anyone try using strips of teak as replacements for the original plastic molding?

Thanks,

Matt Dusanic
Some Day
San Francisco

Matt,

I think Mark Plastics either has to can direct you to a headliner replacement. I had gotten one (in 1987-88) from the old Go Industries, which became Mark Plastics.

The stripping is actually easy to put on, but get some Monel staples from a shipyard or order through West Marine. They take much, much longer to rust (they aren't supposed to, but after 20 years mine have rusted a bit.)

Be sure to get the insulation foam to put between the headliner and the cabin top - it's only about 1/8 or 3/16, but important. I was told to staple the center seam to the overhead first, then stretch each section fore and aft to the next seam and staple it, then snug down the port and starboard sides between each section. Repeat until you're in.

One big caution - you will have to remove (at least on my boat) the hand rail below the cabin ports, and the wire covers. You will have to find and dig out the wood plugs where the screws are. Because these were screwed up into the fiberglass, they will be tricky to re-install. DO NOT try to put in longer screws, and if you drill new holes (which I eventually did) be VERY careful not to drill up through the deck. The cabin top is relatively thin at that point, and I've got probably six spots where the drill and/or screw end came up through the deck.

I know Tenacious had a yard to their work - and I think it wound up costing a lot more than they planned.

As for the zippers - forget about replacing them. The part that zips corroded away long ago on my boat, so I simply took needle and thread and did a basting stitch along the zipper track to close it up. Doesn't take long and no one notices the difference. Of Course, if you replace the headliner, you can start over, and I guess the new zippers should be plastic and last longer.

Hope that helps. Keep us posted, and send along some pictures and details for the web site!

Clear Sailing,

Rick

From: ed weber [mailto:ewsailor@hotmail.com]
Sent: Friday, February 08, 2002 10:52 AM
To: grsalvo@pacbell.net
Subject:

GARY:

ANOTHER QUESTION, IF YOU DON'T MIND?

i WOULD LIKE TO REPLACE SECTIONS OF MY HEADLINER. IT IS A PERFORATED (1/16
TH INCH HOLES SPACED 1/4 INCH APART) WHITE LINER WITH 1/4 INCH THICK FOAM
PADDING. DO YOU KNOW OF ANY SOURCES?

THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP.

ED WEBER,
WINDSHADOW
NORWALK,CT

Ed:

That is automotive headliner material. I just replaced some of it myself. Check
with your local auto upholstery shops. I had to call several before I found one
that would order it for me. If you can't find a local source, I have one in
California.

Good luck.

Steve Schneider
sschneider@jrschneider.com
707-745-0404 weekdays 9am-4pm