Aging and disintegrating zippers

[nestorph]

I've started restoring and prepping a 1983 Islander 30 Bahama that has been on the hard for about two or more years (by my estimates). The condition of the zippers in the headliner is either partially open because the previous owner (and I in one case) managed to break off the zipper pull or probably awaiting a similar fate. Two-part question:

• Has anyone devised a means for restoring the pull and zipper with some sort of fluid so that the thing won't fall apart?
• Has anyone devised a clever way of closing the ones that are half open because of breakage? Velcro?

I've been following a headliner replacement thread but it's a project I'd rather not tackle--at least this season.
Thanks

 

[Brian D]

I have the same issue. Although I have not tried this yet, but I wonder if a little PB Blaster applied with a syringe might free up the stuck parts. If not PB Blaster then some liquid wrench.

 

[soldier1964]

I've done a few with some sailkote, and the really tough ones,I've sprayed a paper towel with white lithium and rubbed it in. after a few minutes, the zipper became unstuck.

 

[Tim R.]

I had this issue on my Ericson but I was able to get them all free. I always wondered if a Waterpic might do the job. I would be careful with any chemicals as they may leave an odor or stain.

 

[Ron20324]

There is a "zipper lube" sold, I know from Sailrite, and no doubt fabric stores/west/defender? I just used it Saturday for the first time, and it works.

 

[FastOlson]

Putting the Zip back into your Zipper

Those zipper pulls were (and are) cast from an alum. alloy. The thin coating of paint does not resist sea air very well or very long.
The nylon zipper tracks, OTOH, will probably last the life of your boat.

However, those pulls can be replaced. Many of them on our boat were disintegrated when we bought it as a "fixer upper."

Once I found new pulls at a big fabric store for about $.50 each, the hardest part was threading them onto the zipper tracks.... Some cursing was involved...

I did have to remove some teak trim and pull a few staples at the end of the track, and restore these bits when the new pull was on and working.

Oh yeah, be sure to to get out your curved needle and stitch the zipper termination together once you have the new pull in place so you do not accidently back it "off the tracks" again!



We spray the zippers/pulls on our boat regularly with some MacLube nowadays.

 

[RichH]

No need to sew the zipper to make a 'stop'.
Lots of plastic and metal zipper stops are available ... example: http://search.sailrite.com/?freeTex...fineValue~Retail1...inpereqf||freeText~zipper

There's a video on how to install in the above URL.

If you can remove the already installed zipper pulls, you can replace with new .... same from the same website. Just release the fabric etc. tension 'across' the zipper when installing, to reduce the amount of 'cussing' required when installing new zipper pulls and zipper stops.

 

[Doc_holiday]

Un-flavored chap stick makes for a good lube. Zippers, mast slugs, it's no biggie to throw a stick in the boat. The bonus is, we'll you can prevent chapped lips with it too.

 

[nestorph]

Great feedback

Thanks to all for the suggestions. I'll probably run through the gamut. If not successful, I may come back and request your selection of cuss words that were instrumental in your attempts!

 

[sandpiper10471]

Dish soap. Let it soak in for a few hours then the pull should free up. Of course if the zip is losing teeth faster than a boxer, time to replace it. Not that hard to do with a reasonable sewing machine.

 

[RECESS]

If you are missing teeth on the zipper, I do not think you are going to have much success. My cloth on my bimini was still in great shape but some of the zippers were UV damaged. I pulled it off and installed metal eyes on the zipper area material and then laced them back on the bimini frame. It has worked very well for two years.

 

[RECESS]

You can see the lacing in the upper corner of the pic.

 

[jibes138]

Recess, I really like your lacing idea, thanks for sharing. Zippers are expensive and labor intensive to replace. Seems like your solution should last the life of the fabric.

 

[John R]

When I first read this title, I saw it as "aging and disintegrating skippers". Shows what's on my mind!

 

[Doc_holiday]

I resemble that remark

 

[Ron20324]

When I first read this title, I saw it as "aging and disintegrating skippers".

You're partially right. I don't slide like i used to, either

 

[RECESS]

Recess, I really like your lacing idea, thanks for sharing. Zippers are expensive and labor intensive to replace. Seems like your solution should last the life of the fabric.

Thank you. I must admit the initial reason I decided to do it was the expense of all the zippers. My bimini has 7 zippers and if I was going to bring it home, I wanted to address them all even though only 3 of them were broken. I spent about $30 total installing the eye grommets. I purchased them From Wal Mart in the sewing section. I just had to measure where to place them. Cut and X with a razor so one side could slide through, then align the other side and crush it with the grommet tool that came with each pack and a hammer. I also took a pair of pliers and crushed all the zipper teeth off, purely for aesthetics. It was pretty easy but tedious.