Remove Cabin Liner?

[Tim]

Has anyone ever removed their cabin liner and replace with something else?I have a 1971 Ericson 29 with a cabin liner. I want to remove and rebed all deck hardware but with the liner in place I can't get to the through hulls. The only way I can see to do this is to remove the cabin liner.Removing it does not seem like a big deal but what do I put up in its place. I have seen carpet glued up but not real fond of that idea. Don Casey in This Old Boat suggested wood planks screwed to stringers bonded to cabin top. This seems like a great idea. The warmth and color of wood and I can remove some later if I ever need to get to the fixtures again or want to install something new.Any other idea.

 

[Mike M16608]

No liner

Tom - after I ripped out the disgusting carpet hull liner from my H23, I spent many hours removing the stuck on fibers and adhesive remnants. When I got it reasonably clean, I painted it with 2 coats of oil based Kilz with mold inhibitor. I figured even if I didn't like the result, I could then proceed with a new liner. Applying the paint was by far the easiest part of the job. The H23 cabin is small and the white paint makes it feel a bit more open as it reflects the limited light that gets in. I considered the Casey approach, but on a small boat I thought it might make the cabin feel "closed in." I may go back and add some trim pieces to get a bit more finished look. The Admiral is now convinced that there is no mold hiding in or behind the liner, and this was by far the biggest benefit.

 

[Steve Dion]

Have you tried just unscrewing the hardware?

Tim:Have you just tried unscrewing the hardware from the deck? I do not know how Ericson built their boats, but many mfg. have embedded alum. plates in the areas where hardware was designed to be mounted. These plates are then drilled and tapped.