Head liner repair or replace??

[samhaselton]

My 38 is showing some age...zippers in the head liner are frozen...hate to have to re place the entire head liner...but can not fix zipper...any thoughts ????...worst of the bunch is by the mast where wire block is

 

[markvone]

Are we talking locked up/frozen pulls (typical problem)? Or a more serious zipper/fabric failure?

Here's a nice description of the zipper pull repair:

http://www.ericsonyachts.org/infoexchange/showthread.php?8461-Zipper-Pull-Repair


My source for new YKK #% coil zipper pulls:

http://www.owfinc.com/hardware.html

Under Zippers, Continuous Coil Sliders, about halfway down

Item # 5CLS Lg Hole, YKK Coil Locking ST Slider Lg hole in Biege $0.19 each

Buy a couple dozen to defray the $2.50 in S&H.

I have installed my first two so far. Once on, work like a charm.

Somebody here on the site found them before me.

Mark

 

[bgary]

Are we talking locked up/frozen pulls (typical problem)? Or a more serious zipper/fabric failure?

As Mark said, if it is just the pulls, that's a MUCH easier fix than replacing the headliner.

Even if the old pulls are completely frozen in place, you can remove them (splitting them with a screwdriver is one approach), and replace them by installing new pulls onto the zipper coils and be good to go.

Before trying that, I'd try soaking the existing pulls with some sort of spray lubricant (I used McLube, because it is what I had handy), let the lubricant soak in and then try blowing them out with a can of compressed air. Hold a paper towel on the downwind side so you don't end up with lubricant sprinkles all over the place. If you can get the pull moving, you're on the way.

 

[Tom Metzger]

I was taught by Jim who had an Islander 36. The zippers are the same as on my E-34.

Zipper Repair
My experience with the zippers on my boat was that the zipper being plastic, was in good shape... the slider being metal, was just a clump of corrosion and beyond repair.
The zipper slider can be replaced by prying apart what's left of the old slider. Insert a screw driver blade in the slot on the side of the slider and gently twist the screwdriver blade to force apart the upper and lower sections enough to pull the slider off the zipper material. It will probably just break apart if it Is corroded as much as mine were.
The slider replacement on my Islander 36 was a "YKK # 5 coil type slider". I've learned that zippers come in all shapes and sizes, but this is THE one for the Islander 36.1 would expect that Islander probably used the same zipper in most of it's boats.
With your new slider in hand, go to the "open" end of the zipper (the end where the slider would be if it was zipped open). Open about 2" of the zipper from the end so you can cut through the zipper teeth with scissors and almost to the stitching that attaches the zipper to the headliner. (The zipper teeth can be opened by forcing a sharp object between the two sides.)
Make the cut as close to the end as you can and still have room to insert the zipper slider over the separated sides of the zipper. Have the wide end of the slider toward the "closed" end of the zipper. Work the slider onto the two sides of the zipper. ..it may take a few tries...and then gently work/slide it away from the cut section.
Once each side of the zipper is properly inserted in the slider, the slider will close the zipper sides behind it and you are back in business!
To preclude running the slider off the zipper where you cut it, you can sew the two sides together with a couple hand sewn stitches.
I found my sliders at an automobile/furniture upholstery supply company. Don't know if they do mail order business or not, but they are:
A1 Foam & Fabrics, 1812 South Main Street, Santa Ana CA 92707 (714) 835-1181. A package of 3 sliders was $3.20.\par
Jim Joubert, Huntington Beach, CA
3/14/02

 

[Rick R.]

I followed Toms advice and replaced our zippers with some purchased at the mariner's choice for great nautical buys, JoAnn Fabrcs.