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I have a 1988 PS34 with a three part vinyl overhead in the saloon. The parts are joined by two for and aft zippers which are so corroded that if unzipped they tend to disintegrate. I partially unzipped one and I cannot zip it shut. It now droops and threatens to furher unzip. I suppose I could replace the entire overhead (complicated and expensive) but I have no idea what other PS boats have for an overhead other than vinyl. If anyone encountered this problem I would very much appreciate your suggstions. Thanks very much
Had a similar experience on the 31. Sliced open the frozen zipper with a rigging knife( very carefully), fixed the stuff behind the headliner then used my sail repair kit to stich the zipper with needle and thread.
Looks OK and is a lot cheaper than replacing the headliner.
The sliders on my overhead coil zippers corroded to white powder and fell apart when I tried to open them. I picked out the remains of the sliders and removed the last of the white stuff by leaving a vinegar soaked cotton ball against the white stuff for a few hours. I pressed some modeling clay against the zipper and took the impression to an upholstery shop where I bought a few new sliders. After freeing the ends of the zippers from under the gimp at the aft end of the cabin, I opened the zipper up and put on the new sliders. When the gimp was back in place it was all done.
The zippers work well now except for the spot where the original slider died. There the coil is distorted and the slider will not easily pass the spot. A little candle wax, chapstick, or Sailrite's Zipper Lube makes zippers run easier.
The sliders on my overhead coil zippers corroded to white powder and fell apart when I tried to open them. I picked out the remains of the sliders and removed the last of the white stuff by leaving a vinegar soaked cotton ball against the white stuff for a few hours. I pressed some modeling clay against the zipper and took the impression to an upholstery shop where I bought a few new sliders. After freeing the ends of the zippers from under the gimp at the aft end of the cabin, I opened the zipper up and put on the new sliders. When the gimp was back in place it was all done.
The zippers work well now except for the spot where the original slider died. There the coil is distorted and the slider will not easily pass the spot. A little candle wax, chapstick, or Sailrite's Zipper Lube makes zippers run easier.
I just ran into the same issue with two zippers of the headliner - I can't get them to budge and I am thinking of putting new sliders. To free the liner at the aft end of the cabin I need to remove the thin plastic trim that runs all the way around the edge of the headliner. It looks like that is glued in place - if so, did you have any difficulty removing that trim without damaging it? And what kind of glue did you use to put it back?
Ed and Bill, Thanks to both of you. I am going down to the boat today to take a very close look at the zipper. If it is in better condition than I thought I like the idea of replacing the slider. If not I might have to try the needle and thread.
I have the same issue on my 31. Rather than trying to install a new slider, I have been thinking about simply installing a thin teak batten on top of the zipper to hold everything in place.
My plastic trim is vinyl locking gimp. It is stapled in place, in my case with steel staples.
Take a close look at it. The middle has a textured surface. Above and below that are smooth ribs. One rib is separated from the textured middle by a crack. The other is not. The textured middle part is folded and locks under the rib with the crack. Stick the tip of your pocket knife into the crack, and open up the gimp. Inside you will find the staples that hold it in place. Underneath the gimp you will find the staples that hold the headliner fabric in place.
When the original headliner was installed, it was stapled in place, the extra was cut off, the gimp was stapled over the raw edge, and the gimp was closed hiding the gimp staples. Don't unfasten too much of the headliner. Without the extra fabric that was cut off during the installation, you will find it hard to pull it properly tight to re-staple it in place.
I have replaced enough of the rusted staples that I finally bought a pneumatic staple gun.
Thanks, Bill, that makes much more sense than vinyl trim glued in place. I'll need to take a close look at that. Unfortunately it's too cold right now, if I start messing around with the gimp, it'll probably just shatter.
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