help- vinyl material cabin top in bad shape

1976carverowner

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Feb 24, 2006
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Just bought a 1976 Carver 3395 Mariner, the vinyl material on our cabin top (exterior white) is flaking off, you can pull pieces off off. Can this be replaced? What type of material is it, is it possible to install this your self, and if so how? Is it glued on? The material underneath is wood, would it bring down the boat value if we tore the vinyl material off and kept the wood and if so, what would be the best way to treating the wood so it will last?
 

tashasdaddy

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Re: help- vinyl material cabin top in bad shape

are you talking about exterior or interior.
 

Bondo

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Re: help- vinyl material cabin top in bad shape

I may be Wrong,.......<br />But,...<br />It Sounds like the Old Traditional CabinTop,....<br /><br />If it Is,... It's Cotton Canvas, that's Painted On,.....<br />Ayuh,... They Painted the cabin roof,+ applied the Canvas,+ Painted it again.....<br /><br />You end up with Cotton Canvas, held in place with Topsides Paint..........<br />
The material underneath is wood, would it bring down the boat value if we tore the vinyl material off and kept the wood and if so, what would be the best way to treating the wood so it will last?
I Don't Know about the boat's Value,......<br />But that would be Varnished Wood,.......<br />And,.....<br />Varnished Wood, is just Too Much Maintance for Me.............
 

1976carverowner

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Re: help- vinyl material cabin top in bad shape

Originally posted by 1976carverowner:<br /> Just bought a 1976 Carver 3395 Mariner, the vinyl material on our cabin top (exterior white) is flaking off, you can pull pieces off off. Can this be replaced? What type of material is it, is it possible to install this your self, and if so how? Is it glued on? The material underneath is wood, would it bring down the boat value if we tore the vinyl material off and kept the wood and if so, what would be the best way to treating the wood so it will last?
 

1976carverowner

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Feb 24, 2006
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Re: help- vinyl material cabin top in bad shape

It's the exterior material on the cabin top and I think even on the deck sides. It feels like a vinyl material, but worn to the point it can be peeled off. The maintenance book from 1976 calls it vinyl clad. I've looked all over on the net but can't find details over what it really is, and how it can be replaced. Anyone???
 

Always Broke

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Jan 19, 2006
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Re: help- vinyl material cabin top in bad shape

There’s guys out there in the automotive world who replace vinyl and convertible tops for a living, from what I saw it’s not something for the amateur to put the seams in all the right places and be able to follow a compound couture without getting wrinkles in it. I once saw a guy strip his top off and put truck bed liner on it, it actually didn’t look to bad. If your going to attempt putting new vinyl on yourself I’d at least try to find a book on the subject, if not check the yellow pages for a professional.
 

surlyjoe

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Nov 21, 2005
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Re: help- vinyl material cabin top in bad shape

That vinyl clad was applied the same way as cotton except theres glue under it instead of paint,almost the same thing really.<br /> the wood will be OK if properly finished. laying some glass over it would be more durable. and since you have to seal and fair it anyway.....
 
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