Refurbishing Shirley Rose Part 4

When I began repairs on my Santana 27, Shirley Rose, I focused on the major systems rather than cosmetics. My goal was to create a safe boat for the often rough conditions on San Francisco Bay, and I didn’t much care about winning any beauty contests. Th at said, while there were no urgent safety issues in the interior, it did still require a few repairs. Not only that, but as I spent more and more time aboard, I also found myself wishing things were a bit more warm and welcoming.

The interior work actually began while the boat was on the hard. The cabin looked nice with its porthole shades, settee cushions and headliner, but a scent of mold was in the air. I therefore recruited two (very good) friends to do something about it, and while I was repairing the hull, they went through every hold and locker to turn out the moldy gear and take stock of what was left. Unfortunately, almost everything cloth was riddled with mold or mildew and had to be tossed into the dumpster.

After that they set their sights on the headliner. The original headliner was composed of a white vinyl material adhered onto foam, which was glued onto the bare fiberglass underside of the cabintop. Th is was a quick and easy way to apply the liner, but over time had created a breeding ground for mold. Donning masks, they tore off the vinyl with