Refitting for the Spring

[Minnewaska]

I completely agree that all should confirm what they are told on these forums, and I'm glad you did. Some only want their ideas supported and argue.

Good luck with the project. Sometimes, scrap corian pieces can be bought inexpensively from the home centers that are big enough for boat work. Probably more costly than laminate, but just a thought.

[mitiempo]

Corian - next you will be suggesting granite!

[mitiempo]

After the inevitable moisture I think the bamboo will turn into a science project.

[peterchech]

Originally Posted by Minnewaska

I completely agree that all should confirm what they are told on these forums, and I'm glad you did. Some only want their ideas supported and argue.

Good luck with the project. Sometimes, scrap corian pieces can be bought inexpensively from the home centers that are big enough for boat work. Probably more costly than laminate, but just a thought.

I have been finding that generally, posts that say "I have tried it personally and it didn't work" are fairly accurate.

In this case, it costed me literally nothing to get the free samples and test them, and it confirmed what you had said. To be honest, if not for your post I may not have even thought to test the scratch-resistance of the material. So, thanks!

Plus, hopefully if someone else has the thoughts I had, and does a forum search, they will see that others have tested the idea without great success.

[peterchech]

Well this weekend I got some significant steps done. The cockpit locker was where the battery was initially installed. However, I always had to worry about putting stuff on top of the battery and messing with the cables. Furthermore, I am going to install a house battery in the Spring, and it would take even more storage space from the locker. Underneath the cockpit floor, however, is a ton of unused space. So I used a door cut in the locker to install a plywood base for the batteries that would hold them underneath the cockpit floor. The batteries can slide out when needed for maintenance, but otherwise will be strapped down with a luggage strap. The plywood piece that holds the batteries is held in place by aluminum L-brackets, has small wooden rails fore and aft so the batteries can't fall off, two u-bolts for the strap and a thin rubber floor to hold them tight (to prevent chafe). I tested the strap concept in my basement, and it held the battery very well.

While I was at it, the rest of the unused space was used for water storage. I put down a plywood floor, also held on with L-brackets. There are two square areas fitted to the blue water tanks I have, also with rubber floors, which will hold the tanks tight. I also have u-bolts for the straps to hold the water containers tight. I originally was going to install a proper water tank, but decided that it is probably unnecessary and a little costly to boot, considering that I can just store extra water in $10 walmart water containers and refill the existing water tank as needed. Not as convenient, but still functional and... cheap...



I also cut a hole out for a mini-fridge that a friend gave me for free (she was moving and didn't need it anymore it is nearly new). I put a floor at the bottom of the hole, and will use some fiberglass wood-colored moldings ($5 a piece at HD) to make the hole look nice. The fridge can slide out for overnights and an Igloo cooler strapped in its place. The fridge must be removed for access to the blue water tanks, but I will only be using them when ovenighting/cruising anyway and the fridge won't be installed at those times so I should have easy access by just removing the cooler.






Finally I installed some deck plates in the areas of the boat that I had no access to previously. This picture shows the cockpit locker which previously held the batteries, but now has a door into which the batteries are slid in and out of the floor I made for them.

Now I just need to finish the countertop with formica and I will be done with this part of my boat project.

[peterchech]

An update-if anyones interested...

Finished the countertop installation. A brand new piece of acx plywood was used, laminated with remnant formica by an associate who owns a home supply store for free. There is no hole for the stove, which I am replacing with a propane camp stove. There is no hole for the ice chest either, so there is more room for food prep. The box in the left corner is made of scrap wood I had in the basement. It comes out to give access to the sinks through hull, and some previously inaccessible cabinet space as well. The corner piece that is missing is where the ac shore power outlet will go when I install it next week. This project is finally starting to really come together.

[Gladrags1]

Good job removing the countertop! It looks like it goies under the hatch? If so, I would not cover it with tile which would be slippery when wet. Here's an idea; not sure if practical but worth checking out: go to Home Depot and look at a floor product called Allure. It is vinyl resilient flooring which is made to resemble everything from wood to flagstone. If you can figure out how to handle the edges it might be a cost effective and attractive solution.

Good luck!

[bljones]

Nice fiddles.

[peterchech]

I spent the last two weekends going from this:


To this:


Looks faster doesn't it?