Looked at another boat...

[BOAT]

Can you teach me how to build a floor like that or tell me what internet site or book I should read to do that? I think that floor would look great in 'boat'.



Very nice work. Varnish or urethane?

[npsrangerchuck]

Check out the project Joe Staskowicz posted on MacGregor Sailboat Owners (on FaceBook). Amazing results and very inexpensive. Also without adding any real weight to the boat.

He essentially stained a piece of birch plywood, then routed the "stripes" (just deep enough to get below the stain) and then a couple of coats of "bar top" epoxy. Then cut to shape and viola! Instant teak decking!

Joe may also be a member of this forum- I just saw his post on FaceBook last week.

[yukonbob]

I did a similar mod but with 3/4" ash or oak. With the moisture up here it expanded too much (almost a 1/2" inch) and started to wear on the sides of the sole. Was also a pain to clean under. I did mine free floating with pre-finished hardwood flooring, dadoed in some stripes to hold the thing together then cut to fit, sanded and shaped the edges, kept the whole thing 3/8" small to easily fit in into place (especially the head and 'hallway' piece) then set in place with some tack mat to stop from moving. Lasted two or three years before moisture became an issue. Might not be bad in warmer climates though. I'm now onto black interlocking plastic tiles to allow airflow and easy cleaning (kids and dogs deposit lots of stuff that will mould in a week if not cleaned) with some black carpet on the upper section for comfort on the feet while still allowing airflow underneath.

these are the only pics I have left

[Seapup]

Thanks for the compliments. The sail covers are the only parts that anyone other than Kate or I have touched during the project. Wrapping up a few projects this week then summer break and two months to cruise. I am sure the marina will be glad to have some peace and quite without me running tools there anymore.

is there a head & shower or is that still on the finishing plans or did I just miss it !

Head is in the port hull bow, closet behind, basic for now. Old pic before a door, you can kinda see the frame on the left. Was going to install a composting head, but have always been fine with a bucket system similar to sumners so still using that for now. No plans for indoor shower.

No build thread is complete without a closeup of your gate hasp.

Will have to take one. Not sure if the hasp is Mayo approved. It still has the original door knob and skeleton key lock. First day I brought the huge skeleton key home and said "can't loose this", have not seen it since

He essentially stained a piece of birch plywood, then routed the "stripes" (just deep enough to get below the stain) and then a couple of coats of "bar top" epoxy. Then cut to shape and viola! Instant teak decking!

Yup, I debated that. Another iroquois owner refit did similar process with a good write up.

http://resurrectionofvivace.blogspot.co ... results=40

Can you teach me how to build a floor like that or tell me what internet site or book I should read to do that? I think that floor would look great in 'boat'.

The floor I am trying is 7/16 solid teak from diamond tropicals. Time will tell how it holds up, I basically just tried what I thought may work. Tongue and groove assembled with epoxy for adhesive, then grooves caulked with teak deck caulking, sanded, then epoxy coated both sides. After the epoxy went a couple coats of varnish for UV protection, then several coats of floor polyeurathane for hardness.





Pictures form the past year and few trips with it are on photobucket.
http://s1121.photobucket.com/user/lazyp ... t=3&page=1

[BOAT]

"epoxy coated both sides. After the epoxy went a couple coats of varnish for UV protection, then several coats of floor polyeurathane for hardness. "

Whoa, is that normal? Your way ahead of my skills - I did not even know you could use urethane over varnish. That's a great idea - I know that the varnish alone would be too soft - but would it work with just urethane?

I have never tried to mix the two - is there a trick?

[Seapup]

Whoa, is that normal? Your way ahead of my skills - I did not even know you could use urethane over varnish. That's a great idea - I know that the varnish alone would be too soft - but would it work with just urethane?

I have never tried to mix the two - is there a trick?

From my understanding oil based spar varnish and polyeurathane are compatible. No trick to it, Each was allowed to dry and everything seemed to go on fine. I don't know if its normal to use both or all three. I just went that way because I knew the epoxy would yellow from UV, the spar varnish would prevent that, and poly would prevent damage to the spar.

[BOAT]

Okay, very nice - I guess i should look into that. The two part urethanes are really hard like a rock because they use a catalyst but they do turn yellow like a plastic windshield as you say.

I suppose if they made a poly-carbonate finish that would be hard and not yellow, but no one has yet figured out how to emulsify carbon without so much heat it would burn up the wood.

Maybe I will not put wood on the floor of 'boat' after all - I might just be creating more problems. It sure does look nice though - I like your boat-work

[Highlander]

Hi Boat
U can always go with Vinyl wood marine flooring ! it,ll ever rot !

J

[BOAT]

True, but for now I think I'm just gonna walk on the carpet.

[Seapup]

While on flooring I had put off recoring the cockpit until the last few weeks. It had a soggy core that squirted water when you stepped on it an old piece of plywood over the whole thing so you didn't break an ankle. I finally removed it, cut out the trip step into the cabin, glassed in where the step was, leveled the floor with epoxy and composite, painted the cockpit and put in a teak floor. I "think" that is the last of the work for now, summer break starts this week and I am sailing vs rebuilding this year!

[BOAT]

trip step is what keeps the water out of the cabin

[Seapup]

trip step is what keeps the water out of the cabin

Yup, it was. Replaced it with a glassed in divider & teak cover at the cabin entry right below the doors.

[BOAT]

So that way you only had to step once instead of step UP and then DOWN - that sounds a lot better.

I thought a lot about the wood in 'boat' and I think I will definatly give your idea a try in the dinette area since that spot has it's own little well floor. That should be enough to get my "feet wet" (pardon the pun, but that's exactly what I am worried about when it comes to wood under foot - the same issue you had in the cockpit).

If it goes well and I pass you inspection I might attempt the head after that.

[Catigale]

That classy look is called " teak and holly" you can buy it for a lot of coin at marine places or cheaper at lumber places catering to the higher end crowd.