Lance, Jim's suggestion of contact cement is probably better--and cheaper--than Sikaflex (which I find at Home Depot for about 5 bucks a cartridge when it's on sale). And I like satin white a lot--although Shannon (which I mentioned as having a beautiful ceiling) uses glossy white for their overheads; I think it's just a matter of easier cleaning of a surface that's going to get some oily cooking residue and possibly a film from diesel heaters on boats like they typically build.
For what it's worth, I find that the fiddles on the edges of the berths and the gallery rails are teak, but most of the drawers, edge trim, and other bits and pieces are structured (at 40X under a stereo microscope) like mahogany--good mahogany, not luaun. They don't show any silica, which is present in teak. I also discovered that the 'teak veneer plywood' used in my original bulkheads is actually 3/8" plywood surfaced with a photo-print material, not teak; when I tried to lightly sand down the old finish, I almost immediately encountered a paper-like overlay (MDO, or medium density overlay). I removed my old bulkheads and replaced them with 1/2" no-void veneer cherry plywood, sealed the chainplate holes with epoxy, and then stained them with red mahogany Minwax sealer/stain before giving them the teak oil and satin wax treatment. They're darker than a white bulkhead--but they're gorgeous and much stronger, and my preference is for cozy warmth rather than bright. I'll probably change my mind down the road <grin>, but for now... The point is that you have to set up your boat the way you want it, but it would certainly be a good idea to concern yourself with safety first. Make sure your bulkheads are solid and strong to save your rig, and only then consider making them prettier. David Shaddock Rockford, IL -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of James Calleran Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 11:03 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: catalina27-talk: Please Help! --- David Shaddock <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Lance, after cutting apart some of the teak in my '77 C27 and looking at the cell structure > under the microscope, I don't think much of it is teak. It seems to be a good grade of mahogany. Lance, If find David's assessment of the "teak" interesting; he may well be correct. I always assumed the various interior wood trim strips were teak. However, mine all had some kind of finish on them when I bought the boat, and all I did was sand them lightly and apply 4-5 coats of satin or semi-gloss varnish. I went with varnish because being interior, I figured (correctly, as it turned out) it would hold up. I think the bulkheads and other flat surfaces (vertical and horizontal) are a mix of teak veneer plywood and a cheezy teak grain plastic laminate. I varnished the bulkheads on the salon-side. I painted the bulkheads on the head side - the white surfaces really brighten up the head. The galley countertop and side surfaces, the lavatory countertop, and the engine room door (behind the ladder) all had white Formica applied to them. Again, the white matte surface really brightens things up. I left the folding table alone. I have intended for years to Formica the hanging locker and head door panels, but have never gotten around to it. I could paint, but I like the matte Formica surface better - easily cleaned and no repainting. I think I would like the beadboard if it was painted a nice satin white. Contact cement might be the way to go, I would avoid using nails, if possible. I have painted the textured skid-resistant cabin sole using a very light gray porch paint. The bilge cover is that same white Formica. We put down an Oriental area rug when we are on board. Again, good luck with your project. Jim ____________________________________________________________________________ ________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ
