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Lesmusic1 · 06-12-2007, 19:50

Want to redo Galley..small Galley...28ft boat. Will be doing it myself probably, any idea's on what is best for the counter?

06-12-2007, 20:05

We used a standard laminate for Kittiwake, and it held up OK. We are looking for something more substantial right now for the trimaran, so I will be very interested to see where this thread goes.

blahman · 06-12-2007, 20:07

We're going to redo our galley counter with coriander. I have it in my home and really like it, and the cost isn't too bad.

Cheers,
Aaron N.

RaptorDance · 06-12-2007, 20:14

For DIY a laminate is doable and should serve you well... Stuff like Wilsonart or Formica should fill the bill. You should have a router with a laminate trim bit to do a really professional job.

There's a tutorial on how to do it on "DIY Network"'s website:
HOME IMPROVEMENT : Cabinets, Countertops & Hardware : Installing Laminate on Counter Tops : DIY Network

Other solid surface materials, like Corian are much more difficult for a DIYer and they're way too heavy for a 28 foot boat.

Good luck on your project!

Regards,
Bill

Moonchaser2304 · 06-12-2007, 20:20

You mean DuPont Corian®?
I wondered about that but got advised that it can scratch?
This thread indicates that
Countertop material: granite vs. solid surface (corian) vs. engineered stone (silestone) - Cookware - Chowhound

We have Silestone in our house and love it..tougher than Granite, and less expensive.. runs something like $50 a foot..guess for such small countertops that some of us have that would not be bad, but there sure are a lot of nice looking colors in good old inexpensive laminate...plus you can do it yourself.
Doesn't laminate actually hold up better than Corian?
Laminate is just so easy to go over existing surfaces too.

RaptorDance · 06-12-2007, 20:40

FWIW - we have Corian and it holds up fine. If it does get scratched, you sand out the scratches with 600 grit. We haven't had to do that in 4+ years of full time cruising.

The main challenge with any of these solid surface materials is that they're not DIY jobs, to answer the original question and they're too heavy for a 28 foot boat!

Bill

44'cruisingcat · 07-12-2007, 00:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by blahman

We're going to redo our galley counter with coriander. I have it in my home and really like it, and the cost isn't too bad.

Cheers,
Aaron N.

Coriander is excellent in Asian food.

Amgine · 07-12-2007, 12:06

My galley is predominately fibreglass insert. Which works, but being a food-oriented person (well, hedonist at the least) it isn't enough. So I have a couple of wood cutting boards cut to fit the stove, as a sink insert, etc. The care is easy, using a food-grade oil that can be applied whenever necessary, and just as easy to replace once it starts to show too much wear (I cut on one side, turning the other up.)

I've been thinking that if I were to gut the boat and build a new interior I'd buy the cutting board-style cabinet top. I should be able to design it so the top could be replaced easily, but it would last many years with occasional light sanding and oiling. It's also less slippery, and looks warm in a too-much-plastic boat. But, I haven't done it yet...

savvy · 07-12-2007, 12:14

a 3 ml coating of epoxy sanded down to 400 grit, lasts for years, easy to clean and just resand it to get the knife scratches out if you want to use it as a cutting board. gives a nice satin finish.

Charlie · 07-12-2007, 13:31

If/When I redo the counters on my boat I like the idea of Corian. I'm sure that if you look hard enough you will find a dealer who will take your pattern and make up the counter then allow you to install it. Currently I have laminate. The marine ply underneath is fine so I could just redo the laminate. The problem with laminate is that it does not allow for an undermount sink whcih is much easier to clean.

MidLandOne · 07-12-2007, 14:29

I have specified WilsonArt Solid Surfacing (is similar to Corian) on galley customer serving counters on small fast ferries. The servicability, even in that environment was excellent and easily repaired (instructions on WilsonArt's web site). In fact the owner of the vessels wanted that on the basis of his past experience with it. However, like Corian it is quite heavy - comes approx 1/2 inch thick and weighs a bit over 4lbs per sq.ft. But effect of that depends on how much bench one has.

But WilsonArt also produce a 1/4 inch thick version of the same stuff which is actually intended for vertical surfaces, not bench tops, and I have not used that. However, for light duty in a yacht with some support under it (the 1/2 inch stuff is self supporting) I would expect it would be fine and assume it to be half the weight of the 1/2 inch stuff, so around 2lbs per sq.ft which is not so bad. Corian and others may do similar,

Another alternative I have seen on a very high quality sailboat for the galley counters was epoxy flowcoat (so similar to the previous poster's epoxy suggestion, but thicker). This was done with the ply counter painted with epoxy (in this case black) and then finished with a good thickness of epoxy flowcoat - the fiddles providing the outer dam when it was poured in. So a simple approach that produced a yacht quality finish. There is quite a bit on the web about flowcoat and its use and I even see table tops advertised as finished with it.

Our current counter tops on our own boat are white laminate and have served well with a lot of use but we try to be careful with it. When it reaches the end of its life my current thought is to rip the laminate off and go the epoxy flowcoat way as I figure it could be done leaving all the existing fiddles in place, replacement of which would be expensive - if replacing the fiddles was necessary for reasons of their own then I would seriously consider the 1/4 inch solid surfacing. But we have some years yet before replacement is necessary so another alternative may come along.

If the solid surfacing or flowcoat was not an option I would go with laminate again, no problem. If fiddly and a good result wanted, I would get the actual cutting and fitting of it done professionally as not much labour time involved and the results of the fitter's skill is worth it.

Windgeist · 07-12-2007, 14:56

Being a professional chef I could talk a lot about this kind of stuff

We have Dupont's Zodiaq at home DuPont™ Zodiaq® pretty much the same thing as Silestone.

Corian or similar I don't like for anything, but maybe a boat. Granite or similar is just heavy for a boat, especially 28'.

But if you looking for a DIY, the Formica type stuff could be good choice, practically whats in our boat now as original.

But I would really look at a butcher block type surface. I am not sure if it weights less than corian, but is likely cheaper and easier to work with. You can buy fairly large sections of it at Lowe's or Home Depot. I could see some nice fiddles add to it and some tong oil and it would look real nice. I was thinking to use the BB when we redo our counter top area. There are several varieties of wood you can select if you go to a specialty store, I think the HD & Lowe's stuff is Maple?

Google Butcher Block and have fun

BTW...to have corian, or anything similar, add a fiddle type edge I think would be outrageous.

Some links:

ConsumerReports.org - Countertops: How to choose
http://www.butcherblockco.com/cherry...kcounters.html

Butcher Block Specialist

LowesCreativeIdeas.com :: Magical Makeover Kitchen :: Going Gourmet

MidLandOne · 07-12-2007, 15:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windgeist

BTW...to have corian, or anything similar, add a fiddle type edge I think would be outrageous.

Could you elaborate as I don't understand the problem, whether to do with fitting or appearance?

What I was anticipating if I was to ever use the likes of WilsonArt Solid Surface was to use it in exactly the same way as if a laminate ie there would be timber fiddles around it. Not sure what the complication is?

Sandero · 07-12-2007, 15:44

For a counter top you don't want wood. Critters can live in it. You want something which is solid like corian or better yet granite. Some stones will absorb liquids like wine or oil and stain, so you want something which won't do that. The extra weight is not a big issue for a cruising boat. Plastic laminate is OK but it does wear and scratch.