Marine Ply for Cockpit

[boatone]

Having recently bought an elderly Princess 32 I am starting to consider relining the cockpit with some real wood instead of the square yards of wood effect laminate that was thought to be the bees knees in the 70's (arent the blue laconite bathrooms a hoot!!! Cant believe 'er down below says its growing on her!). There appear to be several variants of ply with teak or sapele veneers and I wonder if the more expensive ones are really neccessary given a well covered cockpit and little chance of really wet working on the Thames. Any views or recommendations? Also, anyone care to recommend a supplier for said ply and associated mouldings?
Anyone looking to get hoods restitched in the lower non-tidal Thames area I can heartily recommend the service received from Marine Trimming at Penton Hook - restitched every seam and zip and slight repairs and all done in less than a week for £70.

boatone@boatsonthethames.co.uk

 

[ccscott49]

If you say its unlikely to get wet, you dont need the boil proof, (marine ply), which is horendously expensive agood quality waterproof ply will do you can get it with a teak veneer I know, but be careful if you need to sand it the veneer is very thin, I would also reccomend you seal all the edges with epoxy before fitting, there are a few places who do teak etc. moldings, try looking in PBO, I cant remember them offhand.

 

[ChrisP]

You must be the one that caused them to be overworked. We tried to get a new hood made at PH asked for an estimate and still waiting for it 5 years later. Boat was 50 yards from their office at the time. Ask MarkC about PH workmanship. Go to Bourne End better service and workmanship.

 

[boatone]

Re: Canopy repairs at PH

Can only speak as I find! I am not at all tolerant of bad service and its rare for me to be generous with praise but they really did look after me well (even waxed the seams) and quickly and the cost was less than other quotes received. Maybe things have changed since 5 years ago?

boatone@boatsonthethames.co.uk

 

[byron]

Hood maker at Bourne End is undoubtedly excellent but he has a hell of a big order book resulting in quite a wait.

©2001

 

[markc]

couldn't agree more with Chris - they produced the worst job ever - spent the first weekend after being fitted with loads of pals on the boat with most people holding containers to catch the drips coming through the new £1500 canopy. Not to mention the 9 extra holes that they deemed necessary to put in the boat, blah, blah, blah. Over 30 defects put in writing to them, corrected half a dozen and then never saw them again. That was 18 months ago.

 

[boatone]

Sorry you've all had such bad experiences but it doesn't alter the fact that I was well pleased!
Now,.......can anyone help with my original query re marine ply?

boatone@boatsonthethames.co.uk

 

[Guest]

I had to buy some ply like this and got it from Silvermans. They have several locations in and around London (check yellow pages). It is whole 8x4 sheets from them only but you do buy at non marine prices. Comments below about sealing edges and being careful when sanding are correct and I agree if you are not going to immerse it then this will do fine.

Colin