PVC for locker lids and washboard?

[Avocet]

I'm thinking of making some "winter" locker lids and washboards to replace the wooden ones. The rest of the cockpit is grey so I was thinking about 15mm grey PVC sheet. Does that seem like a reasonable chioce or is there something better?

 

[oldsaltoz]

G'day Ian,

Thought you would be flat finishing that hull.

I have seen old ply washboards given a new look and life with off cuts of Formica and other brands on counter top covers. Easy to apply, UV stable-ish depending on brand and colour White and Light Grey are good, also hard wearing.

A bit too slippery for seating though.

Avagoodweekend......

 

[Avocet]

Ha HA!!! I've been sanding the ice off every morning but it keeps coming back!

(just 'cause it's summer where you are)! Actually this winter has been mostly pretty mild but plenty wet. I'm currently trying to make some sort of jig to force the router to follow the contours of the raised "rubbing strake" and cavetta line moulded into the side. That'll be next summer's big challenge!

At least all the rain has left me plenty of time to follow up your suggestion for seeing surface imperfections. I've spotted one quite big hollow on the port quarter just where the curvature is most pronounced. (Still, you did warn me about forsaking the "torture board" for an air sander)!
Will keep you posted!

 

[ShipsWoofy]

I built mine this way and am very happy with them. I used the equiv of 1/4" as that sat flat with the seats.. The original builder (home complete) did not buy the locker lids or the heads moulding (git!) I also had my new heads floor build of PVC, bent to shape with a step. The company who bent it was in waterlooville but I used one of their workshops ooop north with me whippet in tow to purchase from.

I also bought 2mm pvc to clad the fore and aft heads walls, look the business. Not fire-proof though /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Downsides . .

Slippy when wet, but as we have recently covered the locker lids with tread thingy that goes away.

Scratching.. No matter how careful you are it will scratch .. but cured by tread thingy.

On the heads walls etc, these have remained unmarked, it is only where heavy sharp stuff is dragged over it, I think my statement no matter how careful etc was prolly a bit over the top. I have glued a patch of tread thingy on the heads floor which has kept the rest in good order, but subconsciously encourages you to stand only on that part (I am no psychologist so can not answer that one!)

Sticking rubber tread thingy down with impact adhesive seems to have worked well with no signs of lifting yet... Though removing the yellow over spill was a little difficult, worth masking off if I was doing it again.

Here are some examples;

Note; I have since added tread master to the locker tops, also note the extra pvc allowed me to fill holes left by the old engine panels, this allows easy access to the underneath bolts holding winches etc.

I had the floor pre-bent by the guys I bought it from, to allow shaping without scaring on the bends it had to be fairly light (4mm) this means the floor is covering a plywood form beneath the pvc. I wanted a sealed floor so this seemed the easiest way.

Cladding on bulkead behind the bog, 2mm white pvc.

Hope this gives some help / ideas.

J

 

[Avocet]

Thanks for that, looks like a fine job! Have you noticed any degradation of the external ones due to UV light (or anything else apart from she scratches)?

 

[l'escargot]

My last boat had coloured perspex locker covers when I bought it, about 12mm I think. UV got them in the end, started with crazing and fading, then went brittle and chipped. One day didn't notice a loose rope end sticking out the locker and the cover cracked right across when I stood on it. Lasted about 5 years or so.

 

[ShipsWoofy]

Surprisingly not, I expected it to go yellow over time, this has not happened. I still have a bag of bits (cuts) that has been kept at home out of the light and when comparing it is not even showing it's age to what is still as-new.

It should be noted though, we leave the boat with full canopy up (closed blinds) so they never got full 365 day sun shine. The pvc is looking better than the pvcu that my windows are made from at home which has got that slight chalky feel to after a similar amount of time.. the pvc still feels like ptfe, you know, slightly slippy and oily type..

hope this answers.