Replacing headlining with boards - any problem with weight?

[ash2020]

As the title suggests, we're planning to replace the old vinyl covered 6mm ply with tongue & groove boards, 12mm thick.

I have already bought it and primed and painted it, the plan is to fix it to the existing glassed in ribs and give it a final coat of paint.

I'm guessing the weight of the whole pile of timber is probably 70-80kg so a bit like sticking an extra person to the cabin roof.

Do you think this is a bad idea in terms of balance etc.

She's a Varne 27 with displacement of around 1800kg.

 

[Tranona]

Sailboatdata gives displacement as 2800kgs - ballast is 1800. So no you won't notice any difference. Mind you 12mm T&G is OTT - 6mm is far more common and much more suitable. But you have what you have and it is sure to look better than manky old vinyl!

 

[ash2020]

Sailboatdata gives displacement as 2800kgs - ballast is 1800. So no you won't notice any difference. Mind you 12mm T&G is OTT - 6mm is far more common and much more suitable. But you have what you have and it is sure to look better than manky old vinyl!

Sorry, yes, my mistake, 2800kg. 12mm is the thinnest I could get here in West Scotland. Thanks for the reassurance.

 

[Laminar Flow]

It also depends on the species you are using.
Fir/oregon pine/douglas fir weighs 32lbs /cft, red cedar a third less at 21 lbs/cft and is more rot resistant.
We did our wheelhouse ceiling in recycled cedar which I re-machined to make the boards narrower for aesthetic reasons.
There is also the option to plane them down to reduce thickness and weight.
You will need to mount sleepers to attach the boards, which will reduce your headroom.
We painted ours white to avoid the "sauna look".

 

[Neeves]

As Tranona says - you have what you have.....

But I have to wonder why you asked the question after buying the boards

You could have bought veneered foam, or simply glassed foam (or we can here) - which would have been much lighter.

Jonathan

 

[Daydream believer]

I would discard the T & G & get some shower lining panels. White, or coloured, acrylic etc . Cut in 12 inch strips & cover the joints with a hardwood strip, screwed into a batten ( Can always be removed for wiring etc). Alternatively use a plastic T & G. Thinner, lighter, Much wider strips, better for damp & needs only a wipe over & no painting. Light enough to be glued to battens with mastic & the battens can also be glued to the ceiling.
The timber T & G will need considerable support structure due to the weight. I cannot imagine 6mm sfwd T & G . Although 7.5mm is available. However, if you want to reduce it , take it to a joinery works & get them to put it through a thickness planer & take a couple of mm off the back. But not so much as to lose the groove

 

[ash2020]

It also depends on the species you are using.
Fir/oregon pine/douglas fir weighs 32lbs /cft, red cedar a third less at 21 lbs/cft and is more rot resistant.
We did our wheelhouse ceiling in recycled cedar which I re-machined to make the boards narrower for aesthetic reasons.
There is also the option to plane them down to reduce thickness and weight.
You will need to mount sleepers to attach the boards, which will reduce your headroom.
We painted ours white to avoid the "sauna look".

We don't have the luxury of different species here. Or even knowing what the species is. It's usually unsorted redwood. I could put them through the thicknesser but would then have to repaint them. We've also done them in a slightly off-white.

 

[ash2020]

As Tranona says - you have what you have.....

But I have to wonder why you asked the question after buying the boards

You could have bought veneered foam, or simply glassed foam (or we can here) - which would have been much lighter.

Jonathan

I know, it's a bit late but my partner said (after she had spent hours painting them) "you don't think it's a bit heavy do you?" So I was just getting one or two different opinions.

 

[ash2020]

I would discard the T & G & get some shower lining panels. White acrylic etc . Cut in 12 inch strips & cover the joints with a hardwood strip. Alternatively use a plastic T & G. Thinner, lighter, better for damp & needs only a wipe over & no painting. Light enough to be glued to battens with mastic & the battens can also be glued to the ceiling.
The timber T & G will need considerable support structure due to the weight. I cannot imagine 6mm sfwd T & G as the tongue would be too thin. However, if you want to reduce it , take it to a joinery works & get them to put it through a thickness planer & take a couple of mm off the back. But not so much as to lose the groove

Sorry, definitely no more plastic!

 

[Neeves]

I know, it's a bit late but my partner said (after she had spent hours painting them) "you don't think it's a bit heavy do you?" So I was just getting one or two different opinions.

I'm not suggesting your investment is too heavy - just there were lighter options (and someone else with the same idea might be interested in the options).

I come from a yacht racing background and weight was one of the killers, dirty bottom another...... Sailing is, or should be about enjoyment, pleasure, satisfaction - and personally sharing your passion with wife, partner (or simply sharing).

If you and your partner are happy and derive pleasure - then that is a winner.

Jonathan

edit - Your partner sounds to be very astute (and chose you) as well as pointed out the weight issue. You are very lucky - pass on my best wishes, for you both.

Let us know how it all works out.

Good luck, take care

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

As the title suggests, we're planning to replace the old vinyl covered 6mm ply with tongue & groove boards, 12mm thick.

I have already bought it and primed and painted it, the plan is to fix it to the existing glassed in ribs and give it a final coat of paint.

I'm guessing the weight of the whole pile of timber is probably 70-80kg so a bit like sticking an extra person to the cabin roof.

Do you think this is a bad idea in terms of balance etc.

She's a Varne 27 with displacement of around 1800kg.

I've posted below some links to some examples of lighter-weight materials that would suit the requirement. They are geographically in Ireland, but all are the websites of UK-based chains, or related to or under owner ship of UK -based companies :

Red Deal Plain Tg&V 7Mmx94Mmx3M X 10Pcs

TGV Traditional Cladding 8 x 94mm x 2.4m - Pack 5

https://www.diy.ie/departments/building-supplies/timber-sheet-materials/cladding/DIY763154.cat?Cladding+type=Tongue+&+groove&Thickness+(mm)=7.5

 

[Laminar Flow]

In the late sixties/seventies, red cedar paneling was de rigeur for house rennos, particularly for bathrooms. I procured my boards at a demolition for free. They are super light and of a tight grain quality no longer available even where it is grown. Dumpster diving pays.

 

[Tranona]

In the late sixties/seventies, red cedar paneling was de rigeur for house rennos, particularly for bathrooms. I procured my boards at a demolition for free. They are super light and of a tight grain quality no longer available even where it is grown. Dumpster diving pays.

I have a stack in my loft from a kitchen ceiling that I installed around 1983 and removed in 2017, Some will be recycled to line the exposed GRP hull sides in my GH. Still have one bedroom that I built at the same time with a cedar ceiling which still looks good. Also have some beautiful mahogany and parana pine I acquired at the same time from a conservatory business that was closing which is also finding a home in the boat. The new engine beds will be 70*70mm mahogany epoxied and bolted inside the existing to reduce the width to take a modern engine and the framing for the engine box will be parana pine which has spent the intervening years as shelving. Companionway steps will be made from a window board also from the 1980s. Good excuse to buy an old boat to use up stock of timber that would otherwise probably be thrown out when I go!

 

[Neeves]

Stay with us and as relevant new threads are posted you can offer the timber, to be collected by the member, knowing it will go to a good home.

Jonathan