Replacing Internal Panel

[Malkie52]

My Oceanis 311 has an internal plywood panel (500mmx500mm) where the DC Switch Panel, VHF Radio etc etc are mounted . There are a number of redundant instruments and the panel wiring is a disaster so I have decided to replace it and fir new a DC Switch panel. Question is - what material to use ? Matching varnish on a plywood panel may not look too good so I am thinking of going for a contrast and fitting a black panel and have identified three options. 1. Black MDF 2. Plywood with Carbon Fibre Veneer 3. HDPE plastic sheet at 8mm depth. Any thoughts / suggestions?

 

[Euphonyx]

I used 3mm aluminium sheet which I got local engineering place to cut and powdercoated black.

 

[Beneteau381]

My Oceanis 311 has an internal plywood panel (500mmx500mm) where the DC Switch Panel, VHF Radio etc etc are mounted . There are a number of redundant instruments and the panel wiring is a disaster so I have decided to replace it and fir new a DC Switch panel. Question is - what material to use ? Matching varnish on a plywood panel may not look too good so I am thinking of going for a contrast and fitting a black panel and have identified three options. 1. Black MDF 2. Plywood with Carbon Fibre Veneer 3. HDPE plastic sheet at 8mm depth. Any thoughts / suggestions?

I used mahogany first and dark oak stain after to get a colour that is the same as the oceanis stain colour. Topped off with rattle can clear laquer

 

[andsarkit]

Most engravers will have Traffolyte which is has an outer colour with a white centre. When engraved the lettering stands out in contrast to background. many different colours and thicknesses are available.

 

[Plum]

My Oceanis 311 has an internal plywood panel (500mmx500mm) where the DC Switch Panel, VHF Radio etc etc are mounted . There are a number of redundant instruments and the panel wiring is a disaster so I have decided to replace it and fir new a DC Switch panel. Question is - what material to use ? Matching varnish on a plywood panel may not look too good so I am thinking of going for a contrast and fitting a black panel and have identified three options. 1. Black MDF 2. Plywood with Carbon Fibre Veneer 3. HDPE plastic sheet at 8mm depth. Any thoughts / suggestions?

Another option is coloured Acrylic Coloured Perspex Acrylic Sheet

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[pandos]

I think plywood with an ebony stain looks well and will blend in terms of showing grain...(I am doing similar at the moment and if I can't get a good colour match I will go this route...)

 

[KompetentKrew]

I'm not a woodworking expert, but plywood seems the obvious choice.

Both MDF and ply are strong enough and wood is easy to work. I'd guess that MDF is good enough, but ply is perhaps a little more moisture resistant; the panel will be in place for 20 or more years, I expect, so might as well choose the higher quality material.

I would choose a gloss black laminate finish though, as this application does not benefit from the weight-saving qualities of carbon fibre.

 

[jwilson]

This panel holding the radio, plotter and switch panel is a bit of very cheap B&Q plywood cut and varnished with slight stain and semi-matt varnish to replace the original Jeanneau "teak" panel after I altered instruments. I contemplated a walnut burr veneer finish but chose this as it was cheap and easy. On a Beneteau you'd probably need a darker redder stain. A dark walnut burr veneer panel could look quite classy. Use a black panel and it would look like an 1980s Westerly or a workboat.

 

[Tranona]

I have just bought a sheet of B&Q 9mm ply and the better face would come up nicely with probably Rosewood stain then lacquer to blend in with the original as Beneteau 381 did. I am using it for a similar new panel, but using Sapele veneer stained to match existing bulkheads.

 

[Stemar]

This panel holding the radio, plotter and switch panel is a bit of very cheap B&Q plywood cut and varnished with slight stain and semi-matt varnish to replace the original Jeanneau "teak" panel after I altered instruments. I contemplated a walnut burr veneer finish but chose this as it was cheap and easy. On a Beneteau you'd probably need a darker redder stain. A dark walnut burr veneer panel could look quite classy. Use a black panel and it would look like an 1980s Westerly or a workboat.

That's good to know, as I have a panel to replace on Jazzcat and that will do very nicely. Teak stain, I presume?

 

[jwilson]

I think it was actually a thin coat of light oak stain over the B&Q plywood surface. That was what I had in the cellar, and it worked fairly well. The other good thing about B&Q apart from convenience is that they will cut rectangles for you very accurately indeed, better straight lines than I can achieve with a hand saw.

 

[Stemar]

I think it was actually a thin coat of light oak stain over the B&Q plywood surface. That was what I had in the cellar, and it worked fairly well. The other good thing about B&Q apart from convenience is that they will cut rectangles for you very accurately indeed, better straight lines than I can achieve with a hand saw.

Unfortunately, my local one doesn't do that. Homebase used to, but they've closed. Fortunately, I have a table saw that will do well enough for my purposes - it only has to look like a perfect rectangle, not be one

 

[Malkie52]

Found this web site - Wood Sheets Cut To Size | MDF Boards & Panels Made To Measure - who supply sheets cut to any size and shape. They supply a variety of different wood materials. Going to test some staining on some scrap plywood based on some of the ideas above and if that works will order the cut size I need. Only need to mount and wire everything after that.....