Cabin Sole Replacement

[dmcmd]

Does any one know where can I find 3/8" teak/holly plywood.  Most places I've located only have 1/4" or 3?8 inch.

[Mike Smith]

dmcmd

Where are you located?

Mike

Mike and Jan Smith
S/V Breezer WCX8545
www.mikejansmith.com

[jentine]

If you can't find the plywood you are looking for in Jamestown or Newport, or Bristol or Portsmouth one of the other surrounding towns, it can't be found anywhere.  There are at least a 1/2 dozen sailboat manufacturers in your area.
Jim Kane

[jentine]

You can search teak/holly plywood on the internet.  I found http://www.downesandreader.com/directions.html in Stoughton, MA.  I am sure that if you called one of the lumber companies in Newport, they would have a good handle on where to purchase exactly what you are looking for.
Jim Kane

[Mike Smith]

dmcmd -

I should have looked at your profile to see where you were located... Just about any boatyard in Newport should be able to provide you with a source for teak and holly sole material and someone to cut the pieces. Look at the Projects page on this Website for more information. Unless you are skilled at woodworking and have a well equiped workshop, I'd advise you to take the sole pieces from your boat to the boatyard and let them use them as an exact pattern when they do the cutting. Make sure you seal the back, edges, and screw holes against moisture or all your work will be in vain.

Mike

Mike and Jan Smith
S/V Breezer WCX8545
www.mikejansmith.com

[Ted Pounds]

Here's a video from Practical Sailor that might be useful for anyone needing to repair their cabin sole.
https://youtu.be/wmQEjZ8z2YY?si=HLI0GiUg5fUf2OwY

[Ron Hill]

dmc : Most of the real teak/holly that I've found is a metric thickness and the original factory is 3/8".
If I were to replace my T/H, think I'd look at the artificial rather than the Real T/H as I'm sure that it wears better!!

A thought

[JoyRide2.0]

Just curious... are you not interested in repairing/refinishing what you already have? Mine was severely damaged by the PO's dog and other wear and tear. I refinished them and WOW! Awesome.

Kirk

[robbjd]

I agree with Ron on replacing T&H with synthetic. If you do the job yourself you can save a lot of money. I have a C42 docked next to me and the owner replaced all the T&H with T&H and paid thousands of dollars on a 30 year old boat that hasn't yet left it's berth. We have synthetic T&H in our cockpit, on the deck and the seats and we love it. If I drop many more tools on the T&H in the cabin it will get replaced with synthetic.

[KWKloeber]

You wont go wrong with the faux T&H sole. 

The J/120 I raced on had rotted sole and the owner got "talked into" synthetic by the yard guy.  I was skeptical, being more of a traditionalist, but WOW so easy to maintain, no scratching, no muss no fuss. 
I did some deck core repair and was pumping epoxy into a few holes up top (not realizing my helper had not plugged the holes we had underneath. So as epoxy "disappeared" and soon found a puddle on the new faux sole we got "a little" concerned.  It cleaned right up and bathing the spot with acetone soaked rags never dented the finish. 

Sure, it's a smidgeon not quite as warm and inviting, and more of a matte finish, but the benefits far outweigh those (IMO.)

If it was a matter of salvaging/refinishing T&H at significantly lower cost, that would be my #1 preference because it's traditional and I'm "frugal", but if the cost difference shrinks I would personally choose synthetic w/o any hesitation.

Better living thru chemistry!