Hello all. We have thought about redoing our boat's sole in an alternating wood design (sort of like Teak and Holly) vs. replacing the carpet. I've looked at the archives and have found some information. I'd like to find out all the dirty details from someone who has done this. Questions like what product did you use, what did you trim the steps with, hatches? I suspect luan (sp?) is in order to get the flattest surface prior. I'd even drive to look at a boat that has been completed like this in the Upper Chesapeake area(s). Pictures would be extremely appreciated also. Feel free to send these off list. Many thanks in advance. Chris (splash in 3 weeks!)

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At 01:23 PM 04/06/2004 -0400, Chris Grubb wrote: >Hello all. We have thought about redoing our boat's sole in an alternating >wood design (sort of like Teak and Holly) vs. replacing the carpet. Chris, We added teak and holly soles to the galley and two heads on Skooch. We bought 1/2 marine grade teak/holly plywood from Harbor Sales in Sudlersville MD. They are a huge outfit www.harborsales.net. It was about $150 for a standard 4X8 sheet. They will ship them but I picked mine up, its only 25 miles from Skooch and Chestertown, MD. I needed two sheets. I made templates of the galley and heads out of cardboard and made sure I could install them without bending before cutting. I used the templates to cut out the Teal/holly plywood at home. We fit them in sealing with silicone caulk and screwed them down, and plugged them. I did not do anything to the underlayment which is also marine plywood. I used silicone instead of a glue so I can remove them when they get ugly. Also the hatch over the gen set was covered, so I wanted to be able to remove the flooring to get at the rear of the Genny or to remove it (knock on wood). Teak plugs over the screw holes. Sand carefully and apply half a dozen coats of polyurethane clear. For the trim I used a teak strip and screws, plugs and clear coats. In the galley, the saloon rug runs right up to the flooring and looks good. The Admiral is afraid the berber rug will fray at this junction. At the first sign of fraying she will instruct me to make a teak transition board there as well. I have the board cut already but I like the fact that the rug and floor are exactly flat, any transition will add a lump, so I'm hoping it doesn't fray and will put a small bead of clear anti-fray caulk on it very shortly. I cut the boards to the template with one of those heavy duty new cutting tools. It spins a cutting bit at 100,000 RPMS and you need hearing protection if you want to ever listen to Lead Zeppelin again. Cuts thru with no saw marks or splinters. Actually one of the easier tasks for the amount compliments so far. If you want to fit the boards together and use real teak and holly, that would take forever and be beyond my tolerance. I don;t keep very good records but I would estimate: Remove old flooring, 1/4 rounds 4 hours (includes a coat of epoxy on the floor to seal it. I epoxy sealed the entire boats flooring which is marine mahogany plywood.) make templates 2 hours cutting 2 hours going to Harbor Sales 2 hours screw, plug, sand, paint, 6 hours 16 hours $450 including the cutting tool which I now use alot. If you wish to come see it, you are welcome. We launch 4-15 but your welcome to see her on the hard. We leave for New Bern NC 5-7. Course, it is supposed to snow tonight. Geez! Skooch Worton Creek MD David Stahl ************************************************************** Beacon Technologies Inc. Serving The Delaware Valley Business and Residential Internet Services