formica redo

[robert]

I JUST BOUGHT A 1984 CATALINA 36. SHE'S IN EXCELLENT CONDITION INSIDE AND OUT. THE OILED TEAK DOWN BELOW IS BEAUTIFUL, BUT THE WOOD GRAIN FORMICA ON THE SALON AND CHART TABLES, ETC. LOOK CHEAP AND DO NOT COMPLIMENT THE SURROUNDING TEAK. IS THERE ANY EASY WAY TO CHANGE THE EXISTING WOODGRAINED FORMICA TO WHITE (LIKE THE NEWER CATALINA)?DO YOU KNOW OF ANY GOOD SPRAY PAINT THAT WILL STICK?HOW HARD IS IT TO REMOVE THE TEAK TRIM THAT'S AROUND THE TABLES AND LAMINATE NEW (WHITE) FORMICA OVER THE OLD?ANY IDEAS/ COMMENTS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.ALSO, THE BOAT CAME WITH A NEW MAST THAT IS SPLICED ABOUT 5 ' 6 " UP FROM WHERE IT BOLTS TO THE SOLE OF THE BOAT. WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT SPLICES?ROBERT

 

[Kathy]

Formica fix

I bought some white contact paper at home depot (the sticky-backed stuff you're supposed to attach to your cupboard shelves), because I wanted to test whether we preferred the white look to the cheap fake wood-grain look. I applied it to the nav table and the sink area (trimming it to fit the edges). It looked just like white formica. I preferred it, but my husband didn't, so I never did the rest. I never took off what I'd applied either, and here we are a few years later, and it has stuck very well. Perhaps not a long-term solution, but one that would help you decide whether you thought changing over to white was worthwhile.Good luck

 

[tom]

whatever you do....

don't ,, i repeat spray on paint...it will not last long, if at all..someone had varnished over my table in my 22 ft'r.. different than paint but at least it came off very easily..you can do what you want to if you know about glue and clamps and all that stuff, but if you don't or arent very good at, say, woodworking.. it will reflect it afterwards, but what the hey, how else you gonna get the experience...I'd like to hear something on that splice in the mast too..............

 

[LaDonna Bubak - CatalinaOwners.com]

Painting

You can paint formica but it takes prep work. Probably easier than re-formica-ing. You have to sand the formica very well, going from a heavier grit to a lighter grit for the finish sanding. Remove as much dust from the interior as possible. Wipe the formica down with mineral spirits to take off any dirt, dust or waxes. Apply the desired color epoxy paint (ventilate well!) with a good brush. You'll probably have to put on a couple coats if you're going with white (the obvious choice).LaDonna

 

[John Olson]

Coreon counter

I instoled a coreon counter over the formica counter top. I cut templets from stiff paper made them the right size to fit over the existing formica and up to the teak trim I removed the sink and cut the new sink hole with a roughter and re instoled sink. the Ice box lid and top where cut with the same roughter.The chart table was instoled the same way. and so was the bath. the corean was 3/16 thick I bought it from a counter top supplyer . John Olson