Once I install the head, I want to enclose it. What is the material most
people use?
In most the web photos I see it looks like a very smooth, white, thick
sheeting, usually trimmed in mahogany.

Post a link to the Web Photos you describe, and we may be more able to
help.

What type of boat are we talking about?

Many 'production' craft have pre-molded fiberglass head compartments
that are 'dropped into' and bonded to the hull as a complete
sub-assembly.

MW

wrote in message
oups.com...
Post a link to the Web Photos you describe, and we may be more able to
help.

What type of boat are we talking about?

Many 'production' craft have pre-molded fiberglass head compartments
that are 'dropped into' and bonded to the hull as a complete
sub-assembly.

MW

I own a downeast style lobster boat. A Jarvis Newman 32. Was a longliner,
turning into a picnic boat.
Currently there is nothing inside the cabin but the built in v-berth.
Here is an example, but the "look" is pretty standard in custom or
semi-custom downeast sytle boats.
I thinks its called Herreshoff.

http://www.boatingyellowpages.com/co...sp?currency=US
D&units=Feet&lang=en&slim=quick&checked_boats=1364 975&checked_boats=1551939&
checked_boats=1612282&checked_boats=1598436&checke d_boats=1480502&checked_bo
ats=1466793&checked_boats=1576848&checked_boats=12 59106&checked_boats=162447
1&checked_boats=1318633&checked_boats=1322097&chec ked_boats=1370398&checked_
boats=1600424&checked_boats=1277832&checked_boats= 1481467&checked_boats=1412
999&checked_boats=1528071&checked_boats=1626282&ch ecked_boats=646968&checked
_boats=1567615&back=/core/listing/pl_boat_detail.jsp&boat_id=1370398

wrote in message
oups.com...
Post a link to the Web Photos you describe, and we may be more able to
help.

What type of boat are we talking about?

Many 'production' craft have pre-molded fiberglass head compartments
that are 'dropped into' and bonded to the hull as a complete
sub-assembly.

MW

OK - I found picture of the Jarvis Newman head compartment, as well as
similar suites on a Grand Banks:

http://www.tinyurl.com/ylntjb

and an Albin:

http://www.tinyurl.com/ya9dat

Most likely this is Melamine (over plywood) or its close cousin
'Formica' (plastic laminate).

If you're building from scratch, you might want to consider an "epoxy
laminate" head compartment. By this I mean that all bulkheads /
cabinetry are marine plywood with (say) several layers of 10-15 oz
fiberglass expoxied thereon. Over this do a layer of microbaloons (or
your favorite fairing compound) and epoxy, then sand smooth. Apply an
epoxy primer, then - depending on the ammount of gloss you'd like in
the final product - roll on a few coats of (white) one or two-part LPU
or enamel.

Trim with your favoite wood door fronts / moldings (also epoxy coated)
and you've got an easy to clean "rot and delamination proof" head.

MW

Sorry about the bad link but almost all of the Downeast style boats have
varnished wood or white panelling interiors.
I don't have time to do it from scratch, never mind the skill or patience.
The high tech foam cored ones are over $200 per sheet!
Are there brand names for the formica laminate? Even a chipboard core would
work as it won't be structural at all.
Here's my boat if you're curious.
www.pointshore.com


wrote in message
oups.com...
OK - I found picture of the Jarvis Newman head compartment, as well as
similar suites on a Grand Banks:

http://www.tinyurl.com/ylntjb

and an Albin:

http://www.tinyurl.com/ya9dat

Most likely this is Melamine (over plywood) or its close cousin
'Formica' (plastic laminate).

If you're building from scratch, you might want to consider an "epoxy
laminate" head compartment. By this I mean that all bulkheads /
cabinetry are marine plywood with (say) several layers of 10-15 oz
fiberglass expoxied thereon. Over this do a layer of microbaloons (or
your favorite fairing compound) and epoxy, then sand smooth. Apply an
epoxy primer, then - depending on the ammount of gloss you'd like in
the final product - roll on a few coats of (white) one or two-part LPU
or enamel.

Trim with your favoite wood door fronts / moldings (also epoxy coated)
and you've got an easy to clean "rot and delamination proof" head.

MW

wrote:
OK - I found picture of the Jarvis Newman head compartment, as well as
similar suites on a Grand Banks:

http://www.tinyurl.com/ylntjb

and an Albin:

http://www.tinyurl.com/ya9dat

Most likely this is Melamine (over plywood) or its close cousin
'Formica' (plastic laminate).

If you're building from scratch, you might want to consider an "epoxy
laminate" head compartment. By this I mean that all bulkheads /
cabinetry are marine plywood with (say) several layers of 10-15 oz
fiberglass expoxied thereon. Over this do a layer of microbaloons (or
your favorite fairing compound) and epoxy, then sand smooth. Apply an
epoxy primer, then - depending on the ammount of gloss you'd like in
the final product - roll on a few coats of (white) one or two-part LPU
or enamel.

Trim with your favoite wood door fronts / moldings (also epoxy coated)
and you've got an easy to clean "rot and delamination proof" head.

MW

No one would ever use Melamine on a boat. It's heavy, has little
structural integrity and the surface is thin and easily damaged.

Having said that, someone will say they used it.

Formica is good, what you're looking at is molded fiberglass, which is
the best.

Home Depot has Duramine melamine in 3/4" sheets. I couldn't believe how
heavy it was.
I think I'm going with a 5/8" birch veneer plywood with a two part epoxy
paint over it. What do you think?
Is Okoume better than a birch veneer?


No one would ever use Melamine on a boat. It's heavy, has little
structural integrity and the surface is thin and easily damaged.

Having said that, someone will say they used it.

Formica is good, what you're looking at is molded fiberglass, which is
the best.

I used the frp panels from home depot. They have dimples on one side
and smooth on the other. Cost around $20 for a 4' x 8' sheet. I used
them for the cabin over head in my cascade 42.Mine are white and the
color goes all the way through. I trimmed them in CVG fir with a satin
finish.
Jim and Becky wrote:
Once I install the head, I want to enclose it. What is the material most
people use?
In most the web photos I see it looks like a very smooth, white, thick
sheeting, usually trimmed in mahogany.