F 32 counter tops

fpawn1 · Post by **fpawn1** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 10:46 am

Have a 1981 f-32 and thinking of replacing counter tops in head, galley, island, and table maybe to corium or quartz---they are in good condition but are dated with the standard brown formica--any ideas--what am I up against when i remove tops--should i just resurface with new formica??

obeejr · Post by **obeejr** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 1:12 pm

I'd like to do the same myself, but I would miss the lip on the counters that keeps stuff from falling off. I'm sure the boat companies can afford to have counters with a raised edge made for new boats, because they have the volume. Can something like this be made up on a one-off basis for a reasonable price? Would love to know.

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 1:51 pm

My friend tiled his counter top which did look nice. But as mentioned, you will lose the Fiddle Rail which will help keep things from sliding off.

I suppose you could use some nice 1X1 board and secure around the finished counter top to use as a rail...

jav · Post by **jav** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 4:36 pm

I've done it both with formica and Corian. The Corian looks much nicer but is expensive. Once you tear into it, you're committed. The tops are integral to the stucture and you can't easily just re-laminate it. You have to reconstruct the pieces out of plywood then relaminate (at least thats how mine were). If you're interested, I can post some pics.

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 5:03 pm

Jav, I'd like to see some pics, thanks.

jav · Post by **jav** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 11:35 am

These are in process before the new cabinets - with the counter and backsplash off (they had to come off together because of how they were joined. You can see how the assembly is stucturally tied to the surroundings.)

These show the almost complete galley including corian counters, formica backsplash and new cabs. I also removed the old stove, repositioned an undermount sink with corian cover.

RWS · Post by **RWS** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 2:59 pm

Thanks for the pictures and post.

This forum is GREAT !

I'm in a similar situation and can see that the main galley countertop is all tied in. The International has no "lip" and I own a router which means could simply make a pattern and build new formica sheets for the galley top and match one for the tabletop.

The Corian is however MUCH NICER, and would MAKE THAT SALON!

The 10 meter has a double sink, two burner stove and intregal trash can with a removable lid all on the top surface of that counter. Ideally I'd like to do Corian and build a a tray cover for the two burner stove AND the sink. This would recover much counter space. However to do so I would have to raise the level of the counter, as the sink drain rides INTO the top surface of the referigerator which is just below it. I had to modify the top of the fridge to make it fit when I replaced the factory unit.

So, to do Corian and have a lid for the sink & burners, I have to raise the countertop.

Any suggestions for accomplishing this in Corian, or would it be more prudent to just buy a new cooktop and recess it and re-do everything with Formica laminated on top of the old Formica?

Thanks to all and Happy New Year!

RWS

fpawn1 · Post by **fpawn1** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 2:01 pm

ARE THE COUNTER TOPS ATTACHED THE SAME AS ONES IN A HOME KITCHEN--SCREWED IN FROM THE BOTTOM---PICTURES SHOW CABINETS COULD GET DAMAGED--DUE COUNTER TOPS SECURE BOTTOM CABINETS??--

jav · Post by **jav** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 9:30 pm

Yes and no. Typical home counters can be rather shodily secured and be fine. On the boat, it's clear that the counter (and backsplash) is much more aggressively secured and becomes a structural element tying the cabinets together as well as providing bracing to the hull structure (you can see two small sills that are glassed in on the inside of the hull).

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 5:11 pm

Jav, nice pictures, looks great! Thanks for sharing...hope my girlfriend doesn't see them!

g36 · Post by **g36** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 8:56 pm

man that looks really nice. i wondered what kind of refrigerator you have installed did it seem to take up much more floor space than the original? and also i was curious if the microwave was a combo convection oven? how did the cabinet overall height of your redo compare to the height of the original? sorry for all the questions but i have considered doing something also.

jav · Post by **jav** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 4:45 pm

Fridge was mini dorm unit with seperate (frost free freezer -110 only - no DC) - floor space was essentially the same as the old unit.

Microwave is not a combo convection -didn't know they existed.

Cabinet heights remained original. In fact, much of the framing is original and just light oak veneered.

Dollarbill63 · Post by **Dollarbill63** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 5:42 pm

I want to replace my fridge also but I kind of don't want to pay the AC/DC fridge cost. I would assume you have an inverter set up to power the fridge away from the dock. How big is you inverter? Does that fridge draw alot of power.

Thanks..

jav · Post by **jav** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 7:48 pm

yes - I have a full inverter system (Heart 2500 watt). No the fridge doesn't draw much power... a 1000 watt (with a good surge rating) would do the fridge quite easily.

g36 · Post by **g36** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 6:39 pm

hi jav
heres a link to one of the convection/microwaves i was looking at
http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?pat ... &id=439112
we have discussed rennovation also and i thought this convection microwave would be pretty cool. just the whole idea of totally removing the stove/oven was hard to consider but your redo sure does update the boat.

looking at your pics above the galley,along the port wall under the windows, there is an interesting design looks like it goes around your windows is this some sort of custom made wall covering you added to also renovate the boats cabin interior? could i be nosey and see any interior cabin pics?

Trojan Boat Forum

F 32 counter tops

F 32 counter tops

counter tops

galley

Power set up on your new fridge?

galley redo