Another small project on Trident

[Ed]

After looking at the fugly rocket launcher on the back of my leaning post for the last 4 years, I decided to upgrade it to a yacht quality standards.







I thought about replacing the faux marble-ish composite with teak or even granite....but i wanted something unique. I decided to go with a piece of curly maple after seeing some of it on the wall in the York Harbor Inn pub. After a few weeks of searching, I was able to find a suitable pieces that had "full curl" and was defect free. If you look closely at the wood, the curls resemble the waves left in the sand by wave action.





Once the (4) new pompanette stainless steel rod holders arrive (can you say SCHWEEET??), I will cut out them out with a hole saw and will router all edges with a 1/4 inch roundover bit. It has been a long time since I used a router, so I will be practicing on some scrap first...



Once it is complete and sanded, I plan on coating with System Three's "MIRROR COAT" epoxy. I though about using that Epiphanes Varnish, but I really dont want to have on going maintenance. Of course, I am open to any suggestions from those more experienced in these matters.

More pictures to follow as the project progresses.

Oh yeah, thanks to my friends Nick and Jodi for allowing me to borrow tools and heated shop space!

[dcobbett]

Good looking piece. Don't mean to be negative, but maple is not considered a "good" outdoor wood and it moves (shrinks/swells) a lot. Whatever finish you use should be flexible and durable and easy to spot patch and maintain.

[Trayder]

Ed-

Its nice that you are still posting

I agree with Dan. Having used maple through out my home I know what happens to it outside, treated or not, it turns black in no time and in general it gets all messed up. All you need is a minor fracture of your finish and its done. Nevermind what the sun does to it.


I could be wrong, but I know of no boatbuilder new or old that has used maple outside.

I have a section of teak that I was going to use for the excact same thing you are planning from my old contender but I sold the boat before the project was even started. If you are interested in the teak PM me your measurements and I will tell you my section is big enough.

If not the maple will look good I I hope you can preserve thouroughly enough to last.

[Ed]

I guess you can't keep a boat geek away for too long...

Dan and Jason- thank you for the heads up on maple's swelling characteristics. Did not know about that.

Jason- also thank you very much for the teak offer but I am going to go ahead and use the maple and see what happens. I really like the look of it and will give it my best shot.....plus it did not cost a ton of money. Anything will look better than what was on there!

One last question....doesn't Sunseeker use bird's eye maple in their boat interiors???? I could have sworn there is one here at the Marina that has bird's eye maple but it could be mistaken. Perhaps it is a faux finish??

Ed

[Trayder]

It is probably a veneer,for weight and cost, but even if it solid maple they use it on their interiors which are climate controlled and not exposed to the elements.

I said, I do not know of any yachts that use maple outside

[Ed]

My mistake...

[paulfurnari]

Ed, as a wood finisher by trade, I agree with Jayson. However if you're going to use the maple be sure to make all cut outs prior to finishing. Also consider pre-drilling the screw holes and using machine thread screws with washers and nuts so as not to rupture the finish. Be sure to finish all sides and areas equally. Whatever you do to one side, do to the other. This will help prevent warping.
PF