Thanks again, Bob
I am leaning towards doing the white or light grey plastic/vinyl tiles for now, (I already have some in my basement) and then taking my time doing a really nice Trex grate over the summer. The Trex actually comes in more colors than the three I originally saw. I think it is 6 colors total.
I will heed your advice and go with the lightest color I can, especially as the boat is in the South where it can be 90+ degrees on a summer day.
Now that is starting to get hot, my immediate project I am starting this week is trying to fabricate a bimini that attaches to the factory rails to keep us out of the hot sun. I need to get back on the tech tips pages again to see if anyone has done it themself, or if I need to pay someone to make one. I can make the frame rails, just can't sew canvas.
Thanks!
Rick Bensyl
From: Bob Schimmel <bpschim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: 2006/05/21 Sun PM 11:42:37 EDT
To: sanjuan23@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: TEAK/WOOD/TREX cockpit grate?
Rick;
One other thing you have to keep in mind is the colour of the grid.
While a light colour is hard on the eyes in the sun, it is cool under
foot. Many times I find my dark gray grid is too hot for bare feet. I
know you should be wearing shoes when boating, but wow it sure can get
hot at times. Its one of the reasons why I keep a bucket handy, dump
water water on my tootsies.
Regards
Bob Schimmel
(Always stay curious)
bpschim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Rick Bensyl wrote:
Thanks Bob- I think I can do the Trex material pretty inexpensively, and have been wanting to invest in a table saw for some time now.
I've not worked with the Trex before but have heard people rave about how great it is as a deck material. A friend of mine swears by it. I did find a sailing website last winter- can't remember where, in which someone replaced their sailboats' teak deck with Trex- so I can't take credit for an original idea- just different application of their idea.
I looked at their website and they have basically three colors- a light wood tone, darker one (they call Brasilia) and another that is kind of a matte gray color.
I'll ask my friend that know more about it if it is slippery underfoot. I'll keep you posted- but it make take a few months before it finally unfolds. For now I am going to use a material like yours in light gray as an interim measure.
Love the tech tips website- THANKS!!!!!!!!!
Sincerely,
Rick Bensyl
From: Bob Schimmel <bpschim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: 2006/05/21 Sun PM 03:46:24 EDT
To: sanjuan23@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: TEAK/WOOD/TREX cockpit grate?
Interesting that you should send this note. I have been thinking of
changing my grid to cedar but I like your idea of using Trex. I wonder
how hot it would be under foot and if it would be slippery when wet.
You can cut the notches with a router. I haven't yet figured out how to
line up the slats so it fits the shaped cockpit sole as I have too many
other projects on the go right now to consider doing this one. Let me
know how you make out though. Why let good R&D go to waste huh?
Regards
Bob Schimmel
(Always stay curious)
bpschim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Rick Bensyl wrote:
Hi everyone- I recently purchased a San Juan 23 in the last six months and really enjoy the boat and the website. After reviewing Bob Schimels' tech tips and seeing his cockpit grate made in vinyl, I would like one also.
I priced the "do it yourself" teak grate materials at West marine and it looks like it would cost over $500. You can have a custom one made by "Thai teak Industries" and have it shipped to the US for around $350, but I would really like to do this on a shoestring budget.
Has anyone tried doing this yourself? I am looking into building it out of the Trex composite deck materials sold at Home Depot/Lowes, but am not sure how one would cut all the notches needed into the composite material.
Ideas or suggestions anyone? THANKS!
R. Bensyl
SJ 23 - First Wave
Atlanta, GA USA
_______________________________________________
Sanjuan23 mailing list
Sanjuan23@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://lists.mobilegeographics.com/mailman/listinfo/sanjuan23
San Juan 23 Internet Fleet: http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Trails/5492/
San Juan 23 Tech Tips: http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/2358/index.html
_______________________________________________
Sanjuan23 mailing list
Sanjuan23@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://lists.mobilegeographics.com/mailman/listinfo/sanjuan23
San Juan 23 Internet Fleet: http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Trails/5492/
San Juan 23 Tech Tips: http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/2358/index.html
_______________________________________________
Sanjuan23 mailing list
Sanjuan23@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://lists.mobilegeographics.com/mailman/listinfo/sanjuan23
San Juan 23 Internet Fleet: http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Trails/5492/
San Juan 23 Tech Tips: http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/2358/index.html
_______________________________________________
Sanjuan23 mailing list
Sanjuan23@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://lists.mobilegeographics.com/mailman/listinfo/sanjuan23
San Juan 23 Internet Fleet: http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Trails/5492/
San Juan 23 Tech Tips: http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/2358/index.html
_______________________________________________
Sanjuan23 mailing list
Sanjuan23@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://lists.mobilegeographics.com/mailman/listinfo/sanjuan23
San Juan 23 Internet Fleet: http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Trails/5492/
San Juan 23 Tech Tips: http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/2358/index.html
