How does Formica hold up in marine environment?

[Mark42]

The new white nylon cleats I bought have a different bolt pattern than the cleats that are there now, and the prior set. So if the new cleats are mounted, the holes from the other cleats will show. I am thinking of using white Formica (not glued to wood, just plain Forica) to cut a 2x4 inch plate to go under the new cleat and cover the old holes. <br /><br />Anyone know if the Formica will hold up in salt water and sun?<br /><br />Does solid surface counter top (like Corian) come in thin 1/8 or 1/4" sheets as an alternative?<br /><br />I can use stainless steel sheetmetal, but I would like to keep the material white. And trying to patch the holes by mixing gel coat colors to match seems like a lot of effort for very minimal return. And you know it will show as little blue circles of a slightly different color. That plus the sanding and polishing... Geeze, I don't want to spend two days mounting cleats!

 

[gextyr1]

Re: How does Formica hold up in marine environment?

Why are you changing your cleats? Just a visual change? Sounds to me like it might be worth looking for cleats with bolts that line up with your old ones

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: How does Formica hold up in marine environment?

What about just filling the holes with 5200? It stays nice and white and will seal the holes very well. I've done a few like that on my white gunwales and you can't even notice.

 

[ED21]

Re: How does Formica hold up in marine environment?

I don't think Formica(plastic laminate) will hold up outside for long. The company only rates it for interior use. Most plastic laminates will have a brown edge when cut. Color core will have the same color throughout.<br />Corian says its solid platic will work outside. Other solid surface companies say interior only.<br />Colors may fade. The thinnest it comes is 1/4".<br />I would be more inclined to use a SS plate or aluminum bedded on the surface.<br />Or spend more time trying to find a cleat w/ the same hole pattern.

 

[Mark42]

Re: How does Formica hold up in marine environment?

Originally posted by gextyr1:<br /> Why are you changing your cleats? Just a visual change? Sounds to me like it might be worth looking for cleats with bolts that line up with your old ones

The white cleats on there now are actually chrome plated zamak that have been painted white. The zamak just falls apart in the salt environment. So I ordered some solid white nylon cleats to replace them.<br /><br />Ralph, that sounds good, but the gel coat is blue and it would show as white dots on blue gel coat.<br /><br />Ed, Stainless my be the way. Or maybe I can find some white Plexy or paint the back side of clear plexy white. <br /><br />Thanks to all.<br /><br />Mark.

 

[tr918]

Re: How does Formica hold up in marine environment?

Mark, Try polyethethylene sheet or Nylon sheet. You can get them in 1/16th to 1/2 inch thicknesses. To see what I am talking about go to usplastics.com(add the www) There maybe a local distributor of plastics near you if you don't want to pay shipping. I think the nylon is 4 to 6 bucks a square foot for 1/16th thickness.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: How does Formica hold up in marine environment?

How about putting an attractive stainless steel screws/bolts in the holes? Maybe a truss head. You could even use an acctractive finish washer (you know, the ones meant to show)

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: How does Formica hold up in marine environment?

If you want to try something a little radical, look into carbonfiber sheets like these:<br /><br /> http://www.robotcombat.com/marketplace_carbonfiber_cust.html <br /><br />Somebody here did parts of their dash with it and it came out excellent - search the archives for "dash" or maybe "carbonfiber" it was a few months ago.

 

[TAV MAN]

Re: How does Formica hold up in marine environment?

Mark42 This is tav man I have an idea. What about PVC board from a sign shop. The stuff I used in my shop is about 3/16. They might give you a piece let hope

 

[Wimperdink]

Re: How does Formica hold up in marine environment?

Mark I may have a solution for you. I have some small sheets of white plastic. Very durable. Like a strong plexi but white all the way through. If you like I can cut a hunk off one of these pieces and send it to you. It might be a lil thicker than your looking for though. I have it in 3/8" and 1/2". You can cut to any shape and polish it to a perfect shine. Let me know if your interested. wimperdink@earthlink.net<br /><br />p.s. the sheet to the right is not as dirty as it looks in the pic. The old ford doesnt help it out any. <br /><br />

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: How does Formica hold up in marine environment?

Wimperdink, where did you buy that stuff and how much roughly is it?

 

[Wimperdink]

Re: How does Formica hold up in marine environment?

It's expensive... i've price it out on the net before.. even scraps are high. I got mine from an upfitter in KY. They use it to build flat bed trucks for landscapers and the like. He gave me some leftover scraps. I have white and black in diff sizes. If you need some small pieces i'm willing to share.<br /><br />When I priced it out awhile back i was finding prices of $170 for a 4x8 sheet of 3/8". Scraps were selling for high dollar too.

 

[Mark42]

Re: How does Formica hold up in marine environment?

Thanks for all the ideas, and the offer, Wimperdink. I'll think about this for a day or so.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: How does Formica hold up in marine environment?

Thanks for the offer Wimperdink but I'd need almost a half sheet. Any idea what it is called?<br /><br />I am thinking of replacing the sunpad on the back of my boat with something like that or kingstarboard so I can cut bait and clean fish on it. Would that stuff be good for that?

 

[Wimperdink]

Re: How does Formica hold up in marine environment?

would be good but you'd leave knife cuts in it if you were using it as a cutting board. Good thing about it is the color goes all the way through and you could sand out the lil cuts pretty easy and repolish it. Its pretty stout.. about the density of thick plexi but higher strength. Your going to flip at the prices but its the going price... this place has about every available option. Modern Plastics Some of the stuff I have they are asking $76 for a 2' x 2' sheet.. pricey stuff. Now I know why the scraps I got are so small

 

[Mark42]

Re: How does Formica hold up in marine environment?

Hey Wimperdink,<br /><br />Can't get that link to modern plastics to work. Got another address for them?<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Mark.<br /><br />PS save a hunk of that plastic for me.

 

[Wimperdink]

Re: How does Formica hold up in marine environment?

Originally posted by Mark42:<br /> Hey Wimperdink,<br /><br />Can't get that link to modern plastics to work. Got another address for them?<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Mark.<br /><br />PS save a hunk of that plastic for me.

Try this... looks like the same place with a diff name...<br /> http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/category.asp?catalog_name=USPlastic&Category_Name=62&Page=1 <br /> click here for a direct link <br /><br />its here if you want... I think with the 3/8 inch I have, a guy could cut out some dog bone or splash shapes... use a router with a variable speed on low and cut the edges nice would make a perfect hole cover and cleat mount. just my imagination at work again.

 

[tr918]

Re: How does Formica hold up in marine environment?

Mark and Wimperdink,<br /><br /> That is the site I suggested earlier. We use them as a supplier for our acid resistant polyethylene tanks. They sell all types of sheeting. I suggest using (white)polypropylene. It will give the same impact and abrasion resistance as polyethylene. The main reason is it is lower cost than all the other types of sheeting.<br /><br />Mark a 1/4" thick 24" x 48" sheet of white polypropylene is listed at $17.31 in the US plastics catalog. 1/32" thick is 3.82" and a 1" thick is 68.60. <br />US plastic is located in Lima, OH. <br /><br />Hope this helps.<br />-TR

 

[Wimperdink]

Re: How does Formica hold up in marine environment?

lol it sure is the same site.... didnt notice it without a link. sorry.. didnt mean to steal your thunder.

 

[blackwaterstout]

Re: How does Formica hold up in marine environment?

Just buy a solid white cutting board from wal mart. Cut it down to the size you need.