Replacing galley Formica with Corian or Marble

[Bonnie Gilmore]

What experience have all of you with replacing galley Formica with Corian or marble? We've seen many boats with marble (Hans Christians for example), and I seem to recall Corian on an Island Packet at at boat show, but what about replacing original Formica? My concern about marble is it's thickness, and how you would work around refrigeration openings, and someone mentioned that Corian expands and contracts. Not good in tropical climates. I'm also interested in preserving the coving around the parimeter of the galley area. It's beginning to look like no small task, and while we'd contract the work out, would like to know what our options are. Thanks in advance.

Bonnie Gilmore & Chuck Rust
CD33 Southern Cross
Berkeley, CA



bgilmore@ci.santa-rosa.ca.us

[Dave Olson]

You might consider just updating the formica. There are many handsome designs and you will not have the same issues that you have mentioned below...
Dave

What experience have all of you with replacing galley Formica with Corian or marble? We've seen many boats with marble (Hans Christians for example), and I seem to recall Corian on an Island Packet at at boat show, but what about replacing original Formica? My concern about marble is it's thickness, and how you would work around refrigeration openings, and someone mentioned that Corian expands and contracts. Not good in tropical climates. I'm also interested in preserving the coving around the parimeter of the galley area. It's beginning to look like no small task, and while we'd contract the work out, would like to know what our options are. Thanks in advance.

Bonnie Gilmore & Chuck Rust
CD33 Southern Cross
Berkeley, CA

OlsonAcre@CSI.com

[Rich]

Corian should be very stable, it's a type of plastic. You can shape it and rout it, so working in your existing woodwork should be a straight forward task. It's heat resistant and easily repaired. I would recommend you stay with the brand name Corian, not one of the "we're just as good as Corian" alternatives. We had bad luck with a product called Fountainhead in our kitchen, it cracked under stress. Dupont's web site, www.dupont.com/corian/wrkplace/end_uses/index.html, lists marine as a potential application.



rpassmore42@hotmail.com

[Lyn Heiges]

Dear Bonnie and Chuck,

We have a total Corian kitchen including the sink! Corian is GREAT stuff and it has MANY, MANY desirable characteristics which we REALLY enjoy! BUT!!!! It does have it's quirks! First the UNDERLAYMENT for it has to be VERY FLAT and STABLE! It is plastic and IT SCRATCHES EASILY, ESPECIALLY WITH KNIVES, and in fact they provide "cutting boards" from the excess material. It does NOT stain and it is EASY to maintain with SoftScrub and/or 3M Pads (green and red). They provide you with a videotape on the maintenance which is pretty good. It is certified for medical facilities, etc., because it does not absorb any thing which is great on a boat. We live in Florida and have had no problems with it and the Berkeley area should have no problem. You can't go over to the Boater's Friend and get this stuff though! You can only obtain it through a Corian Certified Installer. There is a close product called Gibraltar with seem to work OK, but for the fractional price difference, I would go with genuine Corian. Make sure you have Brinks or Well Fargo to accompany you to the bank to pay for it as IT IS NOT CHEAP!! I know several yards who install it and one reliable one in the Maryland area you might contact is Hartge in Galesville, Maryland to get some honest feedback. I bought my first Cape Dory through them almost 15 years ago and they have a great reputation and I found them totally honest.

Best Wishes (with empty pockets),
Lyn Heiges
MOON CHILD CD28
St. Pete Beach, FL

What experience have all of you with replacing galley Formica with Corian or marble? We've seen many boats with marble (Hans Christians for example), and I seem to recall Corian on an Island Packet at at boat show, but what about replacing original Formica? My concern about marble is it's thickness, and how you would work around refrigeration openings, and someone mentioned that Corian expands and contracts. Not good in tropical climates. I'm also interested in preserving the coving around the parimeter of the galley area. It's beginning to look like no small task, and while we'd contract the work out, would like to know what our options are. Thanks in advance.

Bonnie Gilmore & Chuck Rust
CD33 Southern Cross
Berkeley, CA

lheiges@compuserve.com

[Ryan Turner]

Aren't you selling this boat?



rdtec@aol.com

[John]

I converted a cabinet in the head area of our CD28 to a navigation station. I considered Corian for the chart table surface. Corian was rejected due to weight, $$$, and the need for an underlayment. What we used was Formica laminated on top of 1/4" plywood. This seems to have worked very well.



john.martin.2@worldnet.att.net

[Catherine Monaghan]

Bonnie,

I remember seeing an article in Cruising World where a couple rebuilt the interior of their boat. They used ceramic tile on the countertop in their new galley. It looked beautiful but I don't know how well it would stand up to flexing or having something dropped on it.

Good luck with your renovation.

catherine_monaghan@merck.com
CD32 Realization
Raritan Bay

What experience have all of you with replacing galley Formica with Corian or marble? We've seen many boats with marble (Hans Christians for example), and I seem to recall Corian on an Island Packet at at boat show, but what about replacing original Formica? My concern about marble is it's thickness, and how you would work around refrigeration openings, and someone mentioned that Corian expands and contracts. Not good in tropical climates. I'm also interested in preserving the coving around the parimeter of the galley area. It's beginning to look like no small task, and while we'd contract the work out, would like to know what our options are. Thanks in advance.

Bonnie Gilmore & Chuck Rust
CD33 Southern Cross
Berkeley, CA

catherine_monaghan@merck.com

[John Nuttall]

In a former life I used to design & build houses. Let me just say this:

Corian (and most of the substitutes) would probably cost you about $2500.00 installed (the only way Corian is sold). There is alot of extra work in a 33 compared to the typical kitchen, so it's conceivable you could pay more. Especially if you arrange it through a marina/yard.
Granite, depending on color/grain could run 1 1/2 to 3 times the price of Corian. Both will entail ripping the existing countertops off, and replacing with the desired material. Both can be had with wood edges,teak if you choose, and integral sinks. THEY WILL LOOK ABSOLUTLY STUNNING !!!

However, you'll NEVER, NEVER, EVER get your money back (at resale).

Your local Home Depot has installers that can re-laminate your tops for a few hundred dollars. Give them a call..........



nuttallj@msn.com

[John R.]

What experience have all of you with replacing galley Formica with Corian or marble? We've seen many boats with marble (Hans Christians for example), and I seem to recall Corian on an Island Packet at at boat show, but what about replacing original Formica? My concern about marble is it's thickness, and how you would work around refrigeration openings, and someone mentioned that Corian expands and contracts. Not good in tropical climates. I'm also interested in preserving the coving around the parimeter of the galley area. It's beginning to look like no small task, and while we'd contract the work out, would like to know what our options are. Thanks in advance.

Bonnie Gilmore & Chuck Rust
CD33 Southern Cross
Berkeley, CA

I've been giving this same project some thought for our CD30. It needs to have the mica replaced because of the typical nicks and scratches. I've thought about re-mica but it wouldn't be easy with all the surrounding joinerwork to get a perfect fit without using trim strips. All the counters would have to be completely removed to do the job properly in my opinion. I'm seriously thinking about using stainless sheet metal. It can easily be fabricated by a quality sheet metal shop. The install would just be a drop in place and glued down. I would re -mica the icebox lid with white mica and the stove top cover panel as well. The stainless would have a radiused corner with a 3/4" high backsplash all around where it mates up with the bulkheads. The radiused corner where the backsplash meets the counter top would be very easy to clean and not trap dirt. The stainless is extremely easy to maintain, looks great and is very durable. I've looked at used restaurant work counters that could be cut up and used which saves some money over fabrication from scratch. Copper can be used also but the maintenance to keep it looking its best is much more. It is fairly easy to work with after a little practice and can be purchased reasonably from any roofing supplier in rolls. I would not use Corian myself, I'd use mica first for the reasons discussed by others. Marble is awful heavy but nice. Custom cut and fit pieces I would assume to be quite expensive. You could consider using large marble tiles installing with very narrow seams. I would probably use a sealant rather than grout in the seams. I would most likely use an acrylic/silicone sealant. I would secure the tiles with a polyurethane construction adhesive. I would first seal the countertops under the marble with epoxy for protection incase of water seepage getting down through the seams between the tiles.