I'm looking at a 55' sedan bridge style of boat that has way too much white laminate. I'd like to hear from anyone who may have had some success transforming the "Miami Vice" look into classic wood. I'm thinking I can scuff up the laminate, apply an adhesive and glue up teak veneer. It's a lot of work and expense and I'd hate to see it unravel. Any ideas or examples out there?
Are you talking bulkheads or cabinetry? We did the deckhouse of an older Hatteras that had been wallpapered. We ordered the original afromosia on 1/4" ply and bonded that to existing. It turned out beautifully and was not horrible cost wise. If you're doing cabinet doors and drawer fronts, it probably can be more cost effective to replace those instead of veneering them. The biggest expense in this whole process is the finishing. There is an enormous amount of time in getting stain (if required) and the coats of finish built up and looking right. Post some pics of your intended project. Perhaps someone here will have more direct experiences to share.
Thanks for the reply SeaEric. Its both bulkheads and cabinets. Its a sea of laminate. My plan was to veneer the cabinet boxes and probably remake the doors. If I proceed, I will definitely post some pictures of the progress. The interior of this boat needs to be gutted.
I recently became aware of a company on the net that custom makes cabinet doors and drawer fronts at what seem to be very reasonable prices. I have ordered a single "test" door for my own boat that is due to be delivered to me today. I'll let you know what I think of it. If this supplier's product is decent, it could make your type of project much easier.