I've been engaged in some "wood therapy" over the winter, keeping busy building some stuff to install in our boat come spring (a fold down dining table, a step for the bow pulpit, and a stovetop cover -- photos to follow when they're done). Yeah, teak isn't cheap, but neither is psychotherapy.
Now I'm been mulling over building a wood floor for the cockpit. I've seen photos of grate-style floors, and just saw this nice layout in a members post from last year:
[url]http://www.c36ia.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=327&d=1270000866...
They sure look pretty. I'm curious as to how these things work out in practice. Does water tend to dam up in them, or are they constructed with fore-and-aft channels cut in the underside to allow drainage? Are they more comfortable on bare feet? Slippery when wet? Other considerations?
Matthew Chachère
s/v ¡Que Chévere!
(Formerly 1985 C36 MKI #466 tall rig fin keel M25)
2006 Catalina Morgan 440 #30.
Homeported in eastern Long Island, NY
When I bought my boat a little over a year ago, my wife really wanted to add a wooden cockpit grate based on other boats that we looked at. I was going to build it myself and in searching for materials ran across a company called Diamond Tropical Hardwoods. I talked to Kevin Yardley the owner and after describing what I wanted, Kevin suggested he could build it for me. He apparently works with teak plantations (reforestation projects) in Costa Rica and manufactures custom teak furniture. I made a template of my cockpit, configuring the grate in 3 pieces. Kevin sent the drawing to Costa Rica and in about 6 weeks they delivered the completed grate. Total cost delivered was $535. Grate is 1' thick, with 1"x1" grate section with a 1"x2" border, coated with polyurethane. The craftsmanship is excellent. I don't have any pictures with me, but can post some when I return from BC. I don't have any connection with Diamond Tropical Hardwood other than being very pleased with the work they did for me.
Here is the contact information:
Kevin Yardley
President & Founder
Diamond Teak & The Spirit Song Collection
Diamond Tropical Hardwoods
[url]www.diamondtropicalhardwoods.com[/url]
[url]www.diamondteak.com[/url]
215.453.2196
Regarding use, everything seems to drain fine. I added holes over the cockpit drains, but water never builds up. The grates keep the cockpit appearing nice and clean. When we leave the boat we usually bring them into the cabin; I would like to delay refinishing them as long as possible. My wife loves them.
Paul Meyers
1986 Catalina 36
Hull #615
Ventura, California
Kevin,
Thanks for sharing. I am anxious to see the pics. My wife and I have been talking about wood floors for a while now and this sounds like the perfect fit (both for looks and budget).
you don't happen to still have the dimensions, do you?? I know i will measure it send it and will have been off by a half inch.....never fails...
Thanks again.
Jack Bahen
Kinera - 1985 C36 Mk I Tall Rig
Hull # 422
Annapolis, MD
Jack,
I'll look around to see what I can find, but the final went to Kevin. When I made the template I cut kraft paper to fit inside the cockpit and taped it down. It didn't have to be perfect, just close. I then used a piece of wood 2" thick held up between the pencil and the vertical surfaces and carefully traced the inside perimeter of the cockpit. Mark the base of the binnacle pedestal posts in the same way. I took this drawing home and cut out the shape, which at this point was 2" too small. I laid this onto kraft paper and went around the perimeter line adding back 2". This was an easier and more accurate way of getting a pretty accurate template drawing. I marked on the template where it was to be divided,( 3 pieces altogether), bisected in the middle of the main cockpit with the top of "T" of the cockpit in one piece. (I have a folding wheel, so it is easy to get this piece in and out, but may be more difficult with a fixed wheel with out removing the wheel.) I also drew the edge dimensions on the template and any instructions for round overs. I believe I asked for a 1/4" round over on the top exterior edges and 1/2" on the bottom. Edges where the pieces met were left square.
My grate fit almost perfectly when I received it, however I had to trim a couple of spots around the base of the binnacle on one piece. Now it fits snug with no movement. I'll post some pictures next week.
Paul Meyers
1986 Catalina 36
Hull #615
Ventura, California
Paul,
Thanks so much for the detailed response. I am excited to see the pictures then call Kevin!
Jack Bahen
Kinera - 1985 C36 Mk I Tall Rig
Hull # 422
Annapolis, MD
Matt,
My boat came to me with a wood grate on the cockpit floor.
I have added finish to the teak a few years ago but otherwise it is unchanged.
It's one of the nice's things on my boat and I get comments from visitors all the time.
I probably wouldn't have added it to the boat but now that I have it, I'd never be without it.
Just one of those live and learn things I guess.
Now, does junk collect under the boards, OH YA, lots. When I do remove them to clean the floor it's pretty gross. But right up to the minute I take them up, the boat cockpit looks great!
Bill Matley
Bill Matley
Duncan Bay Boat Club
Cheboygan, Michigan
Lakes Huron, Michigan,
Canadian North Channel
"Spirit of Aloha" Hull #1252
As promised here are a few pictures of the cockpit grate that I described. Taken with my Iphone so not great photos, but hopefully clear enough to get the idea
Paul Meyers
1986 Catalina 36
Hull #615
Ventura, California
Thanks for the pictures, Paul -- they really help clarify how these are laid out.
Given what teak costs these days, the price for the finished product is quite good, and gives me pause as to whether its worth my while to build on my own.
Matthew Chachère
s/v ¡Que Chévere!
(Formerly 1985 C36 MKI #466 tall rig fin keel M25)
2006 Catalina Morgan 440 #30.
Homeported in eastern Long Island, NY
This winter's "wood therapy" project was the teak cockpit grate I'd been mulling for a few years.
In hindsight, I might have been better of following Paul's source for a custom builder; this was a lot of work, involving a lot of very careful setting up of cutting jigs and so-forth. But that's the therapy part of it, I guess. A useful resource was an instruction CD produced by a guy up in Newburyport, MA, who also custom builds grates ([url]www.theyachtshop.biz[/url]). With the price of teak at these days,the CD was worth it just for the mistakes I may have avoided (not that there weren't a few anyway).
Below is the outcome (awaiting application of a teak sealer), as well as a picture yesterday of the boat that it will be installed on once everything thaws around here!
Matthew Chachère
s/v ¡Que Chévere!
(Formerly 1985 C36 MKI #466 tall rig fin keel M25)
2006 Catalina Morgan 440 #30.
Homeported in eastern Long Island, NY
Looks good, Matthew! Hope you don't have to raise the bimini an inch now.
Duane Ising - Past Commodore (2011-2012)
s/v Diva Di
1999 Catalina 36 Hull #1777
Std rig; wing keel, M35B, Delta (45#)
Punta Gorda, FL
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/diva-di/
Snow on the boat - wow. Its hard for us to comprehend. Even in Hobart, our most southern city, this doesn't happen (well not enough to worry about).
Sent from my Android Tablet
Cat375 - Rock The Boat - Hull 54
Lake Macquarie - NSW - Australia
Beautiful Job Matthew!
One small addition I eventually made to my grate to raise it a little- I cut some plugs/feet out of starboard and screwed them to the perimeter of base. They are about 3/4 inch in diam. Eventually will replace them with rubber feet since they tend to rattle when the engine is at higher rpm.
Paul Meyers
1986 Catalina 36
Hull #615
Ventura, California
Paul -
Curious why you saw the need to raise the grate.
In response to my initial query a few years ago, you wrote
[QUOTE=pmeyers;11736] Regarding use, everything seems to drain fine. I added holes over the cockpit drains, but water never builds up. [/QUOTE]
Did it turn out that drainage was an issue, or did you raise the grate for another reason?
(And then of course, there's Duane's concern that I might "have to raise the bimini an inch now." -- would have to raise it even further!)
Matthew Chachère
s/v ¡Que Chévere!
(Formerly 1985 C36 MKI #466 tall rig fin keel M25)
2006 Catalina Morgan 440 #30.
Homeported in eastern Long Island, NY
Matthew,
It wasn't necessary for drainage and probably not really necessary- I looked around one day for something to do and it seemed like a good idea.
My grates are a close fit and if I raised them about 3/8" with feet it made them easier to get them in and out. As I mentioned, I don't leave them in the cockpit when not on the boat which has really preserved the finish.
Haven't had any height issues- I just cut the soles off my shoes.
Paul Meyers
1986 Catalina 36
Hull #615
Ventura, California
[QUOTE=pmeyers;21378]... Haven't had any height issues- I just cut the soles off my shoes...[/QUOTE]
So, I guess stilleto heels are out.
Duane Ising - Past Commodore (2011-2012)
s/v Diva Di
1999 Catalina 36 Hull #1777
Std rig; wing keel, M35B, Delta (45#)
Punta Gorda, FL
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/diva-di/
Our vessel came with teak cockpit flooring, but in a different pattern than the posted pictures. I think the design on our boat is much simpler than the ones in the photo, so it may be another pattern to consider.
I'll take some pics this weekend.
Laura Olsen
Past Commodore
S/V Miramar
hull 938 (MKI 1989, TR,WK, M25xp)
Edgemere, MD