We have a 1995 MkII. The galley has sliding cabinet doors, a very simple design. One is broken and the rest are looking worn. I'd like to replace them with something similar. They appear to be only 1/16" thick, a sandwich of white melamine or plastic laminate with something else in the core. I've been digging all over the Web trying to find something similar, but no luck. Has anyone found something that works and fits in the current sliding grooves without modification?
I'd consider some sort of plastic sheet, but there are so many types of plastic listed at McMaster-Carr it makes my head spin!
Best,
Keith
Avalon, hull 1573, Bayfield, WI
Avalon
1996 Catalina 36 MKII
Lake Superior
Might want to remeasure thickness. I think they might be 1/8" thick. Probably made from Acrylic. Google for a local plastics sheet supplier. McMasterCar might be a source. Use the old sliders to trace the size. Cut with a fine tooth jsaw blade and sand edges smooth- before removing protective paper or plastic film layer.
Paul & Wendy Keyser
"First Light"
Rye NH
2005 C36 MKII #2257
Wing, M35B
Same issues. Little winter project. 1998 36 MKII. I purchased 1/8" - Black Plexiglass Acrylic Sheets from estreetplastic.com. I cut a piece and took them to Amoore and it fit and slid just fine. Looked great. Strudy, better than the old tan vinyl sliders. Should not warp.
I placed painter tape on the lines where I would cut the sheets. Traced and measured then cut them on a table saw with a fine blade.
The old pulls would work but plain. I searched the web could not find small nautical pulls. I found small monkey knots on Defender, $12 for 2. Looks great against the black and the galley cabinets.
Amoore, thanks for the detailed info, very helpful. Can you verify that your old tan sliding doors were about 1/6" thick, but your acrylic ones are 1/8"? Sorry, but my boat is 250 miles away under winter wrap, so can't go measure the groove thickness. If I recall correctly, the groove was much wider than the door thickness.
Avalon
1996 Catalina 36 MKII
Lake Superior
Keith;
I replaced my doors when relocating the microwave and have some of the old doors here. Just put a mic on them and they are 1/8" in thickness. Any guy who does counter tops in your area should be able to knock them out in a hurry for you as the material is best cut with a router. I have a few of the old doors here if it's a help.
Bill
Hull 1041, Wing Keel, Walk through trsm.
Bill Dolan 1990 Catalina C-36 MKI - Hull #1041 'Williwaw'
Std. Rig, Walk Through, Wing Keel
M35, Oberdorfer Conversion,
Home Waters; Charlotte Harbor & The Gulf Islands of Florida
'You are never out of work if you own a boat'
Keith,
I did verify that your old tan sliding doors are about 1/16" thick, but the acrylic ones are 1/8"? The black acrylic one's do fix and slide easily. I live about 100 miles away from my boat on the hard, but went down a couple of weeks ago for other projects. I thought I had a picture of the acrylic's in the cabinet, so I could show my first mate. Must have deleted it.
Good luck and fair winds.
Capt Louie
You can buy the melamine sheets at any big box hardware store. They will even cut the piece to size for you. Then drill the handle holes and screw it in. Done.
Kevin Lenard
"Firefly"
'91 C-36 Mk. "1.5" Tall Rig, Fin Keel, Hull #1120, Universal M-35 original (not "A" or "B")
CBYC, Scarborough, Lake Ontario, Canada
Just removed the microwave last week and have been looking for some type of material for the sliding doors, too. Our existing white sliders are about 3/32" thick. But I did get a sample of 1/8" whiteboard from Menards and took it to the boat to test it. It does work but my concern is, will it swell at all come summer humidity? The whiteboard material is different in that the original actually looks like to pieces of white coated melamine or masonite sandwiched back to back. The white board is only coated on one side so I might consider putting a thin coat of epoxy on the dark side and edges to seal it, if we decide to go that way. Also looking at changing all the sliders to a 3/32" solid teak veneer plywood that I found online.
Robert Clyde
I ordered simple perspex, a nice blue colour then drilled the finger holes, I added magnets on the frame and doors to keep them shut on passage - work a treat, can send photos if anyone is interested
Nigel Frith
If not now, when?
As a follow up to my March 23 note. I was finally able to completed my project on the Galley Cabinet doors. See the photo. They came out nice, at about a cost of little over $100. Black plexiglass from Estreertplastic and monkey knots knob from Defender $13 for a set of two. Easy to do!

Hi - I just replaced it with coloured perspex then drilled finger holes - looks much nicer than what was there before. It cost me less than $60 (£40 in UK) for all the perspex and it was cut to exact size for me
Nigel Frith
If not now, when?
Keith;
Looks great ! Glad it worked out.....
Bill
Bill Dolan 1990 Catalina C-36 MKI - Hull #1041 'Williwaw'
Std. Rig, Walk Through, Wing Keel
M35, Oberdorfer Conversion,
Home Waters; Charlotte Harbor & The Gulf Islands of Florida
'You are never out of work if you own a boat'