Replies

1. 
   sschefer | May 20, 2002 11:03pm | #1

   Mahogany with a red mahogany stain and marine spare varnish. Go to an engraver and have new brass id plates made up and drilled for two screws. Have the letters antiqued then either have the engraver laquer them or you can do it yourself. Assemble it and admire it. An alternate wood is Teak.

   Steve - in Northern California

1. 
   Quickstep | May 20, 2002 11:10pm | #2

   Thanks but no Thanks. While I appreciate the beauty, I want to keep this beater maintenence free. I have a sailboat with lots of beautiful teak. I'll focus on keeping that nice, but this I want to be maintenence free!

1. 
   sschefer | May 20, 2002 11:33pm | #3

   Ah and a true fisherman you are... no need be workin when the fish are bite'n. How about a piece of plastic, colored or clear you could have it engraved also.Steve - in Northern California

2. 
   jeffrow1 | May 22, 2002 02:13am | #4

   I use "Marine Board", It's available in my area (San Diego) in 5 colors and is sold in 4x8 sheets or by the sq ft. It comes in standard thicknesses 1/4 thru 1 inch. The stuff is a joy to work with, it cuts and routes easier and cleaner than wood using standard woodworking tools. I recently replaced a builtin cabinet on a 53' boat using the stuff. Unlike marine plywood it is impervious to sun and saltwater. The big downside is that it is some what pricey and cannot be glued up, nothing sticks to it.

1. 
   dhpascoe | May 29, 2002 01:51am | #5

   Aluminum plate works good, easy to machine. Use 6061 alloy if in saltwater. Paint or not as desired. However, gavanic action will cause corrosion if you use it with dissimilar metals, so bare plate is usually best.

   If you want plastic, you need to get a fiber reinforced type as most plastics (as you probably noticed) will crack. Try searching for PLASTIC SHEET products.

3. 
   RICHARDNOYES | May 29, 2002 05:19am | #6

   Get a piece of 1/2" Lexan - it's easy to work , tough as nails, the color is all the way through and it's generally used for bulletproof glass in cars.  Most glass shops sell it.

4. 
   swines | May 29, 2002 05:59pm | #7

   Why not have the best of both worlds - no maintenance and wood?  Pick the wood of your choice, drill holes for the gauges & epoxy encapsulate.  Then, get some clear vinylester gel coat (it's UV resistant) & gel coat the epoxied wood.  Now, it's waterproof, looks like wood, and is as maintenance-free as a fiberglass boat. 

   Or, if you just hate that classic wood look, get white gel coat and color it any way you want.  Ferrari red, lemon yellow, classic black, whatever - limited only by your imagination.