I picked up the blue formica I bought at at Restore yesterday using our trusty 2000 Mazda MPV van, and carried it up the 7′ ladder and down the companionway to the galley table with almost no damage – just a nick on the hidden right side edge. I also stopped for an oil change at lunchtime. The van had 900 miles clocked in since the last oil change – 5 years ago! I can’t say enough good things about Savendra Dutt, the manager of SpeeDee oil change in Redwood City. He came out personally to go over the technician’s work order and make recommendations concerning their findings. Very polite and professional. I believe he also operates the store in Los Gatos, CA.
Back to the counter – I will need big cutouts for the sink in the center, the Origo 6000 stove/oven at right, faucet behind. I still need to decide what to do about the icebox, either install a front loading 12V unit I have, go back to the original top loading box or try something like Greg Delezynski did – modify a Norcold cooler to fit, although he says if he had it to do over…
If I was starting from scratch now, I would NOT build it in. What I would do (no matter what) is build a shelf in the galley sized to hold one of the Norcold or Engel units on. That way, when (not if) is goes bad, or they come out with some new super unit that uses on 0.1 Amp to freez 100 Lbs of meat, you can just swap out the old unit.
Links of Interest:
The formica counter is backed essentially with particle board, so a treatment of the underside with some penetrating epoxy would also be a good idea. I am not sure how I feel about the blue yet. It definitely give things a vintage sort of look, which isn’t a bad way to go. I did find some really nice looking marbled tops at Home Depot and Lowes, but I am not sure that goes well with the stainless double sink I plan to install.
I would need to install a fiddle strip across the front, or I could possibly cut it back and make the front edge entirely teak. I saw a 6′ piece at blue Pelican for $28 that would make a very nice edge and fiddle combo.
You can see I have big work ahead of me with the portlite and surrounds, which both have a lot of water damage from leaks.
- This is an inexpensive, five-foot section of blue formica from Restore that I am using for the test layout of the Galley.
