replacing the floor

[jim rosenthal]

About a month ago, motivated by 1) photos of beautiful flooring in other Hatteras yachts, including MikeP's 53MY, and no, I can't afford to buy it for the floor, and he doesn't hire out, sadly 2) the shabby state of the carpet in the salon of my 36C, I decided to put a new floor in my boat. After some thinking and inspection of various samples on the boat, I decided on Lonseal in a mahongany and holly look- obviously, this is not real wood, but it will match fairly well, and be a lot easier to clean and maintain. Carpet doesn't seem to last a long time. We have enough to do the salon and the head. The carpet in the galley and stateroom has held up well enough, since it isn't in the sun ever and doesn't get walked on as much.

So today, with my installer otherwise occupied and too busy to return phone calls, and the day off, I began removing the carpet. Under the carpet, as it turns out, is vinyl flooring- possibly even two layers of it, over what looks like 3/4" plywood. I'm not sure this is in good enough shape to put the Lonseal on top of. Since the hatches were trimmed to allow the carpet to wrap downwards and staple to the side of each hatch, they are also loose and will have to have wood strips added to them at least on some sides, so that they won't rattle and so there won't be visible gaps between them.

I can tell already that this job will be the gift that keeps on taking, not giving. This will be interesting. It will certainly solve the problem of what to do with my spare time for the next few weeks.

[tom5518]

Jim, do you know whether or not the vinyl is that asbestos shizzle they used back in the day?

[MikeP]

FWIW, if OEM linoleum flooring, any Hatt of the age most of us here own/are interested in, will probably have had asbestos-backed linoleum. Armstrong was a standard lino on Hatts; their linoleum, (as well as that of most other companies) commonly contained asbestos though the mid-'80s. Adhesives sometimes contained asbestos as well.

[dottieshusband]

Putting this down now. 12 mm with 1 mm teal and maple veneer. The edging and joints are all solid stock teak.

[RonNP]

Looks fantastic!

[dottieshusband]

Panels are screwed down over a vapor barrier. Screws will be hidden by 1/2 inch flex shoe molding

[SEVEN]

Great job. Looks fantastic

[Entonces]

Putting this down now. 12 mm with 1 mm teal and maple veneer. The edging and joints are all solid stock teak.

Looks absolutely beautiful! Glad the Admiral isn't looking at these pics! But now you got my interest in replacing my carpet!

[kjcampos]

hi Jim
i was reading your story about your floors and we also want redo all our floors on the boat....i just ordered some samples from Lonseal can't wait to get them ....i didn't see a price do you have any information on the cost of the product...

[jim rosenthal]

FWIW, if OEM linoleum flooring, any Hatt of the age most of us here own/are interested in, will probably have had asbestos-backed linoleum. Armstrong was a standard lino on Hatts; their linoleum, (as well as that of most other companies) commonly contained asbestos though the mid-'80s. Adhesives sometimes contained asbestos as well.

Uh oh. Well, I haven't removed any linoleum yet, I've just removed the carpet and pulled the staples out of the hatches. But I'm glad you mentioned it. I have not been wearing a mask, but I will now.

The plywood top of the three hatches I did so far is pretty deteriorated at the edges. I am starting to think that we should just take the plywood tops off the hatches and replace them altogether.