Galley Refurb

[Capt Chad]

So, at this point

Thor Kitchen 1.6-cu ft 1000-Watt 23.38-in Built-In Microwave with Sensor Cooking Controls (Stainless Steel) TMO24 at Lowes.com

This is going where the princess combo was (with some woodwork) and a 2 burner range top pushed over close to the factory refrigerator inset into a new countertop.

The new problem is getting someone to cut countertops for us. My cabinet guy is more than happy to make a template and take it to them. But no one seems interested in doing Corian for us and I don't know of anyone local that will do a stone overlay. I definitely don't want to sit a full thickness stone countertop on the Stbd side of my boat.

What has everyone else done for counter tops? The built-in is sitting at my house, so I'm committed at this point.

 

[SeaEric]

I like that oven. It's great that it's 120v.

 

[madhatter1]

Madhatter, Avantco ID18DBA Front-to-Back Drop-In / Countertop Double Induction Range / Cooker - 120V, 1800W this is the 120v version of the one you were talking about. It almost scares me that it's so cheap. I really like the idea.

I just have to figure out if an oven replacement is possible spacewise. That will be the deciding factor on the 240 conversion.

Definitely have a place for an in cabinet microwave after my cabinet guy gets done.

Chad, sorry, I missed this post. Yes thats the one. My 46 has the 240V unit. I accidently bought a 120V unit to replace the backup we lost in floods. So I pulled out the rusty alcohol cooktop out of our 34 today and put it in there. We have used ours a lot and it works great.

We skinned our countertops in Corian. This was done in St Pete. You need a boatyard or a boatyard guy to do the work. It is 100% fabrication work, not really countertop work.

 

[Capt Chad]

We were planning on pulling the trim and having an overlay build and then install it. Do you not think that's possible? I just thought the seams and contours would end up better.

 

[Capt Chad]

So, I have the oven and now the cooktop finally came back in stock and has arrived. And, I have a couple avenues to get the countertop built.

Last planning question is what kind of sink to go with? Doing a built in Corian sink would I think look the best. But then SS or porcelain undermount would look pretty good and be more durable. Or, KISS theory and drop in another SS sink OR rehab mine and re-use it.

You guys have any experience with Corian sinks? Anything you've done you really liked or wish you hadn't?

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I went with a SS undermount. Lighter and more durable.

 

[madhatter1]

We turned our original SS sink into an undermount by putting the Corian laminate right over it. Removed the sink and routered a recess so it was even with original formica. Then had a sink insert made for when not in use. Put some elbow grease into your existing sink. If not many dings these are high quality SS and can be polished up. I went down this path because besides being odd sizes and expensive todays stainless is nothing like older.

 

[Fanfare]

Fanfare came with a double stainless galley sink and Formica counter tops. I am now probably 15 years into our third or so galley rehab, always retaining the original layout. Here's what I have learned:

About 20 years ago we redid our home kitchen with Corian counters and matching Corian double sink. This has really been great especially as we have repolished the surfaces several times. Never had a bad spot. But the Corian sink is very hard, not at all resilient and can easily break delicate glassware, particularly wine glasses.

On the boat updating with a new cooktop and self-cleaning oven meant laying Corian over the Formica. Again it's been great. Even though we don't have delicate glassware on board I retained the original stainless double sink which I had repolished and installed undermount with the Corian. A tiny dishwasher made with war surplus parts by Ling-Temco-Vought lasted about three years before being tossed due to unrepairability, resulting in hand dishwashing or paper plates. This smaller size sink favored our Bahamian cruising need for fresh water conservation and was likely the reason for its original selection by Hatteras. Later installation of an R/O watermaker has not changed this equation. Lastly I feel the contrasting color of the stainless goes well with the expanse of white Corian to maintain the traditional look of our galley. We live on board so this area gets a lot of use especially with grandchildren and has held up well.

 

[Capt Chad]

Thanks guys. Refurb the SS sink it is. I don't have a problem at all with the size. And we would have to cut into vertical wall in the cabinetry to go bigger anyway.

When you polished the old one did it seem to hold up? I guess it's easy enough to tape around the opening and do it again later.

 

[Fanfare]

The original ss sink brightened up quite a bit with polishing. I haven't thought about it since. Would be easy to buff it up again.

 

[Capt Chad]

We got started this morning.

Anybody want this Princess 3 burner oven/range combo? Pick up in Knoxville TN or Orange Beach AL.

 

[Capt Chad]

Before and now pics. The plywood is our template. New oven/microwave and cooktop have been placed on a new 120v outlet that is wired to the original breaker for the Princess Combo. It's getting an upgraded breaker. As many of you said, there's more than enough wire there to carry more load. And the new stuff is very efficient. Probably would have ran off the old breaker. So, all of the outlets on the counter or cabinets will be on a separate circuit. Coffee pots, portable cooktops, blenders, etc. will not factor into the load for the installed appliances.

As you can see, with the Princess and the old microwave we had no counterspace. The new cooktop is pushed all the way over to the wall. Not ideal. But it's out of the way and made the project way less complicated to put into a void that was already there. It will work fine for 90% of the cookware on the boat. A freestanding single eye burner will take care of the other 10% and can be stored out of the way. We even gained storage by making the drawer under the oven twice the original size. Pots and pans will actually fit in there now.

I have corian samples coming Tuesday. We're going to order a slap and build the top. Should be enough to do one of the vanities too.

 

[Sadey]

Looks very nice!

 

[Capt Chad]

The appliances and countertop are in. We re-used the old circuit from the Princess and it carries the cook top and the oven while both are running.

Looks a ton better with a lot more counter space.

Now we just have to figure out what to do with those 2 white walls on either side of the countertop. And how far we want to go in making the old refrigerator look better. I'm afraid if we show it too much love it'll die out of spite.

 

[madhatter1]

We did a backsplash full size in 1/4" Corian to match the countertops.

 

[Capt Chad]

I thought about that AFTER the install. That color isn't available in 1/4". Figures.