Star Board

[Blue_Runner]

I've heard a lot of people say they used "star board" to replace hatches and various thing on boats.

My question is, what the heck is star board and where can you buy it?

Is it easy to work with, expensive, sturdy, etc etc?????

[chumbucket]

Hey B_R, Starboard is a "UV-Stabilized marine grade polymer, which makes an excellent choice for applications where there is exposure to the sun and saltwater. It will not rot, delaminate, swell or splinter, and the matte texture requires no painting, maintenance or finishing. Easy to work with using common woodworking tools."
That's how it's written up as in Boaters World catalogs. Having used it in the past, I can tell you, that it is indeed very easy to work with. It's not really cheap. BW lists a 54"X96"X1/2" sheet at $250 - $270. I found a plastics supplier here in the Boston area that sells the same sheet for $100 less than that. Try to reasearch plastics suppliers in your area before going o the marine suppliers.
Here's a link to the place I bought my material and brought MJ to get his too. They call theirs CPG Seaboard. It's the same material though.
http://www.jfreeman.com/panels.html

[reelapeelin]

BR...Starboard's GREAT STUFF! Remade my dash of 1/2" and hatch lids of 3/4" five years ago...two of the best things done to this boat...the stuff is "bullet-proof"...after you cut it, sand your edges smooth, then take a 1/4" roundover router bit to it...great finished look...Starboard and Seaboard WILL expand on hot days of summer, so leave a little wiggle room if fitting into an existing opening... 8)

What CB said. :)

Just be sure what you get is UV stabilized if it will be exposed. Not all polyethylene is created equal.

[Pipe_Dream]

It is great stuff! We used it to build a new instrument cluster and to frame in rebuilt rod storage compartments. Not as pretty as wood, but once it's done it's done and all you ever do is wipe it clean.

[macojoe]

I used the 1/2 to do my dash over. and just bought a full sheet of 3/4 to do the floor covers in my boat.

[macojoe]

[Blue_Runner]

I'm lookin at getting some to redo the fish box lids as well as enclose the saddle tanks on the sides.

Oh, and a lid over the porta potti area in the cuddy.

By the way, I was able to check the compression on one of the 140's that came with my boat and it checked out to be 115 on all 4 cylinders. The starter on the other motor needs replacing, so I haven't been able to check it yet. Actually I checked it anyway but it wouldn't spin fast enough to get a full reading - it recorded 30 on all 4 so I at least know its not zero and the readings seem to be even?!?!

[macojoe]

Gee I wish I had some starboard!! ;)

[axespino]

macojoe are you going to make the sliding hatch cover on the cuddy cabin. I have two 1973 V-20's that are both missing these covers. Mando