Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have one more question for you all today.  Having lived with my new boat for
one season I have been looking at ideas on how to protect the varnished flat
surfaces of cherry that get hard use around the helm, on top of the fridge and
next to the built in furniture.

Last year I tried the rubber mesh kind of stuff often used in cupboards or to
set glasses on.  It did a good job of increasing the coefficient of friction but
only added complications when there was a spill of some kind.  Additionally, it
is no good if you want to write on it.  I have thought of glass, but it is heavy
and expensive and a problem when it breaks, plexiglass which could be cut to fit
the odd shapes but is still slippery so would need the rubber mesh on top of it.
I have also looked at using the material that makes up a desk chair mat for
hard floors and it is cheap and tough and thin but also slippery.  I have looked
at a variety of of 20 or 30 mil flexible plastics that can be cut with scissors
(like really thick saran wrap) and it isn't slippery but wonder if it will react
with the varnished surface.

Anyhow, I am sure you get the idea and if anyone has the solution that is the
cat's ass let me know.  I would also appreciate knowing what doesn't work well
so I do not make that mistake.

Many thanks,

Gary Hagstrom
Iron River, Wisconsin
MV Crackerjack
MaineCat P-47

I have a desktop in my amidships cabin that is covered with 1/8" clear
acrylic. The chart table surfaces in my pilothouse has covers made out of
green Naugahyde. It's a great surface to work on, mostly non-skid and
protects the surfaces. I got some down at the local fabric store.

Keith

It's always better to be on shore wishing you were out there, than out there
wishing you were on shore.

I have one more question for you all today.  Having lived with my new boat
for one season I have been looking at ideas on how to protect the varnished
flat surfaces of cherry that get hard use around the helm, on top of the
fridge and next to the built in furniture.

Last year I tried the rubber mesh kind of stuff often used in cupboards or
to set glasses on.  It did a good job of increasing the coefficient of
friction but only added complications when there was a spill of some kind.
Additionally, it is no good if you want to write on it.  I have thought of
glass, but it is heavy and expensive and a problem when it breaks,
plexiglass which could be cut to fit the odd shapes but is still slippery so
would need the rubber mesh on top of it.
I have also looked at using the material that makes up a desk chair mat for
hard floors and it is cheap and tough and thin but also slippery.  I have
looked at a variety of of 20 or 30 mil flexible plastics that can be cut
with scissors (like really thick saran wrap) and it isn't slippery but
wonder if it will react with the varnished surface.

Anyhow, I am sure you get the idea and if anyone has the solution that is
the cat's ass let me know.  I would also appreciate knowing what doesn't
work well so I do not make that mistake.