Looper Trawler Prep

Custom Teak Door & Sapele Mahogany Boat Rub Rails as preparation for the Great Loop on a Trawler

When preparing for the Great Loop, it’s important to make sure your vessel is in tip top shape. This couple had a rotten set of rub rails on the boat in need of replacement, and desired a door for the head. It’s all about comfort aboard while cruising for long distances, and the added privacy was sorely needed in order to entertain guests and family alike.

Sapele Mahogany & old Rub Rails
Teak vents, & Sapele Mahogany to replace the previous Rub Rails & build a door for the head.

Starting out, we hit the local lumber yard for some fine Sapele Mahogany. The Teak vents were sourced, not built in order to meet the client’s tight schedule.

Next, we cut a piece of marine plywood to size (not pictured) and used a Dado blade to make slits at precisely 11/16″ down the middle of the Teak door casing. The door was then assembled and painted to match the rest of the interior.

Dado blade & Teak door casing
Dado blade cuts a channel through Teak door casing.

After sizing the door, we cut inserts for the teak vents which we stained a matching mahogany color. The door was installed and looks like it has been there all along.

Installed Custom Teak Door for Trawler
Installed custom teak door for Trawler head.

We cut the new Mahogany Rub Rails in the shop, scratching our head a few times over all the angles. We then spent an afternoon prepping the Trawler surface for fitting. This involved sanding the old glue and grime, and filling the previous screw holes which were hidden under the rub rails. The hull was taped off and new rub rails bedded in with West System products.

Looper couple prepares for great loop with custom boat rub rails
Custom built Sapele Mahogany rub rails installed.

Prior to installing the Sapele Mahogany Rub Rail we applied West System Epoxy Encapsulation to the wood as a base coat and multiple coats of Epifanes varnish as a top coat for years of maintenance-free enjoyment. We wish them the best on their journey of their newly updated Thunderbolt as they travel The Great Loop!

Need custom woodwork on your boat or yacht? Contact Teak Mafia for a no obligation zero cost consultation today!

Find us on Facebook

Follow us on Instagram

Read Our Blog

Contact Teak Mafia

Reach us by email: sales@tkmfa.com

Call us via phone: 770-896-7517

Leave a Reply

%d bloggers like this:
search previous next tag category expand menu location phone mail time cart zoom edit close