Shortly after moving onboard we made a few small changes to the galley just to make it feel a little more like our home. But on a boat there needs to be time to adjust and get to know how a galley functions before you make any drastic changes.
So after 8 years yep 8, we decided on a couple of changes, you maybe shocked but these aren’t major. The naval architect Ted Brewer, really knew a thing or two about how a galley should function at sea. No our changes were simply to bring a 40 year old boat up to some modern decorator styling. Now here comes the hard part, boats have character and they fit into a particular style that flows throughout the entire boat. Most of that styling can be seen wherever you stand so if you modernise one area you may need to keep that flowing throughout. This we didn’t want to do.
 |
| The original look of the galley a classic Bluewater boat layout. |
So here’s the challenge. Choosing to keep the boat still in its classic 1980’s styling but bring it up to date mean’s even though we would love to change out some of the timber we can’t. So what can we do?
The main colour of the galley is a eggshell cream laminate. It is a huge job and massive expense to tear all of this laminate out and reinstall another colour, and for what purpose, just a colour change. the main area of wear is the countertops. After 40 years of scrubbing they are looking a little dull. Ok so we could relaminate them. However that means, resealing the fridge and freezer, removing the sink and stove including gas lines.
 |
| Not that there was anything wrong with the light colour. It’s just that there was too much of it. |
Nope …. there has to be a better way. After much research we found countertop paint and vinyl stick on tiles. Oh yeah ……. just like you we were very skeptical. That’s why we have waited two years to write this blog.
 |
| See details in the product listing at the end of this blog |
Two years ago we set out to transform the functioning galley space into a more beautiful space to work in. This galley gets a workout, in rough seas pots and pans can sometimes slam onto the countertop and lets not mention the sliding dishes, spilt liquids and all the other mishaps that happen while living your life at a 25 degree angle. Whatever we used on the splash back and countertops had to be durable.
 |
| Working out the tiling order. They are installed in a certain direction. |
First we ordered the tiles. When they arrived we were very impressed with the thickness and the extra layers of clear to enhance the depth of field. They really feel like tiles when touched and they have fooled many when seen for the first time.
The tiles are installed in a certain direction so that the overlapping isn’t visible. Once the plan of attack was sorted we went about putting them on. We already had a squeegee that is useful for apply decals, our suggestion is that you grab one. It makes the job of removing air-bubbles easier. We had four holes where Karen had put up the blackboard (seen in the before photos) even though we pre filled these with silicone an air bubble formed. True to the word of the directions, pieced with a sharp needle, squeeze the air out the tile “healed” due to the extra sticky backing. This is only recommended when you have a subsurface interference, such as our silicone.
Our tips
Purchase extra tiles in case you stuff up
Purchase a squeegee used to apply decals
Work out the direction of application first
Use a really sharp Stanley knife for cuts
Have a sharp needle on hand for piercing any persistent air bubbles
It’s a two person job
The box of products we ordered for the countertops arrived. Karen read and reread the directions. She decided that she would have a test run on a small piece of the same laminate in our rear cabin. That way if we didn’t like the process or the outcome we only needed to replace one small piece of laminate. After she put the first coat on her words from the aft were, “Well this better work otherwise we are stuck with this black”.
Not realising that the first coat the primer and undercoat is jet black it sets your heart racing knowing its a long way back to eggshell cream. The next coat went on with a sponge and things were really not looking any prettier in fact it looked like our youngest grandson had sponge painted our table top. “Your not going to like this” she called forward when the third coat went on. Then after being in the aft cabin all day Karen emerged saying “well that’s better than I expected”.
So it was onto the galley countertop, this Karen did in sections so she could concentrate on getting the sponging effect right. We decided to run the paint effect right into the cupboards, fridge and freezer lips. This way when you open them it is a continuous look.
Our tips
Like with all painted surfaces the preparation is key.
Follow the directions precisely and the result will be rewarding.
If you haven’t applied paint by a sponge before, practice on a piece of cardboard. Practice util you have the desired look. It’s not as easy as it looks.
Be patient wait for the layers to dry or you will have a mix of colours that won’t be what you are expecting.
Go easy with the amount of paint on the sponge, you can easily add more but you can’t take it off.
You also want the surface to be relatively flat not lumpy paint deposits.
Next the clear top coat sealant. This is wear we varied from the instructions. This countertop needs to be very durable so we purchased separately a clear coat. We put 7 coats on, waiting 24 hours in between each coat and lightly sanding and cleaning down with a tack cloth before applying the next coat. Yep we know a week of clear coating but it was worth it.
The final step was to seal around all of the edges with clear silicone. This will stop any water ingress between the tiles, timber and sink edges with the countertops.
Two years later we are still happy with the finish. There is no chipping, discolouration or marks. We are happy to recommend the products we used to change up Our Galley with its new look.
 |
| Today’s Photo. You may see something that is worst for ware though. The poor ol’ compost bin has had a hard life. Below the day we revealed the new look Our Galley. |
 |
The day we revealed the new look Our Galley. Below Today’s Photo. The lovely salt and pepper grinders didn’t last the test of time. |
 |
| The galley gets a real workout on Our Dreamtime |
The next items too resolve was storage. Our main pantry for everyday use canisters, was behind the couch (like most boats). This really needed to be changed. We had a full size locker in the main salon that housed a lot of boxes with stuff, stuff that wasn’t used all that often, like spares etc …. Moving these to behind the seating would cause no concern. Making the locker a stand up pantry would be so much more efficient and better for Karen’s back.
 |
| These are the holes that are behind the seating area Inconvenient and impossible to find and keep every thing in order Below. Where the pantry use to be, behind the seating. |
The locker already had shelving at the back, with the standard hanging space forward. By extending the shelves the pantry is super deep, giving room for three canisters deep and further storage to the back for items like paper towel and the like. With a little bit of organisation this works perfectly with a pantry that holds double what the old pantry area held behind the seating. We used bamboo bath mats to extend the shelving in the pantry. They are lightweight, the slats allow for light to filter through from the internal locker light, plus they were prefab and cheap.
 |
| Cut to size these bamboo Bath Mats were a perfect solution to extending the existing shelving. Stained to the colour of the rest of the boat timber they look like they have always been there. Below. Aluminium angle was screwed to the sides of the locker. The shelving was then screwed to them. |
 |
| A perfect solution to creating an efficient pantry |
As any cook will tell you good lighting is essential. Yachts are notoriously bad for lighting especially in the galley. There is very little natural light and galley’s are normally tucked away. New LED lighting strips were installed, one over the fridge/freezer workspace, a small one over the stove and the final one over the sink area. When all are turned on we don’t need any extra lights for filming, an extra bonus that wasn’t even thought of.
The new shelving that was installed once the Microwave was extracted has been a game changer every time we make a coffee. Cnisters are now so easyily acessed and the simple joy of having a cuppa has been restored. The key with small living is to make every space count and for everything to be easily accessed and to be put away. If things can’t be placed back into their place conveniently,, they either won’t be used or stuff is always left out making your small space even smaller very quickly. Once again we used the bamboo bath mats, we can honestly say this is one of our best “hacks” ever.
The new tap head was the final upgrade, with its flexible extension hose and spray nozzle has mad cleaning in the galley a much easier task.
What are the key things you love about your galley?
Let us know in the comments below.
Cheers R&K
Products we have used on Our Dreamtime in Our Galley Makeover
 |
You maybe also be interested in the following 🔽
We found paradise but we may never leave as our anchor is stuck solid. You can watch it here.
▶️ http://tinyurl.com/DreamtimeSailEp87
If you are travelling to Indonesia by boat you maybe interested in the following guides.
This interactive Ebook takes from Brisbane to Horn Island without a night passage, discovering beautiful parts of the Queensland coast rarely visited. The EBook supplies all of our tracks and anchorage waypoints, with what anchoring conditions we were in. But it also gives you full details of what to see and do at each remarkable destination.
You can find out more about this EBook here ▶️ https://payhip.com/b/pxLMX
Is this your first time into Indonesia? This amazing country has so much too offer the cruiser. What we can say is sometimes paperwork can be overwhelming. This interactive guide is to help you wade through the
officialdom and come out the other side without tearing your hair out.
You can find out more about this guide here ▶️ https://payhip.com/b/YEeQ7
If you would like to buy all 4 of the above EBooks to help your sailing journey you can at a discount. Because you have read to this far on our blog, as a thank you we say here’s 20% off the bundle price!
So head to our book store ▶️ https://payhip.com/Dreamtimesail
and use this code at checkout ▶️ WOTZCNM6JL
No comments:
Post a Comment
We love to read your comments regarding our blog, what you enjoyed and what you might like to see more of. Please leave us your thoughts.