Re: Dress her up or not? Opinions wanted.
Wow, I go to bed early and wham! Thankyou all for all the replies, it will inevitably help in the end decision for sure! I appreciate all the responses.
I like the Teak bow seat & inlay. Maybe add a snap in/out cushion for the seat bottom, inlay in the back rest. Depending on your skill w/ a scroll saw or knowing someone w/ a water-jet, I suspect a $1 cutting board might be sacraficed for the dolphin shape. Epoxy it in & back light it...
Thank man, I already have a lit up chris craft logo, same with the teak, don't want it to be to much. Maybe adding some strip lighting forward on a seperate switch. The inlay would be all teak with a different color wood for the inlay probably. But not sure the seat being wood is a good idea, I would almost opt for just doing the trim peices and not the seat area..
Okay <switches "designer" mode ON>
The accents are not necessary for a visual balance on the boat. You're actually framed in rather well between the existing teak. Especially if you add the bow seat (and I like the idea of a glowing dolphin inlay - would match your "Chris Craft" logo that I think glows too, right?), you're definitely framed in visually. I don't know that I'd put a back on the bow seat ... might be too much.
Right now the grey/white of the deck has a clean, sharp look to it. In a utility/fishing type of boat, I like that kind of feel - "all business." The teak walkway accents is going to warm that up, and detract from the "sharp" color structure. Makes it feel a little more "homey" and not as much "business of fishin'" - if you follow me. I think I'd personally lean toward doing the bow seat first, and then see if I think it's getting to be too much wood.
<switches "designer" mode OFF>
It's your boat, and nothing you've done so far looks bad (your quality of work is very good). The accents would be completely unique, and would wind up lookin' right nice. They won't hurt the look of the boat at all (especially when beauty is in the eye of the beholder), and you'd have something no one else does. If you're leaning for it ... don't listen to the "designer."
Thanks southkogs, its like you reached inside my mind, we think very much alike. Thats why I am on the fence, I like the clean look that it now has. I will not be putting a backing on the seat. have seen that and don't think it looks right.
I think having more teak in the stern looks good because it kinda weights the boat down back there, if you know what I mean,lol The worry up front is I don't want it to look clumzy or just over done or bow heavy. I think I am going to have to make some full length templates up so I can get a real visial on what it would look like before I make a discision. My thoughts on everything you said are very similar and I appreciate it.
Budd, you are an artist.... I don't think ANYONE would consider it tacky and I think you would get lots of complements on it..... That said.... I HAD a boat with teak on the deck. It was an arrow glass cuddy and I can tell you that after an hour with a pressure washer I gave up on trying to get the last of the crud out from under the teak so I took it all up, cleaned it, refinished it, and put it back down. After half a season, I was back to the same situation of black streaks washing out and no amount of washing would get it all out... plus all the screws were a constant leak problem.... Of course I didn't know not to use silly kone on a boat then.
I think you would do a beautiful job but I agree with the "designer" and I wouldn't want to have to take care of it.
An artist? Wow,Thanks Smoke! The only place being considered on the deck really is the front seat, I am kinda leaning away from doing the seat. Think it will be more comfortable with a white vinyl cushion and clean looking. The teak trim on the other hand would be preformed to fit exactly and then finished before installing. It would probably be set in a bead of 4200 instead of screwing it down to keep it seamless.
Don't know that I can accomplish the project as I stated but would give it a try before putting screws through it. Unlike the step pads in the stern gunnels, these would not be walked on much if at all. It will require maintenance but the location should shed water right off of it. Still very much on the fence and don't have to do it at all. Will definately be continuing the other projects first.
I think it would look really sharp and it would break up the white, should be a really nice accent, that is the beauty of boats, you can do whatever you want to them and make them yours, one more YAY.
Thanks man, I definately think it would be unique. Just don't want it to be tacky
Ok so I know that Im going to sound like a sheep here, but short answer is YES, most definitely.
Longer answer is based on the quality of work that you have done to your craft, the attention to detail that you have put in and the thought behind how you have done the work is great. I did read through all of what you have done since you bought her, and I was amazed with how you have brought all the woodwork on it back to life. Im sure that you will put the same attention to detail into doing the accent as you have with everything else so im even more certain, Because of that It will look awesome. Plus the upside is the more personal touches that you add the less chance you have of mistaking your boat for another.
No more "honey did we park in the itchy lot?"
(its late here so forgive my really bad humour :facepalm: )
Lol, bad humour is always allowed here,lol Thanks for the complements, I think attention to detail goes along way, plus I'm a little anal about things. If I do make the trims, It will definately be a custom thing. It will have to be done slowly and purposefully. I really have a great design in my head where it wouldn't look clumpy, but more sleak and smooth. Basically trying to make it look like it has always been there.
Tried to resist but could'nt! so my 2c worth...Firstly that is one sweet lookin boat. But to the topic... when I look at the aerial view of the boat, at the moment there seems to be a nice balance in each 1/3rd of the boat between teak and the modern clean lines. You have a nice balance of teak at the bow, amidships in the helm area and astern/deck on the gunnels. To add what ur considering in my humble opinion may lose this balance and take it backwards to a retro 80's look, which, given the condition and model of your boat I feel may not be the best option. Additionally once it is on u have to maintain it!
Thankyou Sir. I am afraid it will look tacky and don't want that, so I think I have to make up a full side and really look at this before anything gets installed. The clean look and maintenance free area does not bother me one bit,lol I am just glad I don't have carpet in my boat. Especially if it was 80's carpet! lol