Tacoma Topper Project

[Jeff]

A good friend and mine will be building a topper for my new Tacoma. I plan on posting my progress here and ask for comments/suggestions.

We will be using the strip wood technique commonly seen in canoes. Instead of traditional cedar, we will be using red oak.

It is our hope to get people to add comments and suggestions as we go.

First up is color selection. I made up a test plank of six 1/4" x 3/4" strips.

What say the forum?

Subject: Tacoma in Timberland Mica

No stain, two coats poly:

Dark mahogany stain:

 

[vette-kid]

I say no stain...just my penny.

Why wood?

 

[Jeff]

I say no stain...just my penny.

Why wood?

I've wanted to build my own boat for years but other things, like kids and college, have been more important.

I think wood would be unique and show off well. Plus it's much cheaper than laying out over $1k on a glass topper.

 

[vette-kid]

I think it will look cool...I was just wandering what the motivation was. Ill be interested in the outcome (and how much it cost you). For me wood would be a BAD idea. It would get destroyed on the trail!

 

[babzog]

Damn, that's a nice truck! Always liked those.

I prefer the darker wood myself.

 

[Nosferatu]

I vote for no stain

 

[KCarGuy]

I think the Beautiful Color of your Truck will be a Great Accent for the natural Color of the Wood.
So my vote would be "No Stain".
Very sharp and cant wait to see the results!

 

[wbrian63]

Poly is not your friend for outdoor exposure. You need something more durable, like a spar varnish. A spar varnish can be roughed up with fine sandpaper every few years and re-topped to maintain appearance and performance.

Poly will yellow.

Also - oak, when left exposed to the weather will turn a subtle shade of grey. It takes a lot of sanding/planing to get the oak back to its original color.

Personally, I like the darker color, but protect it with something that can stand the thermal expansion you're going to see across the grain in a large panel like the top. If the finish cracks, the finish will fail.

I'd contact a company that specializes in finishes for the marine industry and ask them about what you're attempting.

$1K is a lot of money, but money and time spent on what will probably be a beautiful topper that lasts 2 or 3 years before it starts to look sloppy isn't smart money (in my opinion).

I still want to see what it looks like tho - will be a fun project. Sometimes it's not always about the money...

 

[Jeff]

Brian...thanks for your concern. The poly was only used on the test plank to show an approximate finished look. We plan on glassing the exterior after assembly.

Everyone else...thanks for your comments on the colors. I was originally going for the dark stain, but the natural color is starting to grow on me.

 

[SCscoutguy]

I think it is a very cool idea but it just isn't practical. It will weigh a great deal when you are done and no matter what you seal or stain it with it will probably be ruined from the weather in 3 to 5 years time.

 

[Ign]

Due to the plastic bed are you gonna tie into the factory rail system, and do you feel you can do so securely using wood?

 

[MarcSeattle]

Run, don't walk, to the nearest marine store. The experience that boaters have in dealing with wood outdoors is exactly what you need. Also look at the West Marine website. Prepare yourself for an annual sand / recoat.

 

[Jeff]

I think it is a very cool idea but it just isn't practical. It will weigh a great deal when you are done and no matter what you seal or stain it with it will probably be ruined from the weather in 3 to 5 years time.

Approximately 150# w/ windows.

Luckily I leave seaside and am quite familiar with marine sealers and epoxies.

Due to the plastic bed are you gonna tie into the factory rail system, and do you feel you can do so securely using wood?

I will use the existing rail tie down system using the same clamps used on a "normal" topper. We will be shaping a 1"x6" slab of oak to follow the curve of the bed rail caps.

 

[cnc-me]

White oak, is much better than red oak for exterior applications.

 

[Jeff]

White oak, is much better than red oak for exterior applications.

I agree, but the only supplier down here closed earlier this year. Unless I make a major road trip I'm stuck with decent red oak or crappy cedar.

 

[35mastr]

So any updates on the project?

 

[c_mccann]

I do al fair amount of marine wood- own two boats and like pretty wood. You will be fighting time and have to refinish periodically, but I will give you the longest lasting finish in 2 choices:

1. 2 coats of West systems Epoxy with the crystal clear hardner with 4-5 coats of gloss marine varnish on top. I like Petit or Interlux Captain's varnish fo rsingle part varnish.

2. 5-7 coats of 2-part varnish, I recommend Awl-Brite, but any good exterior gloss 2-part varnish will do. No spar varnish or Man O War varnish, it is cheaper and that translates into less longevity. I have paid dearly in the years on this one and am offering you the option to live a more peaceful life by spending the money on the good stuff in the begining and reaping the rewards.

The key is no grain or voids when finished. Also, oak is not the best chioce outdoors, but if you want oak, stick with quarter-sawn, it will resist cupping the best. A good outdoor varnish job looks like the hood of an expensive car, and to get it that smooth is easy after 8-10 coats and good fairing with 220-320 grit paper.

Here are some links to help
http://www.jamestowndistributors.co...docId=319&title=Varnishing+Tips+from+Interlux

http://www.defender.com/html/varnish.html

There is more art than you need to know, teak guys are nuts about their wood, but the basics are to achieve a finish that can be lightly sanded periodically and added to rather than a full strip and refinish when the sun gets to it. I redo the teak on my boat every so and again, I think I am up to 12-14 coats on it, but this has been since 2005 and it still looks very good.

 

[cnc-me]

I agree, but the only supplier down here closed earlier this year. Unless I make a major road trip I'm stuck with decent red oak or crappy cedar.

Shark, your gonna have a lot of work in this project,I think you should
get, more weather resistant wood.

 

[wolverine_cz]

Pete Roszyk on the Kayak building Bulletin Board made this several years ago. I understand he has passed away, but he had a lengthy description (two pages) of his build which I saved. Too much for this reply, but I can send it if you want.

 

[Randy_che]

You might also want to have a look at the Boat Building pages on Texaskayakfisherman.com. Lots of wood/glass projects other than kayaks. One guy made a camper trailer, others make large storage boxes. There's a wealth of knowledge on there.