Hiya!
After loads of research, tentative scrounging and a fair amount of philosophizing, work on the Crown has begun in earnest. I'll post specs & pics as soon as possible and give you her history etc. My intent is to do the build-out in stages so I'll try to label them logically.
The Build Out Has Begun: Phase Zero - Scoring Materials
I've decided to 'freecycle' as many materials as possible - not a hard decision since I have a lot more time than money. Philosophically, I love the idea of diverting perfectly good materials from the landfill. The things people throw away!
I'll probably regret publicly declaring my plan to score free/bargain basement materials but you can wait until later to laugh at me
Philosophically, I am by nature a planner. An over-planner, in fact. I've decided to make this build-out an exercise in flexibility and spontaneity. I have an overall look I'd like to achieve (more ship-like than RV-like, in my mind's eye) and I won't skimp on key items (alcohol galley stove "with a small leak?" uh, no thanks!!) but beyond that, I'm going to go with the flow and improvise. In fact, I'm considering naming the old gal "Necessity" since she will no doubt be the mother of many an invention....
I'm pretty excited about the possibilities. I've been scouting materials for several weeks, at yard sales, craigslist, the salvage yard, the re-store (non-profit sells donated building materials) and the freecycle boards. It looks like insulation, floor underlayer, adhesives, rubber weatherstripping, vinyl and carpet tiles, shutters, mini-blinds, and louvered doors are abundant.
Some places won't hold anything for one minute and of course private parties will sell to the first cash buyer as they should, so timing is everything. I missed a set of 6 employee lockers in a steel frame (for $10) because I couldn't drive the darn thing home in car AND 7.5 gallons of the elastometric roof sealant Lorna recommended for $50 (compares to about $150 retail) because someone beat me to it.
On my first buying trip over the weekend, I spent $90 and scored
> a brand new 4' molded vanity countertop with sink & back splash (with a FLAT counter so I can fix a cutting board to half of it for galley use; no plumbing but that's fine since I plan to use a foot-operated manual water system they make for boats)
> 15 sq feet of new bamboo flooring
> 2 barely used craftsman steel tool cabinets ala sears with drawers that latch and lock shut; these will be the galley base cabinets
> an all-wood cabinet with brass corner plates and doors that latch shut; this will be the 'power center; the bottom heavy duty pull-out shelf with steel drawer rails is big enough for a marine battery, cabinet is backless so venting and wiring out of it will be easy, the top heavy duty fixed shelf *might" fit a household battery recharger or an inverter (converter? - no don't tell me yet! I have a contractor who is going to help with that part later!)
> 8 antique glass knobs and 16 new brushed nickel hinges for upper galley cabinets (distant future)
> one 18" x 10' x 1.5" solid redwood board unfinished, hand-planed (this will be the table-top and the cutting board)
> one 4' x 2' aluminum mesh panel (possibly for vented back of power center)
> a case of new cedar closet paneling (usage tbd - might line a bit of ceiling or berth interior wall)
> one 4' x 6' x 1/2" flexible foam insulation panel for ceiling (more to come!)
> one 4' x 8' panel 3/4" interior grade plywood (covered with vintage Bart Simpson stickers, for cabin bed platform)
> two brand new brushed nickel finish aluminum towel bars (to make 'rails' along the cabin bed platform on the open side)
Next stop: sealant, insulation and flooring...
It's good to finally have something to post! Looking forward to your insights and feedback...
Joyce