Tile in a Boat Cabin?

[Tommy C]

Hi Guys,

I'm a mason by trade, but I've done a fair amount of tiling over the years.

One thing I'm NEW at, is boating....I am in the process of buying my first boat ever.

Is it feasible to install tile on the vertical walls in a boat's cabin? I'm thinking mosaic tile. The only problem I can think of would be, is the wall rigid enough to hold tile (I don't even know what a boat's interior walls are made of...there is fabric covering the walls currently) ?? Could one install hardibacker over the boat's walls, and install tile over that?

I'm thinking tile just in one small area, say, the area where there is a sink and a microwave. The rest can either stay with the fabric material, or maybe I can put some type of wood veneer...

Any thoughts on the tile?

[Davestone]

On a small area with cauk surrounding the install it might last.

[duneslider]

Look into laticrete 125. If anything would work that would be it.

[Rd Tile]

Could one install hardibacker over the boat's walls

Use short screws.

[Dan Kramer]

My Schluter rep used Ditra on the walls of some motorhomes. NASCAR drivers' motorhomes. Apparently the uncoupling properties keep things looking good.

[gueuzeman]

Cracked grout could be an issue. Get a piece of stainless steel and silicone it to the wall- done.

[belletile]

Richie, That's a good one, it made me laugh.

The fellow working for us has done a lot of work on large luxury yachts. You obviously can't contact it directly to the hull or other parts that flex or bend. I think Dan nailed it with the Ditra idea, or some other isolation membrane.
So, how big is your yacht?

[Tommy C]

Guys, here's a pic of the interior...see attached photo.

[Tommy C]

Those two "wingwalls" on both sides of where you enter the V-berth bed...that's what I'm thinking of tiling....maybe a 1" mosaic.

If I silicone caulk all around the PERIMETER of the tile install (where the tile meets that wooden trim), the grout shouldn't crack, right? Is there a type of flexible grout?

I didn't realize Ditra can be used vertically, but I guess that makes sense. What about painting the area with RedGard, then install using Laticrete 125, and perhaps some sort of flexible grout (if it exists), and caulking the perimeter with silicone caulk???

[GraniteGirl]

Originally Posted by Richie

Use short screws

Here is what happens when you don't

[pooky]

to set

thats what I'd use . . . I'd consider using that quartz-lock? flexible grout as well

This install would fall into that "try it and see" category

good luck

stephen

[Shelltile]

The first rule of installation is that your job is only as good as what you stick it to.If it moves,stabilize it or don't tile it.Rule 2 make sure whatever you put on the surface adheres(underlayment included).There are so many products out there that it would take hours of typing to list them all to you.For instance if you chose a green marble you would have to use epoxy to install.Anything else would bleed through and discolor.Epoxy is also used on metal and plastics.Buy a couple of throw away trowels and cover up any thing you don't want to replace though.Good luck,Shell.

[michaelhazuka]

I used UniFlex from C-Cure on two boat installations....mixes like a 2 part system, looks like regular modified thinset, but dries like a quasi-rubber/thinset pookie.....

....that's what I would use if I know movement will be an issue. If you had a rigid substrate I would definitely go epoxy all the way. I had a stainless steel shower pan on a boat that worked like a linear drain. I epoxied travertine to the metal and it was PERMANENTLY stuck.....in that install I used Mapei's 2 part epoxy in the one gallon unit.....

for what it's worth, this is the boat manufacturer that the installs were in.....http://www.palmerjohnson.com/

[tileguynky]

Latricrete has a phamplet on tiling on boats. Well, yatches to be exact.
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[Levi the Tile Guy]

I think if he was going to tile his boat he prolly already did...Like 2 years ago!!!