Date:         Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:24:52 -0700
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Custom Westy interior
Comments: To: colorworks@gci.net
In-Reply-To:  <B781BB75930148B288AC981F4A7785E2@troyb5bff49d63>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

  Very nice looking work.  Obviously a 'labor of love'.  The thing about
doing work that is so nice, the amount of time it requires to get that kind
of finish is big.  After it is all done I'd be reluctant to chance
scratching it all up by actually using the van like I like to use mine..
I am a cabinetmaker and shipwright by trade.  When I got my GL van,  I
contemplated doing a nice interior (like the one here) and began planning it
out but then 'reality' hit me...I'd have 60+ hours into a Vans interior...I
found I could buy a complete, including tanks, pumps, and apliances, used
Westie inside, complete and I could re-install that, for $300, in about
6hrs....I couldn't even buy materials for my planned  custom interior for
that..
  So now, when I fill up the inside of the camper van with 2x6s or wet rowdy
dogs, I don't worry much about wrecking, scratching or marring something I
have tons of time and money in.
  It would be fun sometime to do a really nice custom interior...finished
like a Swan sailboat or an Italian motoryacht...for someone who had lots of
money and wasn't bothered about money for nice stuff.  Or, if I wanted to
bother with multiple vanagons, and kept one for "Sunday best" and one for
everyday use I do one for myself..
  Don Hanson

On Mon, Jun 29, 2009 at 6:06 AM, Troy <colorworks@gci.net> wrote:

> I came across this westy on the Samba the other day. I was truly impressed
> by the custom interior and woodworking, not to mention some ingenious
> upgrades. Truly a one-of-a-kind. He's even done things like increased the
> size of the propane orifice for more efficient output! I hate the dismal
> propane output at the burners, so wanted to check into this modification
> myself. He's rerouted the plumbing using a couple of 90° ells to accommodate
> the drawers, and how about that clever table set-up? Not mine, and I do not
> know this gentleman,  just really impressed by his craftsmanship and
> ingenuity.
>
> Check it out: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=777435
>
> Troy