Ep49 - Destructive testing our new epoxy countertop
We tested whether our custom epoxy composite countertop could safely support under-counter induction cooking — using thermal imaging and destructive heat testing to find out.
Episode Overview
We’re getting serious about our galley appliances — and that means making a big decision about how we’ll cook aboard Roam.
Our goal is to move toward an all-electric galley for a few reasons: fewer fuel types to carry and source globally, less heat in the tropics, and better integration with the electrical system we’re building. But there’s one big question standing in the way:
Can we safely run induction cooking beneath a non-porcelain countertop?
Most manufacturers say no. We’re not so sure.
So we decided to test it — destructively.
📺 Watch Episode 49 👉
Ep49 - Testing whether a custom epoxy and fiberglass boat countertop can safely support under-counter induction cooking.
Why We’re Considering Induction
Switching to electric cooking simplifies a cruising boat in meaningful ways:
- Reduces onboard fuel complexity
- Eliminates open flame below deck
- Minimizes galley heat in warm climates
- Integrates cleanly with our 24V/48V electrical system
We’re also trying to reclaim prep space in the galley. Under-counter induction cooking could give us a clean, uninterrupted surface — if it works.
But the standard guidance says porcelain counters are required.
Our countertop isn’t porcelain.
It’s a lightweight composite build we start in EP53 – Building a New Lightweight Countertop, and later finished with an epoxy resin surface in EP54 – Epoxy Resin Countertops.
The Test: Can Our Counter Handle Induction Heat?
Rather than trust marketing language or assumptions, we set up a controlled destructive test.
We:
- Mounted an induction unit beneath a countertop sample
- Applied sustained heat loads
- Monitored temperatures across the surface
- Used thermal imaging to understand heat transfer
To track what was really happening inside the material, we used a FLIR Edge Pro thermal camera and compared surface temps across multiple zones.
The goal wasn’t just to see if it “felt warm.”
We wanted real data.
What We Learned
Induction doesn’t heat the surface the way a traditional cooktop does. But it does create localized heat buildup — and composite materials respond differently than porcelain or stone.
We measured:
- Surface temps at the cooking zone
- Subsurface heat spread
- Edge and laminate layer behavior
- Resin response under sustained load
The results were encouraging — but also nuanced.
This wasn’t a simple yes-or-no answer. It was a lesson in material science, airflow, and system design.
Products Used in Testing
These were tools used during the experiment. They are not sponsored.
FLIR Edge Pro – Wireless Thermal Imaging Camera
Used to monitor real-time surface and subsurface temperature distribution.
→ https://amzn.to/44YCOtB
FLIR Edge Pro Case
Protective case for the camera during shop use.
→ https://amzn.to/44H1F41
Stone Coat Countertops – Art Coat Resin
The epoxy system used to finish our galley countertop.
→ https://stonecoatcountertops.com/products/art-coat-gallon-kits
Why This Matters
This episode isn’t just about countertops.
It’s about making intentional system choices. Every decision aboard — especially in a full refit — affects three others. Cooking, power generation, battery storage, ventilation, and layout all intersect here.
We’re not trying to follow a checklist.
We’re trying to understand the system well enough to design it for how we actually live.
And sometimes that means breaking things first.
What Comes Next
With countertop performance data in hand, we can move forward confidently with galley layout decisions.
Next up: continuing the countertop build and finishing details — picking up where we left off in EP53 and EP54 as the galley slowly comes back to life.
