The Steamboating Forum

Do most just finish the deck mahogany/oak with varnish or do most use the same color stain

Everything Ive ever read or boat I've ever stripped with factory finish, it was stained. Chris Craft had their own blend of Mahogany stain for, Mahogany. It evens the colors of the wood out, hides the more pronounced grain. Mitch Lapointe sells it for them, it's like a thick paste stain and sealer, applied with burlap. On my tug I stained it with just old Minwax and then covered it with West system 207. That's a very durable deck finish, kinda slick if sanded out and polished though. The epoxy will set up sort of rough/abrasive, I leave it that way on that type of deck, much safer.

-Ron

Staining mahogany goes a long way to stopping the sun bleaching it too.

One coat of Epifanes Classic Mahogany stain then one coat of 50% thinners/25% varnish/25%mahogany stain, then 6 coats of varnish- that'll do the trick!

Varnished boats are very pretty, but do require rather diligent upkeep (unless the varnish is over epoxy!). I've been happy with an oiled finish; less "yachty" but more easily repaired locally. It still requires frequent maintenance if the boat is in the sun - but oiling is pleasant compared to sanding in my experience.

- Bart

I'm using system 3 adhesive and I'm not clear about the whole epoxy varnish thing. I've laid out my mahogany boards and oak plywood borders. After I glue hem I'll have to sand? And then stain? And then caulk the Seems? Or do I epoxy and then caulk the seems? Or do I varnish?

I'm confused!

johnp wrote:I'm using system 3 adhesive and I'm not clear about the whole epoxy varnish thing. I've laid out my mahogany boards and oak plywood borders. After I glue hem I'll have to sand? And then stain? And then caulk the Seems? Or do I epoxy and then caulk the seems? Or do I varnish?

I'm confused!

You have multiple choices. Are you using a plywood deck underneath, or are you building a deck from boards?

- Bart

If you are using epoxy on every surface then the epoxy is the protection and the sealant- everything else is cosmetic to a point. That said it is recommended you put at least one coat of varnish over epoxy so that it is the varnish that gets the brunt of UV atack, not the epoxy.

If you are wanting to stain, epoxy and varnish your method would be;

1- stain using water or cellulose based stain to whatever level you feel is required.
2- epoxy coat- at least 3 layers.
3- caulk seams using Sika or other proprietry modern deck caulking compound
4- varnish over everything

barts wrote:

johnp wrote:I'm using system 3 adhesive and I'm not clear about the whole epoxy varnish thing. I've laid out my mahogany boards and oak plywood borders. After I glue hem I'll have to sand? And then stain? And then caulk the Seems? Or do I epoxy and then caulk the seems? Or do I varnish?

I'm confused!

You have multiple choices. Are you using a plywood deck underneath, or are you building a deck from boards?

- Bart

It's plywood with 1/8" oak veneer and 1/8" mahogany boards

I'd laminate the wool veneer onto the deck with epoxy; you may need to lay wax paper on top and add weights to get the wood down flat. Sand smooth and epoxy the top. If you wish you can use fibreglass or similar cloth - careful work is required to make it disappear completely, but it is much stronger this way.... three coats is a good plan; make sure to follow vendor directions on getting rid of any amine blush between coats. I usually wet sand.... when done and thoroughly cured, varnish. Epoxy will fail in short order (months) if exposed to sun w/o protection.

Lots of info available - look at sites for Pygmy Kayak builders, for example.

- Bart

I am having some trouble with varnish over epoxy. All my decks have a coating og epoxy over plywood. The epoxy looks good, but I wanted to provide protection of the epoxy from sunlight damage, so I covered the epoxy with UV resistant spar varnish. In some places the varnish has poor adhesion, and can be flaked off with my fingernail. Other places the varnish is stuck onto the epoxy very well. As stated over and over, epoxy needs varnish for UV protection from sunlight.

Does anyone know of a solvent for varnish (varnish removal) that will not touch the epoxy under the varnish? I have tried Acetone, with no softening of the varnish, and Acetone cuts almost everything (except epoxy, and evidently varnish).

Is there a particular brand of varnish that will last a few years protecting the epoxy from sunlight damage?

Thanks in advance for answers here.