HIGH GLOSS, SEMI-GLOSS,SATIN OR RUBBED EFFECT INTERIOR?

[High Cotton]

I'm preparing to re-varnish my interior...........
I've layed a coat of high gloss, satin and "rubbed" effect samples on 3 different small areas just to see how they look.

For the POLL, which style does your cabin currently have?
Which coating do you prefer if you had a choice?
Thanks for your input!

[Liberty28]

IMHO, the high gloss interior wood brightens up a sometimes dark interior by reflecting light better.

[Pblais]

As a 1991 boat we have solid mahogany just about everywhere. You just wipe it down with a little lemon oil and it looks like what it is. To lighten up the interior we went with an off white upholstery. It cleans quite easy despite being white and make the place look lighter than the also popular sea foam green that was original at the time.

The lighter look became the more popular about 10 years ago. Cherry is now more preferred than teak in high end boats. Styles change over time. If you have real wood I just think it feels better the more it just looks like what it really is.

[harryrezz]

Mine's high gloss now, and I'd stick with it. I like the ease of keeping it clean as well as the look. I do plan to paint over the old artificial teak paneling, however, in a satin off-white while keeping the real teak accents.

[benjiwoodboat]

I've seen some nice interiors with a combination of matte/satin and high gloss. The high gloss sections looks really nice, and acts as a hightlight for certain sections/trim, and brightens it up a bit. But doesnt give the too glossy, too shiney look either. I think its a nice option to mix them for contrast.

[High Cotton]

I actually found INTERLUX GOLDSPAR SATIN #60 at West Marine which is the original varnish used on the Endeavours..........sooooooo..............

the interior has not been touched since 1982...........the existing finish is not smooth, so I just laid down a coat of the #60 and it looks like new again...covers up the nicks/scars/digs/scrapes nicely and leaves a beautiful new finish!

Now I'm praying that it adheres without sanding...............
I know, I know..... THAT'S another "Ricky Lake" story.......
but I did it!

[Sandero]

I have both! Most of the main cabin joinery is satin or rubbed effect - very low sheen. The head is all high gloss and I have all the galley fiddles, hand holds and other solid wood trim in high gloss. It looks sharp.

We also have navy blue upholstery but the headliner is cream and the boat is not dark... except for the aft cabin. Dark and wood is cozy and warm. Don't care for white formica interiors with wood trim. Looks cheap IMO.

[mikereed100]

I did all the large surfaces in satin and all the trim in gloss. Makes a nice contrast.

[David M]

In my boats interior, I used high gloss West Systems epoxy using 207 coating hardener after I spent many days sanding off the old one part varnish. Being a research boat, the interior varnish takes a beating and this is the toughest varnish you can get....its epoxy. It also looks pretty darn good. I gave up on varnishing the exterior teak and painted it.

[James S]

I think gloss on an old interior is a bit like painting a car a dark color….you see every imperfection.
I went mat on my 30 year old teak….it’s definitely not as near as “bright” as gloss though!
The combination of the two sounds interesting….I may “gloss up” some trim bits.

[imagine2frolic]

I am with David. I redid our window panels from satin to high gloss using West 207, and epifane. I just put our tables in the cockpuit back in place with the same look, but on teak.

[imagine2frolic]

dang computer died. On the teak I pulled the rubber, and filled with 207 & filler, so the grooves were white. No pic of it here, but I will try to post them tomorrow. The white made a nice contrast to the dark teak. The panels I am told are African Ash.

[bstreep]

Ours is like many of the above. Satin for the large panels, and high gloss for the trim. I wouldn't have done it intentionally, but it looks GREAT.