teak and holly soul.

[irwinsailor]

I need to "varnish" my teak and holly cabin soul. What is the best product to use? I do NOT want a non skid finish.

[Mercator]

I have been using Sekens Cetol and have found it better than any other product although I have not tried teak honey which is also reportedly excellent.

Previusly I had used Deks but Cetol is better and not 2 parts.

Either way I would not "varnish" - does not last as well and once it starts to deteriorate then you have to sand back and all that hard elbow grease stuff.

With the Cetol you just apply another coat.

It is more like an oil but comes up with a beautiful low sheen varnish type finish

[Pblais]

While I like Cetol on the outside for all the reasons stated, I don't think it is as nice below decks. It's UV properties and ease of aplication are great for outside use, but I don't feel the finish is as hard as I would want below. The PO did my interior with 9 coats gloss varnish about 15 years ago. The sole looks like new today. It has had a few small carpets to cut down on the wear and tear and reduce scratching but it's still really good looking.

I think on the interior I would still go with a traditional varnish done with all the repeated coats and elbow grease. When you use a good marine varnish it will hold up longer than you might think.

As for a brand, I think below decks you don't get the nasty UV so most of the products for marine use should do quite well. Most will suggest 5 - 7 coats. Color and finish style to match your cabin would allow a lot of room to pick from. Proper preparation and watching the temp and humidity would be key for the very best results. I guess that is true for all painting in general.

[sy Dolce Vita]

we used smith's , very hard ,very glossy ,the drawback is it's very expensive, but it's first class all the way

[irwinsailor]

I have never seen Smiths. Is it a varnish?

[sy Dolce Vita]

www.woodrestoration.com.
check it out Gunner

[Trim50]

Smith's is great product.

[cburger]

I have been using the Bristol two part urethanes for years, in my experince nothing as beautiful or as durable. Bristol is now marketing a one part interior product.

[cburger]

A couple of before and afters of a Bristol finish job done this spring on a customers Grand Banks.

[brian and clare]

Hi There,

Just to chime in.

For an interior application, I have been told that soles are often done using a polyurethane, and that this is what is done on most new boats, and that in fact almost all the interior wood is often done this way. I am not sure if they use a 2 pack poly or not, but I suspect that is what they would use for the sole since that gets a beating. Reasons given are that Polyurethane is much harder for abrasion resistance and thereofore more durable than varnish in an interior application.

Fine internal joinery on the schooner was always done in polyurethane, and all exterior work was done with varnish. That is, until a new crewmember redid them in varnish over the poly (to the captains yelling dismay). I have to say, they looked like furniture before, and not quite as nice after, and thats not because of holidays, it was just the look of the wood. it looked like layers of varnish, instead of furniture, if that makes any sense. The poly we used went on much thinner than varnish out of the pot, so it might just be a thickness thing.

The only real issue (allegedly) with poly is that your wood has to be completely dry, as if it is not, moisture will get under it and it will lift off in sheets. Varnish is supposed to "breathe" where poly is supposedly a solid layer that seals everything out (or in). I saw the poly used on the exterior decking on a schooner. The decks were obviously always wet (and needed to be washed down daily with saltwater to keep them tight), and the stuff came off in sheets and looked like hell. but that is a really bad example of what not to do. Made the decks hot as hell too cause they were darker.

I dont think the reddish colour of cetol would be to my liking down below. Even the cetol "light" version is very reddish orange when you use enough coats. I know the little chunk of wood that they use to show what it will look like in the store looks nice and brown and almost like a varnish, but in the real world the second you build up more than 2 coats, it's orange city.

[camaraderie]

Ultimate sole is the best product I've found. Great gloss finish...goes on with a foam brush...no sanding betweeen coats and NOT slippery!!
Welcome to Ultimate Marine Products, Inc

[Weyalan]

I used timber preserver (3 coats, 6 coats on end grain) then 2-pack polyurethane varnidh (3 coats). You will get a mirror finish if you use a good quality brush. For a good fisnish, but not mirror (i.e. with a little grip) use a small roller.

[Pericles]

irwinsailor,

When finished, cover the sole with a strategically placed attractive rug.
Take a look at the picture galleries for Vicems.

Vicem - Power & Motoryacht

Pericles