Can Laminated Wood Be Polyurethaned?

[endoftheroad]

Or would Varnish be better?

Thanks

[S&S]

It shouldn't make a difference.

[sailvayu]

I have seen it done, the results were not that great. Sort of looked like it sounds lol Varnish tends to bring out the color and accents the grain in real wood. With the laminate it just looked flat not attractive like wood.

Fair Winds

Wayne Canning, AMS
projectboatzen.com

[mike d.]

you can do it either way old varnishes gives the wood a more amber hue than the urethane. the urethane is a harder finish so will stand more abuse, but the earlier urethanes tend to peel if subjected to the weather. newer finishes have over-come most of these issues

[DaveOnCudjoe]

I find varnish more UV resistant but requires many coats. Dave

[hellosailor]

Yes, but you need a special "laminated wood urethane brush" not a plain varnish brush.

(WEG)

[James S]

The Urethane is harder and more resistance to abrasion but will chip if hit hard, leaving a whitish looking edge around the damaged area.
Its a bit more trouble to do a nice looking repair.
I prefer varnish.

[endoftheroad]

Thanks everyone,

I recently bought a paceship 26 and it has a laminated bulkhead, it is in great shape and it's very impressive how well the laminate has held up in the boat.
I would like to varnish or urethane the laminated wood inside.

[Rene]

Are you refering to laminate or laminated wood. Laminated wood is layers of real wood glued together. Treat as any other wood ( varnish or varathane ). Laminates are a layer of imprinted material ( to look like wood ) backed by particle board or plywood and coated with a finish (probably acrylic). I think most varnishes or plastic varnishes may peel off or show bad brush strokes at the least. I have never heard of a material to re-finish laminates but you should check with a flooring manufacturer.

[endoftheroad]

Originally Posted by Rene

Are you refering to laminate or laminated wood. Laminated wood is layers of real wood glued together. Treat as any other wood ( varnish or varathane ). Laminates are a layer of imprinted material ( to look like wood ) backed by particle board or plywood and coated with a finish (probably acrylic). I think most varnishes or plastic varnishes may peel off or show bad brush strokes at the least. I have never heard of a material to re-finish laminates but you should check with a flooring manufacturer.

Here is a pic.

The bulkhead and table are a plywood with a layer of wood or woodlike material.
It's all in great shape except for a few dry spots but I'd like to spruce it up.
Varnish or poly?

[James S]

My guess is that’s a veneer over the plywood...if so its real wood.
I'd varnish.

[stevensc]

Endofthereoad
I would sure like to see a picture of that table in the down position showing the supports, would you mind posting one here.
Thanks
Steve

[endoftheroad]

Originally Posted by stevensc

Endofthereoad
I would sure like to see a picture of that table in the down position showing the supports, would you mind posting one here.
Thanks
Steve

Steve,

I'll have a couple pics here for you tomorrow afternoon.

[Rene]

Looked at your photo, hard to say for sure unless I was up close but the table looks like veenered plywood ( can see the grain ). The bulkhead on the other hand looks like laminate ( looks much smoother). My newer Hunter, unlike the older ones uses laminates for the bulkheads ( fake cherrywood not teak ) Impossible to touch-up small nicks and dents (hate the stuff).

[Ocean Girl]

That is some pretty wood and looks to be in very good condition. Epiphane is really beautiful Welcome to Epifanes - the world's finest yacht coatings It is a urethane (sorry to add another option to the mix!) I think either poly, traditional varnish, or urethanes would do fine for the bulkhead. I think the key for good interior results is to pick a finish that darken the wood the least. That is why I like the epiphanes. For your nice table it would be great to use a finish that can handle a hot mug or water on it. I am not sure of the answer, does anyone know?

Congratulations on you pretty new boat.
Erika