Refinishing swim platform/transom platfom, stains & Varnish/Urathane/epoxy Questions

[Keaton]

Refinishing swim platform/transom platfom, stains & Varnish/Urathane/epoxy Questions

I have a 1986 Sea Swirl Sypder Sport 178. The 2 rear platforms need to be refinished. so after spending tons of time getting out the rusted non stainless hardware, getting it off the boat, etc. I was able to sand it do to good nice looking wood with some 80 grit.

now that all the pieces are down to good wood I have some questions:

can I use a normal wood stain that I would find at home depot/lowes? someone was say that i have to use "marine stain"

best I can tell I should use polyurethane... it wont "flex" like varnish but it will give better water repelling properties... would a polyurethane from home depot/lowes work??

the other idea I had was to use the epoxy bar top pours
something like this
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Oleu...1352/202056337

this is a lake boat (Fresh Water) and is used once a weekend during the summer, stored on the trailer when not in the water

Thanks

 

[Woodonglass]

You'll learn a lot from this...

 

[Keaton]

thanks,
I watched them.

he doesn't explain why he uses Epoxy then varnish why cant you use one or the other?

 

[Woodonglass]

Epoxy is very strong and durable and flexible but...one of it's MAJOR draw backs is it has NO UV protectants. The Marine varnish gives that. All quality Marine varnishes have excellent UV protection. So the two combined provide an extremely durable long lasting finish. You could just use Marine Varnish and get excellent results but you would be redoing it in sooner.

 

[zool]

thanks,
I watched them.

he doesn't explain why he uses Epoxy then varnish why cant you use one or the other?

Epoxy lacks significant UV protection...the varnish handles that, keeps the epoxy from yellowing or chalking.

 

[Watermann]

What is the "nice looking wood"? Teak? If so after the sanding be sure to clean the dust out of the grain completely before finishing. Me personally I would just use teak oil on it until it won't soak in any longer and put it back together. Then each year when you wax and clean the boat reapply some teak oil to the wood to keep it from becoming neglected and gray again.Teak is the kind of wood that handles being around water very well and if it has a chance to dry out it won't rot even when it's gray and neglected. .When the varnishes and other stuff starts going bad you're going to be removing it again and starting over with the sanding.

 

[Woodonglass]

This ^^^ is true. If you don't mind the annual Maintenance then I agree this is by far the best method to use. Especially if you don't have all that much wood to worry about.

 

[Keaton]

I dont think its Teak or mahogany they are to dark. if i had to guess, i'd guess oak

 

[Watermann]

Here is my teak swim ladder platform that outlived the 1988 Chris Craft to be born again as like new on a 1970 Chief with just teak oil. The only piece I replaced was the tread on the step as it was missing and it came off the same boat and is 17 years old too.

 

[Keaton]

maybe mine is teak. looks the same
Before:

one done

 

[Watermann]

That's teak wood alright, I didn't mention but I also used hull cleaner with oxylic acid sprayed on the teak to remove the gray and discoloration. I had to do very little sanding of the wood after using the cleaner.

Forgot to say that I used a scrub brush to work the cleaner into the grain and then let it sit and work before rinsing.

 

[Bayou Dave]

I agree with using teak oil. 2 years ago I did my swim platform. Sanded it smooth and teak oiled the heck out of it. Went from terrible looking to looking brand new.

 

[Keaton]

so you are both suggesting not to coat it in epoxy and varnish but to just coat it in teak oil?

 

[Bayou Dave]

so you are both suggesting not to coat it in epoxy and varnish but to just coat it in teak oil?

I do suggest teak oil over any other method. But, you have the final decision.

 

[Watermann]

Hey WoG also agreed so make that 3 of us who say use teak oil alone.

 

[Woodonglass]

Yup, if you don't mind having to do it every season to maintain it then it's prolly the best thing to do. The Epoxy/Varnish is more of a Long Term solution BUT... it has it's own set of issues as well. For a Swim Platform I think I'd keep it "Au Naturale'" so it won't be slippery!!!