Varnishing Cabin Sole

External Since: Jan 20, 2004 Posts: 6

Does anyone have any suggestions for a better way to re-varnish the cabin
sole to by 28 foot sailboat. It's the standard teak and holly sole.Every 2
years like clockwork, I have to strip off the old varnish and put on the new
stuff. It's driving me crazy. Is there something better than Captans Varnish
on the market, something that might last 4 or 5 years?
Has anyone tried using Cetol on a cabin sole? I use it exclusively on all
exterior teak. I was thinking I'd give it a try. Has anyone used it?

Frank

External Since: Sep 23, 2003 Posts: 193

In my last boat, the sole was solid teak and oiled. It was easy to keep and not
too slippery.
If your sole is teak & holly veneer plywood, then oiling is out.

Indoors, the UV resistance of varnishes like Z-Spar #1015 (Captain's) isn't
needed.
I'd try the polyurethane finish you'd use at home on a hardwood floor.
To me, non-skid-ness would be a requirement, so i'd try either sugar or salt ot
a little interlux non-skid grit in the last coat.

Frank Gerry wrote:

> Does anyone have any suggestions for a better way to re-varnish the cabin
> sole to by 28 foot sailboat. It's the standard teak and holly sole.Every 2
> years like clockwork, I have to strip off the old varnish and put on the new
> stuff. It's driving me crazy. Is there something better than Captans Varnish
> on the market, something that might last 4 or 5 years?
> Has anyone tried using Cetol on a cabin sole? I use it exclusively on all
> exterior teak. I was thinking I'd give it a try. Has anyone used it?
>
> Frank