Cabin Sole Treatment

[Craig Soucy]

I am interested in feedback from other CD owners on what treatments they have used to protect their teak & holly soles, other than covering with carpet? Oil, Varnish, Cetol? What has worked and what has not.

Thanks

Craig Soucy
1984 CD 30C



113414,2024@compuserve.com

[Dana]

I am interested in feedback from other CD owners on what treatments they have used to protect their teak & holly soles, other than covering with carpet? Oil, Varnish, Cetol? What has worked and what has not.

Thanks

Craig Soucy

_________________

Craig,

I would only recommend one thing....varnish. On my first boat I had thought varnish was going to be one big maintenance job. I used to oil it. But starting with my CD26, I varnished it and I have been pleased ever since. It is just now showing that I should recoat. Just in terms of keeping the floor clean, easy to sweep, and wear there is no other way to go in my opinion. Many boat builders offer varnishing the teak and holly sole as an option.

Dana



darenius@aol.com

[Jon Larson]

Craig,

I've seen the varnished teak and holly soles, and they look like a million bucks. My impression also was they can be quite slippery when things get a bit bouncy.

On PERI and my previous CD22, I take a hose and a bucket of soapy water down below and scrub the living daylights out of the sole, rinsing it thoroughly off with the hose. I let it dry thoroughly and then really cover it well with Liquid Gold, which is what I use for all the interior teak.

With all that soapy water going into the bilge, that's a good cleaning there also!

I'll take traction, I'm not that graceful, over the ultimate appearance.

Jon Larson
Cape Dory 30 PERI
San Francisco Bay

I am interested in feedback from other CD owners on what treatments they have used to protect their teak & holly soles, other than covering with carpet? Oil, Varnish, Cetol? What has worked and what has not.

Thanks

Craig Soucy
1984 CD 30C

jon9@ix.netcom.com

[John]

I am interested in feedback from other CD owners on what treatments they have used to protect their teak & holly soles, other than covering with carpet? Oil, Varnish, Cetol? What has worked and what has not.

Thanks

Craig Soucy
1984 CD 30C

Craig our CD30 sole is varnished (polyurethane) with Interlux "Clipper Clear" which is beautiful and extremely durable. If I were to do it now I would probably consider using the Epiphanes "Woodfinish Gloss" which I'm going to use on the exterior brightwork that has been wooded down. Oiled finishes attract dust and dirt and soil easily and can become unsightly quickly. There is something to be said about grip when the going gets rough, although with the right shoes on or barefoot the varnished surface has never posed any problems for us. The beauty of Clipper Clear is just that - it's clear! The holly strips contrast nicely when using Clipper Clear....you don't get that overall amber coloring to the finish as with tung or phenolic varnishes. I can't speak for the tint of the Epiphane's "Woodfinish Gloss" as I haven't applied it yet. They imply however that it is clear as well. The greatest advantage it has is that there no requirements for sanding between coats as long as recoating takes place within 72 hours. Both of those finishes are high build so it doesn't take long to obtain a leveled out finish, a great advantage over the more classic varnish finishes. The urethanes though don't have as much flexibility in the cured finish as the classics. Some people prefer the amber tint inherent with the classics like "Captains 1015" by Z-spar etc.,. The only thing I know about Cetol and other similar finishes is that they are a stain base product of some sort and that to me means how do I get it off or out of the wood substrate once it's been applied. I would most definately want the answer to that before I would ever use it. Most people that I've spoken to that use it tend to utilize it for one major reason...it's fast and dirty, you know........the quicky job! Well, I guess pick your poison...Have fun!