I am building a new swim platform, well actually I am redoing my entire boat trim from teak to Mahogany and I don't know what to use to finish it? My platform is in the water alot so how do I finish it and with what? I want to use the same finish on the interior so I need something that will work interior and exterior......
Mahogany finishing???
- Thread starter johnNlexy
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Capt. Bill1
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Mahogany might not be too happy to be wet most of the time. I would reconsider making a swim platform out of it.
However, an oiled teak swim platform looks fantastic! It would probably need to be oiled frequently for the first year. After that, oiling once or twice a season would be the norm and oiling is soooo much easier then varnishing!!!!!
Mahogany? Or Luan?
Luan is too soft and not great for an exposed swim platform IMHO. It could work, but better materials exist.
True Mahogany, Hondurous Mahogany, would be a fantastic material and would last the life of the boat. Expensive though.
Luan is too soft and not great for an exposed swim platform IMHO. It could work, but better materials exist.
True Mahogany, Hondurous Mahogany, would be a fantastic material and would last the life of the boat. Expensive though.
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There is some truth to the using of another wood, but whole vessels have been made of mahogany...
The catch( as with any material ) is using it correctly. And you will need to have a nearly perfect finish on that swim platform ( and keep it perfect ). For clear, use a base coat of clear epoxy, and top it with a UV blocking spar varnish. Be sure to repair nicks and scratches...
There is no really good reason that I know of to use the same type of finish on both of a) interior, dry surface and b) an exterior surface continuously exposed to UV, water, salt, sand, foot traffic. The two types of exposure are at opposite sides of the spectrum. Interior does not need high UV protection or abrasion resistance. Interior will not need the ability to be/stay submerged.
The catch( as with any material ) is using it correctly. And you will need to have a nearly perfect finish on that swim platform ( and keep it perfect ). For clear, use a base coat of clear epoxy, and top it with a UV blocking spar varnish. Be sure to repair nicks and scratches...
There is no really good reason that I know of to use the same type of finish on both of a) interior, dry surface and b) an exterior surface continuously exposed to UV, water, salt, sand, foot traffic. The two types of exposure are at opposite sides of the spectrum. Interior does not need high UV protection or abrasion resistance. Interior will not need the ability to be/stay submerged.
it is true hondurous mahogany and I know a high end cabinet shop owner and he lets me take the left overs from jobs he gets when he doesn't need it so I have plenty of exotic woods. I love the look of Mahogany and ithas an old teak platform now. I just want to change all the old greyish looking teak since I have the Mahogany it will be easier IMHO to remake everything I need than to re-sand and all that cause I bought the boat and it was or looked as if the teak was never mantained
Capt. Bill1
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Your friend lets you take pieces that are long enough to make a swim platform out of? Nice friend.
Bill is on the right track with the epoxy. But if you go to all that trouble I would two part urethane it. Either way, you're going to end up with a "slippery when wet" swim platform.
Remaking is faster than refinishing!? To each his own.
When you do get around to finishing the mahogany, I would consider staining it first. Looks better in my opinion. And seems to help with the UV protection.
Bill is on the right track with the epoxy. But if you go to all that trouble I would two part urethane it. Either way, you're going to end up with a "slippery when wet" swim platform.
Remaking is faster than refinishing!? To each his own.
When you do get around to finishing the mahogany, I would consider staining it first. Looks better in my opinion. And seems to help with the UV protection.