On Apr 24, 2018, at 7:11 AM, Ensign Sailing Forum <ensignsailing@ensignclass.com> wrote:

Hi Ryan,
I used Semco in the 80’s on the teak deck of a Nautcal 62 ketch I was skippering (it was a teak farm). It was easy to use, stood up well but had a yellowish tint which I didn’t like. I don’t know if mahogany would take the color the same. As for the bright finish. I’ve used many different finishes. There is an alternative to varnish. Polyurethane. We used to use a product called Last n Last. It looks like they have additional products now a days that are not polyurethane and also water based. I have no experience with these. I’d go with a varnish or a poly on the coamings. You’ve done the hard part and if you get a nice 3 to 5 coat job (thin the first coat only for better penetration) your $80 worth of Epifanes won’t go to waste. The seats and sole staying bare (oiled) would work for better footing. You could always test some Semco on the bottom side to see if you liked it. I believe it has some solids in it for color. They didn’t make a clear back when I used it I don’t think.Hope this helps.Ted#512 Volare
On Apr 24, 2018, at 7:51 AM, Ensign Sailing Forum <ensignsailing@ensignclass.com> wrote:
Hi all,

I recently removed and stripped all the brightwork from the cockpit of #1177 using a heatgun, squared-off putty knife, and a lot of sandpaper. The mahogany benches and all smaller trim pieces came out of the boat and home to the workshop to make it a bit easier but the coaming boards will stay in place until the cabin top gets repainted, maybe next spring.

I had purchased $80 worth of Epifanes varnishes and thinners from Defender back in March but after the work it took to get all the old stuff off, I'm now reconsidering the type of product I apply.

My wife and I have some experience with teak oil and really like the matte finish and color it provides but have seen too many examples of how it can break down over time and start to attract dirt, stains, and mildew. Then it's back to sanding again....

I realize you don't get something for nothing in this world but the reading I have done on the Semco Teak Sealer (which does work on mahogany per their website) seems to indicate that it provides a lot of the best qualities of all the other brightwork products with a lot less of the headaches. It is supposed to provide UV protection, is available in different tints to match the color we like, has a water-repellent matte finish that soaks into the wood and doesn't leave an oily or sticky film behind, and will breakdown to nearly nothing over the course of 6-12 months if you don't like it and want to try something new.

So is anyone using this stuff? Any photos of what it looks like over mahogany?

To date, my favorite Ensign is one named "Ptarmigan" at the Frisco Bay Marina on Lake Dillon, Colorado. It is meticulously kept, a beautiful pale green hull, and whatever product they use on their woodwork is exactly what I'd like mine to be. Maybe they'll chime in if they read these boards from time to time.

Thanks in advance,

ryan

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On Apr 24, 2018, at 7:51 AM, Ensign Sailing Forum <ensignsailing@ensignclass.com> wrote:

Hi all,

I recently removed and stripped all the brightwork from the cockpit of #1177 using a heatgun, squared-off putty knife, and a lot of sandpaper. The mahogany benches and all smaller trim pieces came out of the boat and home to the workshop to make it a bit easier but the coaming boards will stay in place until the cabin top gets repainted, maybe next spring.

I had purchased $80 worth of Epifanes varnishes and thinners from Defender back in March but after the work it took to get all the old stuff off, I'm now reconsidering the type of product I apply.

My wife and I have some experience with teak oil and really like the matte finish and color it provides but have seen too many examples of how it can break down over time and start to attract dirt, stains, and mildew. Then it's back to sanding again....

I realize you don't get something for nothing in this world but the reading I have done on the Semco Teak Sealer (which does work on mahogany per their website) seems to indicate that it provides a lot of the best qualities of all the other brightwork products with a lot less of the headaches. It is supposed to provide UV protection, is available in different tints to match the color we like, has a water-repellent matte finish that soaks into the wood and doesn't leave an oily or sticky film behind, and will breakdown to nearly nothing over the course of 6-12 months if you don't like it and want to try something new.

So is anyone using this stuff? Any photos of what it looks like over mahogany?

To date, my favorite Ensign is one named "Ptarmigan" at the Frisco Bay Marina on Lake Dillon, Colorado. It is meticulously kept, a beautiful pale green hull, and whatever product they use on their woodwork is exactly what I'd like mine to be. Maybe they'll chime in if they read these boards from time to time.

Thanks in advance,

ryan