Partial New Teak and Holly

[HMT2]

Ok wood working pros. I am replacing two portions of my teak and holly sole on my 1983 Hunter 31. I am having to replace two of four sections I will refinish in place the other two. I have pulled up the old delaminated sole in one piece and used it as a pattern for the new piece. The old piece was held down by six or seven stainless screws. There are holes in the underlying fiberglass and I would like to put the screw holes in those same holes in the fiberglass. I am going to use the epoxy then varnish method of finishing the teak and holly. My question is should I drill the pilot holes and chamfer the screw holes on the new teak and holly before or after I apply the epoxy and varnish?

 

[pateco]

HMT2, I am considering the same project for my 1983 H31. Please post pictures of what you are replacing, and let us know how it goes. I have done some refinishing so far, but some of the veneers are beyond repair, and the plywood sole section over the bilge pump was so delaminated. that even after strengthening by epoxy sistering some additional plywood underneath, it feels soft when you walk on it.

Bilge Section before

Bilge section after

Aft sole before

Aft sole after

 

[HMT2]

Pateco,
I will get some pictures. I am replacing that aft piece that you refinished, it had actually rotted underneath the nav table (mine is a little different than yours) and had delaminated badly with the veneer ripping off the top. The pieces I am going to put in new I will cover with West System epoxy. Your work looks good, what stripper and what varnish did you use?

 

[Calif. Ted]

I'm certainly no expert but I prefer to drill and countersink before finishing, sink them deep enough to allow for the varnish. Mine were bad and while waiting for a $300 piece of teak and holly veneer plywood to arrive I thought I'd make up a quick set of temporary soles from oak. I kinda liked the result and they're tough as nails, so I've left as is for now.

 

[pateco]

Pateco,
I will get some pictures. I am replacing that aft piece that you refinished, it had actually rotted underneath the nav table (mine is a little different than yours) and had delaminated badly with the veneer ripping off the top. The pieces I am going to put in new I will cover with West System epoxy. Your work looks good, what stripper and what varnish did you use?

Did not use any stripper. Started with steel wool to remove the flakes, and then sanded. The holly stripes on the rear piece were already sanded through when we started. That is the piece I am considering replacing.

We used Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane

 

[HMT2]

I am going to use the method in this video. http://boatworkstoday.com/archives/142
I have practiced it on an old scrap piece of teak and holly and already done the bilge covers, it looks great and its encapsulated in epoxy! Ted I like your oak sole!

 

[Calif. Ted]

I have switched from the old school China bristle brushes to disposable foam brushes, and a fresh can of varnish always lays down better without brush marks then that can you first opened a couple months ago.