Salon Table Refinishing

[Flying Colours]

The salon table in our Hunter 466 (2002) appears to be finished with a clear polyurethane (epoxy finish). The vessel is located in the tropics and over time, the finish has turned mottled and milky. Has anyone out there had this problem and what solution was found.

S.V. Dreamtime
BVI/USVI

 

[windward54]

I had a similar problem on our boat. Over the years, the finish became milky in sections. The only way to fix it is to sand it down and refinish the table. The trouble is if your table is constructed the same way our table is, it is a very, very thin veneer of teak over wood. If you sand it too much, there won't be any top left.

I didn't like the look and later decided to replace the table. I'm having a local shop make a new table out of teak using the old table as a pattern.

 

[Rich Stidger]

I too had the same problem as you and Karl. However I used a chemical stripper to remove the original finish and that worked well. However, you MUST have patience to let the stripper work and NOT be aggressive in scraping. I did some minor damage to the very thin veneer but I was able to hide the defect in the new finish.

I think I remember using Minwax Helmsman poly for the new finish- about 3-4 coats. It is holding up very well. If I had it to do over I think I would take the stripped table to a custom cabinet maker and have him spray a finish. I think it would look better than my brushed job.

 

[timvg]

Our 40.5 table needs refinishing, but we are thinking of having a smaller table made. We usually have the tabled swilled back to give more room in the salon.

Has anyone ever had a smaller table made?

 

[Rich Stidger]

Smaller table idea

Interesting idea, Tim. We could actually use a slightly smaller table so that we could slide out behind it. It would only need to be smaller at the aft inside edge/corner so that when we swivel the table with other people in place there is a bit more clearance for our...ahem... mid-section.

One disadvantage in making the table smaller is that it would no longer be able to rest on the edge of the seats and provide a platform for the fill-in cushions as a berth. However,we have only used that feature once or twice in 12 years, so it probably wouldn't be of any concern for us. There might be re-sell value to consider.

 

[Rick D]

Interesting idea, Tim. We could actually use a slightly smaller table so that we could slide out behind it. It would only need to be smaller at the aft inside edge/corner so that when we swivel the table with other people in place there is a bit more clearance for our...ahem... mid-section.

Rich, the PO had made one for ours. It's solid teak. It uses the under support from the old table. It has a piano hinged section on the seat side also so that there is more room when not actually dining. I sold my cushions (to Don if I remember right).

 

[windward54]

Our 40.5 table needs refinishing, but we are thinking of having a smaller table made. We usually have the tabled swilled back to give more room in the salon.

Has anyone ever had a smaller table made?

Tim, we are having ours made over at H&L Marine Woodworks. You can always come on over and check it out when it is done.

 

[John T1594]

There was a post some time back about refinishing the table. The author claimed that Hunter Marine used a product called "Mohawk Ultra Classic Toner for Wood". The author used M102-0452 Clear Satin, 36-40 Sheen. It comes in spray cans, and can be ordered direct from Mohawk. Their web site is www.mohawk-finishing.com and you can order online.

 

[timvg]

Karl,

I may have to take you up on your offer. The 40.5 salon is good sized, but the table takes up so much room. Let me know when you get it back, as it would be great to see what you came up with.

Tim

 

[timvg]

Rick,

Does your new table still work as a double birth? About once or twice a year, we have the "family" cruise and the table gets dropped down. Other than that, it's usually just the two of us.

 

[Ron McCoy]

I removed the table entirely from our H386. We never used the salon as a berth so were not concerned with not having that option. Designed more of a "cocktail" table set up using 1 1/4" solid teak. Check out the photos in Hunter modifications section of this website for the H386. We love our more open salon setup and have no regrets. The original table was way too large. I guess Hunter used the same size tables on many of their mid-sized boats.

 

[windward54]

Rick,

Does your new table still work as a double birth? About once or twice a year, we have the "family" cruise and the table gets dropped down. Other than that, it's usually just the two of us.

I took the old table to H&L and had them make a copy out of solid teak. It should still work as a berth, and that was out plan. We like the fold-up leaf and we need to drop the table every once in a while to use it for guests. I should have the table next week, and I'll send you a PM to let you know when it is installed.

 

[Rick D]

No, it no longer works as a berth. I suppose it could be made to, but we don't use it and it is not full sized.