My 1986 Hunter 34 has very dark teak in the cabin. I have seen other Hunters with a light colored wood which may or may not have been teak. Is there a way to make the teak a lighter color without replacing all of it? The lighter wood makes the whole cabin seem larger and brighter. Any suggestions?
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Oil or varnish finish?
Charlie: Do you have an Oil or Varnish finish? Obviously if you have Varnish you are going to have a bigger problem trying to lighten it. I must assume that your interior is dark because of the finish that has been applied to the wood. If you try to remove the varnish then you take a chance of sanding through the veener. If you are just oiled you should start with some of the wood cleaners and see what this does before you try any chemical treatment.
Charlie: Do you have an Oil or Varnish finish? Obviously if you have Varnish you are going to have a bigger problem trying to lighten it. I must assume that your interior is dark because of the finish that has been applied to the wood. If you try to remove the varnish then you take a chance of sanding through the veener. If you are just oiled you should start with some of the wood cleaners and see what this does before you try any chemical treatment.
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Claude L.-Auger
Choice of interior ?
When I looked at several 34s in the spring of 2000, I ran into a large number of them that had a very dark teak interior and you are right it makes the boat look smaller than it is inside. I also saw some that had a blondish, much lighter color, with some variation as I went from boat to boat. Explanation I got at the time was that it was possible to choose between light and dark from circa 83 to 87. Don't know if that's true or not. If you talk to a cabinet maker and tell him precisely what type of veneer you have, he might be able to recommend a bleach. Although I wouldn't take a chance, it might be worth investigating. A cheaper solution is to brighten up the boat with lots of light colors (cushions, settees, curtains, and on the port and starboard bulkheads you can put some personal frames, etc.). Good Luck
When I looked at several 34s in the spring of 2000, I ran into a large number of them that had a very dark teak interior and you are right it makes the boat look smaller than it is inside. I also saw some that had a blondish, much lighter color, with some variation as I went from boat to boat. Explanation I got at the time was that it was possible to choose between light and dark from circa 83 to 87. Don't know if that's true or not. If you talk to a cabinet maker and tell him precisely what type of veneer you have, he might be able to recommend a bleach. Although I wouldn't take a chance, it might be worth investigating. A cheaper solution is to brighten up the boat with lots of light colors (cushions, settees, curtains, and on the port and starboard bulkheads you can put some personal frames, etc.). Good Luck
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
IMO, you can't beat the warm rich glow of
highly polished wood in a boat... Boatbuilders only stopped using it because joinery is skilled labor that costs a LOT more than molded fiberglass. But you're right, it does make for a dark cabin. There are several ways to brighten up the cabin without giving up the way the wood is supposed to look: one way is with light colored upholstery--creams and beiges. Another is with the use of lighting--flourescent strips behind valances that throw light up and down...under-cabinet lighting and any other lamps that fit the decor. The third sounds a bit more radical than it is...and I never would have thought of it if it hadn't been on my most recent boat: replace the black translucent plexiglass in the deck hatches with opaque white plexiglass. My previous boat had black translucent hatches...when I bought Solitaire, I could not BELIEVE how much more light the white hatches let into the cabin...they were like skylights. There were no sidelights in the head, but an overhead deck hatch...till I got used to it, I kept trying to figure out how to turn off a light I thought had been left on in there. It's not that big a deal to replace the plexi in deck hatches...people replace it that's gotten hopelessly scratched all the time. Just some ideas...
highly polished wood in a boat... Boatbuilders only stopped using it because joinery is skilled labor that costs a LOT more than molded fiberglass. But you're right, it does make for a dark cabin. There are several ways to brighten up the cabin without giving up the way the wood is supposed to look: one way is with light colored upholstery--creams and beiges. Another is with the use of lighting--flourescent strips behind valances that throw light up and down...under-cabinet lighting and any other lamps that fit the decor. The third sounds a bit more radical than it is...and I never would have thought of it if it hadn't been on my most recent boat: replace the black translucent plexiglass in the deck hatches with opaque white plexiglass. My previous boat had black translucent hatches...when I bought Solitaire, I could not BELIEVE how much more light the white hatches let into the cabin...they were like skylights. There were no sidelights in the head, but an overhead deck hatch...till I got used to it, I kept trying to figure out how to turn off a light I thought had been left on in there. It's not that big a deal to replace the plexi in deck hatches...people replace it that's gotten hopelessly scratched all the time. Just some ideas...
Haha Claude!
Claude: This is back in the era when you could have anything you wanted on the boat (as long as it was what the factory wanted to put on them). I seriously doubt that there was ANY option on the interior. What may have happened is that they had light and dark batchs of teak (but not so sure of this either). What was most likely is that the dealer or owners stained the wood when the boats were new. I purchased my 1985 Hunter 31' new in 1987. There was NO finish on the wood at all. The dealers did the finish work at that time.
Claude: This is back in the era when you could have anything you wanted on the boat (as long as it was what the factory wanted to put on them). I seriously doubt that there was ANY option on the interior. What may have happened is that they had light and dark batchs of teak (but not so sure of this either). What was most likely is that the dealer or owners stained the wood when the boats were new. I purchased my 1985 Hunter 31' new in 1987. There was NO finish on the wood at all. The dealers did the finish work at that time.
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Barry
Some Had Oak Interior
All the early one's I have seen were dark teak. I have seen several 1987 models done in oak which were lighter. You can brighten up the interior with lighter colored cushions and pillows. Hang something of a lighter color on the bulkhead. Barry
All the early one's I have seen were dark teak. I have seen several 1987 models done in oak which were lighter. You can brighten up the interior with lighter colored cushions and pillows. Hang something of a lighter color on the bulkhead. Barry
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Dale Wile
What I did...
Nearly the entire interior of my previous boat was clad in dark (depressing) paneling. I purchased a roll of heavy, vinyl wall paper (the kind seen frequently in restaurants and restrooms in commercial buildings) in a light but complementary color. I removed several of the panels in the cabin and covered them with the vinyl, using contact cement on both the panel surface and the back of the wallpaper. I cut the wallpaper a little larger than the panel and rolled about an inch over the edge and cemented the excess to the back of the panel. I reattached the covered panels to the framing using oval-head stainless steel screws with finish washers. It made a wonderful improvement to the cabin, both in brightness and in perceived increased size.
Nearly the entire interior of my previous boat was clad in dark (depressing) paneling. I purchased a roll of heavy, vinyl wall paper (the kind seen frequently in restaurants and restrooms in commercial buildings) in a light but complementary color. I removed several of the panels in the cabin and covered them with the vinyl, using contact cement on both the panel surface and the back of the wallpaper. I cut the wallpaper a little larger than the panel and rolled about an inch over the edge and cemented the excess to the back of the panel. I reattached the covered panels to the framing using oval-head stainless steel screws with finish washers. It made a wonderful improvement to the cabin, both in brightness and in perceived increased size.
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Charlie Burga
The teak is not varnished
Steve, The teak is not varnished, it is only oiled. I did some more research and noted that the boats I saw with the light wood were 87 models. I have been told that the wood is Red Oak. I am wondering if a Red Oak veneer could be laid over the teak? Charlie
Steve, The teak is not varnished, it is only oiled. I did some more research and noted that the boats I saw with the light wood were 87 models. I have been told that the wood is Red Oak. I am wondering if a Red Oak veneer could be laid over the teak? Charlie
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
Can't be red oak...
White oak, maybe...but nobody in his right mind would ever use red oak on a boat...it expands and contracts with temperature like a rubber band, causing varnish to crack and peel so badly that any surface exposed to ANY sunlight would have to be scraped, sanded and revarnished as often as twice a season. White oak doesn't do that...in fact, it's used to build boats.
White oak, maybe...but nobody in his right mind would ever use red oak on a boat...it expands and contracts with temperature like a rubber band, causing varnish to crack and peel so badly that any surface exposed to ANY sunlight would have to be scraped, sanded and revarnished as often as twice a season. White oak doesn't do that...in fact, it's used to build boats.
I doubt it!
Charlie: I really doubt it. My boat is a '85 model. The wood is light. Contact Hunter and see if they ever used anything other than teak and teak veeners. If you trully only have oiled wood, I would go to a cabinet shop and find out where they would suggest that you start. I must tell you that you are really one step ahead if there is only oil on the wood. A lot of the darkness may be dirt and the oil itself. Good luck and keep us posted.
Charlie: I really doubt it. My boat is a '85 model. The wood is light. Contact Hunter and see if they ever used anything other than teak and teak veeners. If you trully only have oiled wood, I would go to a cabinet shop and find out where they would suggest that you start. I must tell you that you are really one step ahead if there is only oil on the wood. A lot of the darkness may be dirt and the oil itself. Good luck and keep us posted.
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Don
Hunter did use oak on some models
I have seen several H40's of that era that had a white oak/light interior. It's a substantially different interior that I did not like. On my '84 31 a lot of the wood was white oak (e.g., compression post enclosure) but it was all stained to match the teak.
I have seen several H40's of that era that had a white oak/light interior. It's a substantially different interior that I did not like. On my '84 31 a lot of the wood was white oak (e.g., compression post enclosure) but it was all stained to match the teak.
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Mac Lindsay
Teak
Charlie; Hunter did offer a light oak interior as an option on the 34. I forget which year but I think it was around 86 or 87. I saw it at the Seattle boat show around that time. When I bought our 84 H31 new it came with unfinished teak so that the owner could decide on what finish he or she would like. I hand wet sanded teak oil(Maguire's) onto all surfaces giving 3 wet sanded coats on all teak. All that is required now is some washing and re-oiling and the interior is a light to medium color. Check your interior to see if its definately oil or stain or varnish. Oil can be washed and lightened up a bit if it is dirty. If it is a dark stain or varnish then a lot more work is required. Decorating with lighter colored fabrics may be the easiest answer. Mac
Charlie; Hunter did offer a light oak interior as an option on the 34. I forget which year but I think it was around 86 or 87. I saw it at the Seattle boat show around that time. When I bought our 84 H31 new it came with unfinished teak so that the owner could decide on what finish he or she would like. I hand wet sanded teak oil(Maguire's) onto all surfaces giving 3 wet sanded coats on all teak. All that is required now is some washing and re-oiling and the interior is a light to medium color. Check your interior to see if its definately oil or stain or varnish. Oil can be washed and lightened up a bit if it is dirty. If it is a dark stain or varnish then a lot more work is required. Decorating with lighter colored fabrics may be the easiest answer. Mac
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Charlie Burga
Thanks for everyone's input
I really appreciate everyon's input to my question. I have some good ideas to follow-up on. This is the first time I have posted anythng to the forum and I am very imprssed with the quick response from so many Hunter owners. Charlie
I really appreciate everyon's input to my question. I have some good ideas to follow-up on. This is the first time I have posted anythng to the forum and I am very imprssed with the quick response from so many Hunter owners. Charlie
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