Refinishing Companionway Hatch

[Alan]

The companionway hatch on my E30-2 has what looks like a 3/4" plywood top surface with some type of pliable strip "caulking" between teak strips (veneer probably) on top - kind of like teak and holly plywood. It's not really caulking - It doesn't go all the way through to underside of the hatch.

I wonder how to remove all the varnish without damaging the "caulking". Options are scraping, sanding, or using a chemical stripper. Scraping ssems like it would esily damage this "caulking" - it is flexible like rubber. How does one get the varnish off this caulking?

When revarnishing, do I varnish over the caulking as well as the wood?

 

[Randy Rutledge]

I used a chemical stripper and brass brush on my E29 and it did not attack the caulk.

 

[Alan]

Thanks Randy. I'll try that - I didn't think of using a brass brush. I use one on my cat without any complaints, so it shouldn't bother the "caulk" either. The "caulking" feels like rubber - it's flexible and resilient.