We have an 1987 E34 and, as you might expect, there are more than a few on-going projects to maintain and upgrade our boat. BTW, thanks for all the info on Cetol - I too dislike the orange color and will be refinishing the exterior brightwork in the fall. Another project is replacing/refinishing the cabin sole. I beleive I've read ALL the strings on this site about replacing the sole (great info from all concerned, especially Loren's approach); our intention was to remove the sole, have it striped, refinish and reinstall it. Alas, it's glued down. That said, removal=destruction. Our choices are now more limited. I've read the original Ericson manual that recommends a light sanding (enough to allow the varnish to adhere). However, I'd like to hear from some people who have sanded, cleaned and revarnished the sole - in site - without replacing it. How much sanding is possible before the top layer of the veneer disintigrates? How about the dark stains, are they able to be lighted with Oxalic acid or other teak brightener? What varnish works best? Do you need more than three coats? Is scuff sanding enough and simply "live" with the discoloration/imperfections (it's not REAL dark, only dark in spots with no appearance of "softening" or rot)? Any suggestions or experience would be greatly appreciated. I'd like to anticipate some of the possible mistakes/issues before I encounter them!
Thanks,
Chris
Thanks,
Chris