Materials, Sources and Finishing Sequence for Antique and Classic Wooden Boat Preservation

Materials and Sources

Here are links to some of Snake Mountain Boatworks’ favorite materials & resources for vintage wooden boat preservation: stripper, wood bleach, countersink bungs, bilge & bottom paint, primer, seam filler & varnish.

• Degreaser – Roll-Off
• Stripper – TotalBoat TotalStrip Paint Remover
• Round Hardwood Toothpicks
• Wood bleach – Daly’s A&B Bleach
• Sealing bare wood – CPES
• Adhesive-sealant – 3M 5200 Marine Adhesive Sealant
• Filling seams less than 3/16” between bottom planks – filleting lapstrake seams – TotalBoat Thixo Flex Flexible Epoxy Adhesive
• Filleting, filling gouges & dents – TotalBoat Thixo Wood 2:1 Epoxy System
• Wood stain – pre-mixed Jel’d wood stain available from Mike Mayer, Lake Oswego Boat Co.
• Bilge paint – SANPACO Bilge Paint
• Filling deck seams – Sikaflex Mahogany 291 LOT
• Varnish 
  • Pettit Z Spar Flagship Varnish – High Build
  • Pettit Z Spar Captain’s Varnish Ultra Clear 2067
• Primer – boot stripe and bottom – 
  • Carvel planked hulls – Interlux Interprotect 2000E Two-Part Barrier Coat Primer
  • Lapstrake and Striptite-style hulls – Pettit Tie Coat Primer 6627
• Topside paint – Lyman and Sea Skiff
  • Interlux Premium Yacht Enamel 202 Semi-Gloss White
• Bottom Paint
  • If boat will be dry sailed – Pettit Old Salem Copper Bronze Hard Racing Bottom Paint
  • If boat will “live” in the water during the season – which is absolutely not recommended! – Pettit 1933 Copper Bronze Antifouling Paint
• Fasteners – Silicon bronze wood screws – NO STAINLESS – flat head Frearson
• Wooden Boat Countersink Bungs
  • Deck plank countersinks – 3/8” Philippine mahogany
  • Blonde king plank countersinks – 3/8” South American mahogany – wood tends to be lighter
• Cloth-covered Primary Marine AWG Wire – Tom’s Engine Barn

Hull Preservation Materials and Finishing Sequence

Following is the general sequence employed when preserving antique and classic wooden boats at Snake Mountain Boatworks.

Hull exterior above boot stripe – hullsides, transom, decks and covering boards

1. Strip all surfaces to bare wood
2. Execute repairs as needed
3. Sand fair to 80 grit
4. Bleach – soak for 12 hours using Daly’s A & B Bleach for 12 hours
5. Stain using J’eld stain from 
   • Lake Oswego Boat Co. 
   • Wood Kote J’eld stain
6. Seal with three to four full coats of Smith’s Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealer (CPES)
7. Scuff sand using medium Scotch Brite pads
8. Clean surface with Acetone
9. Varnish with Pettit Z Spar Flagship Varnish – High Build
10. Build to 20 coats sanding at appropriate intervals with ever-finer grits
11. Pay seams with mahogany Sikaflex 291 LOT
12. Apply 5 additional coats of Pettit Z Spar Captain’s Varnish Ultra Clear 2067

Hull exterior below the boot stripe and the boot stripe

1. Strip all surfaces to bare wood
2. Execute repairs as needed
3. Sand fair to 80 grit
4. Seal with three full coats of Smith’s Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealer
5. Caulk plank seams with TotalBoat Thixo Flex Epoxy Adhesive
6. Sand fair to 80 grit
7. Apply 2 additional coats of (CPES)
8. Prime using
   • Lapstrake and Striptite hulls: Pettit Tie Coat Primer 6627 – 3 coats
   • Carvel planked hulls: Interlux InterProtect 2000E Barrier Coat Epoxy Primer – 5 coats
9. Boot stripe – Interlux Brightside Boottop and Striping Enamel

Hull Interior 

1. Ceilings
   • Strip all surfaces to bare wood w/o destroying evidence of age and use
   • Sand fair to 80 grit
   • Seal with three full coats of Smith’s Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealer (CPES)
   • Scuff sand using medium Scotch Brite pads
   • Clean surface with Acetone
   • Varnish with Pettit Z Spar Flagship Varnish – High Build
2. Bilge-painted components
   • Strip to bare wood and seal with 4 coats of CPES
   • Apply 4 coats SANPACO or other bilge paint