Companionway Stairs

Steve_in_lex · January 16, 2016, 12:56:35 PM

I just started refinishing my companionway stairs and have sanded the steps down to the bare wood. When I test the final appearance by wiping turnpentine on the wood, it looks noticeably darker than the original, covered wood. In order to be consistent, it seems like I'll have to take the sides of the stairs down to bare wood too...tripling the project. Any idea why the bare wood would be darker than the original, factory-varnished wood? Usually it's the other way around.

Thanks

Ron Hill · January 16, 2016, 01:03:23 PM

Steve : I surely wouldn't put varnish on the steps treads - too slippery when wet!! I know of a number of accidents that were caused by slipping off a step!

A number of us have put strips of anti-skid (sticky backed) on the treads - for a good footing! There are Mainsheet tech note pictures of those strips installed - look in WiKi.

A thought

Steve_in_lex · January 16, 2016, 05:15:34 PM

Thanks Ron, I was wondering about that. I was thinking semi-gloss varnish with a non-skid strip near the end. Suggestions for a better sealant?

Ron Hill · January 17, 2016, 12:55:00 PM

Steve : Here's what I did.
I put the antiskid strips on the outside tread, except I used two treads on the top step and two treads on the bottom step. I used lacquer thinner to clean all the natural oil from the tread before I stuck them in place.

A thought

patrice · January 18, 2016, 05:10:27 AM

Hi,

I used teak oil to re-finish mine after a good sanding, cleaning.

And also, filled the grooves in each step with silicone.
Also in the wiki.

SailingJerry · January 19, 2016, 11:52:17 AM

Quote from: patrice on January 18, 2016, 05:10:27 AM
Hi,

I used teak oil to re-finish mine after a good sanding, cleaning.

And also, filled the grooves in each step with silicone.
Also in the wiki.

i heartily recommend the teak oil approach. Takes dirt and sand punishment better and easy to remedy scratches.

mregan · January 20, 2016, 12:42:46 PM

I refinished mine with Epifanes Gloss Clear Varnish. Plus 2 strips of anti skid on each step and filled in the grooves with black sealant.

Noah · January 20, 2016, 05:08:27 PM

Sounds like a lot of stuff going on with your ladder. How to you touch-up/maintain the gloss varnish with the non-skid strips AND sealant in grooves?

sailaway · January 20, 2016, 07:12:30 PM

Did it stop them from making noise my steps squeak I have tried new screws but they still squeak. Glueing them might be the answer but I hate to. Charlie

Noah · January 20, 2016, 07:21:57 PM

Long running battle...try some plastic shims (teflon ) under the ladder feet. Also some have just delegated a "crew member" who's duty is to just stand on the ladder ALL THE TIME!! Solves engine vibration issue too!

patrice · January 21, 2016, 04:58:55 AM

Hi,

For the squeacking noise, I put some felt under the lower section, wood rubbing on the floor. And under the top section.
Solved the issue.

It is the felt that you get to put under home furniture.

Wayne · January 21, 2016, 05:13:01 PM

Catalina used a water based stain/sealer (I have a 2006) which lightened the wood. Contact Catalina Direct; they can fix you up with the matching factory product.

Roc · January 22, 2016, 04:01:16 AM

Catalina uses Target Coatings waterbased sealer for the interior teak. I know because I've called Target Coatings and they've sent me a quart of the waterbased product that Catalina gets from them. There are a few waterbased products and I can't remember which one. If you call them, they can tell you which one to order. It's about $25 per quart, including the shipping. Very easy to use.
http://targetcoatings.com/

Steve_in_lex · January 23, 2016, 09:28:15 AM

Thanks, Wayne and Roc. I think I'll do that -- replicate the original finish. It worked well for 10 years, and makes it easier to keep a uniform appearance when I don't have the entire piece stripped down to bare wood. I like others' ideas about either paste-on strips or the sealant in the grooves. All very helpful. Fortunately it's still January so I have some time to trick this baby out.

Steve

Rortega46 · January 25, 2019, 05:56:05 AM

Steve, Roc & Wayne:

I'm getting ready to refinish my stairs and like your plan of using the sealer Catalina used originally. I have a few questions for you experienced guys.

Did you do both horizontal and vertical parts, or just the horizontal stair treads?
How did you strip and prep the stairs prior to applying sealer?
How did you clean and prep the grooves?
How many coats of sealer did you apply?
How did the finish hold up over time?

Thanks in advance for your reply.