New Ash Cabin Sole - Oil or Varnish????

AlexSchmoll · #1 (**permalink**) 03-22-2007

Hi: I am installing a new cabin sole in our Hughes 31 - with lap jointed 1/4" white ash bedded in thickened epoxy. Does anyone have thoughts, recommendations and/or experiences with respect to oiling or varnishing?

Thanks!

alex

sailingfool · #2 (**permalink**) 03-22-2007

We have been very happy with Ultimate Sole from http://www.ultimatesole.com/. Looks like varnish but is not slippery.

Freesail99 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-22-2007

If your using epoxy, I don't think the oil will work. I would epoxy the ash ( all 6 sides ) and then varnish or Poly. Ash is the wood used to make most wood baseball bats.

Faster · #4 (**permalink**) 03-22-2007

I'd definitely go with varnish or some other sealing-type of finish. Water is going to end up on that sole one way or another, and you want to keep the water out.

If it's already epoxied on the surface, you may still want to varnish it to prevent the whitening that happens to an unprotected epoxy finish. The varnish provides some UV blocking.

Incidentally, if you find the right stain (I used Chestnut) Ash looks very much like teak!

sailingdog · #5 (**permalink**) 03-22-2007

I'd second ultimate sole... but don't know how it will work with the ash embedded in epoxy.