Mahogany for Cockpit Grate?

[radly53]

I was thinking about building a cockpit grate out of mahogany. If I us the mahogany will it be a waist of time?
I know that teak would be preferred but I have some very nice mahogany left over from a job. How will it hold up with the sun and salt environment?

I was planning on using teak oil, or semco sealant to protect the wood. Do you think this would work?

Thanks for the input.

Steven
Seafever, 1977 Bristol 29.9 #44
Casco Bay, Maine

[CalebD]

Sure, use mahogany for making your cockpit floor grating. Finish it however you like. But if you want it to last make it so the grating is removable and stowable inside your cabin when not being used.
We always remove our floor gratings when leaving our boat for any length of time. Nothing will ruin the finish on these faster then leaving them exposed to the elements.

[bljones]

Use epoxy to seal the wood prior to applying a good clear topcoat- it will last longer than oil, and also cut down on the splinter effect that mahogany is known for. That is the downside to using naked mahogany on a cockpit grate- slivers in your feet.

Don't forget to add some non-skid of some sort.

[AdamLein]

Second the removable grating. Also makes it a lot easier to clean the cockpit floor and rescue small pieces of hardware that inevitably fall through the slats.

[tommays]

anybody used IPE as it seems good on decks ?

[cormeum]

Originally Posted by tommays

anybody used IPE as it seems good on decks ?

It'd work fine- goes grey after a while but won't rot. It would be very heavy though- about twice what a teak grating would weigh.

[CaptGriffiths]

Either have a teak grating or don't have a grating. Mahogany during Victorian times, was for furniture below decks. It is NOT suitable for grating. It will go black and it will rot. Don't do it. Astro turf would be better.

[mike dryver]

if you maintain the mahogany properly it will work just fine. look at cap rails and dorade vents boxes ,etc. on properly maintained boats it will last for yrs. mahogany just doesn't standing or laying in fresh water for extended periods if the grain or surface is not sealed. even teak will crap out if left in the same environmental situation. teak just takes longer to show signs of deterioration

[CaptGriffiths]

With due respect, it is my opinion that a cockpit grate needs to have good traction and whatever you seal it with it is inclined to be slippery. It is better to have the wood bare and only teak will take this abuse.
Other varnished things, ie. deck furniture such as skylights and dorade boxes, are not used to be stood on and so can be varnished.

[theyachtshop]

We build between 50 and 100 grates per year in our shop and can say with out question teak is the best wood material to use. We also make many mahogany grates and they will last a very long time if coated with Smith's clear penetrating epoxy sealer and then SPRAYED with a high quality single part urathane. The whole purpose of a quality grate is is to give you traction, drain water fast and last but not least, look good. There are no words to express the look and feel a quality grate gives to your boat. We have mahogany grates out there that have been in use 10 and 12 years and they are still in VERY good condition. High quality well built teak and mahogany grates will cost about the same in the end. Never let a teak grate go un protected use some type of teak oil after cleaning to help protect it. Do not pressure wash a grate to clean use a soft brush garden hose and mild detergent. Our average grate runs about $4000. so you can see why it is important to treat them right.