The never-ending project to fill my hole in the ocean while bailing it out

Preparing for Sailing Season '08
The Teak Trim Refinishing Project
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Description

After a week's bout of the flu, I'm back at the project.  The cockpit coaming pocket trim rings are now sanded with 100 grit and ready for the first coat of straight Cetol.  The top cribboard's louvered vent is ready for wet-sanding and another coat or two of Cetrol/Penetrol.  (Feb. 16, 2008)

The cribboard's louvered vent is the only cockpit piece to not have received the "Penetrol Finish Treatment" yet, so I'm about to revisit it too.  I'll wet-sand with 400 wet-and-dry paper to level that raised grain then apply another coat or two to fill in the valleys as I do the trim rings.  Nevermind the vent louvers -- too much tight detail work in too difficult an area for a guy recovering from the flu.

-- See enlarged detail --

The cribboard's louvered vent wet-sanded and ready for the first application of the Cetol/Penetrol treatment.  Note that the high spots have been flattened (dull), the valleys (still shiny) need to be filled to level out the common surface.  (Feb. 17, 2008)

The coaming pocket trim rings after their first coat of straight Cetol.  Note how it soaked into the teak.  Another application of straight Cetol will be applied before wet-sanding commences.  The trick is to first build up a substantial layer of Cetol, then wet-sand to get it smooth.  Once the overall surface is reasonably smooth and even, begin applying coats of the Cetol/Penetrol mix between light wet-sandings until a glass-like finish is achieved.

-- See enlarged detail --

The cribboard vent louver refinishing completed.  (Feb. 25, 2008)

-- See before-and-after --

The coaming pocket rings completed -- refinishing project completed.  (Feb. 25, 2008)

-- See enlarged detail --
-- See before-and-after --

Now that the refinishing is done, I wonder if I'll be able to close and latch the hatch with the new handle installed . . . ?  (Mar. 11, 2008)

Perhaps I can lift the latch as the companionway hatch closes, before the handle blocks it?  One step at a time, I guess -- and wait for spring to arrive and uncovering of  the boat.  It can't get here quickly enough.

With the boat finally uncovered, today I scraped off all the residue bedding compound around the companionway and along where the sliding hatch rails will go, then cleaned further with acetone.  Around the companionway I'd ripped off spots of gelcoat down to fiberglass matting when removing the trim, so filled the spots with epoxy.  (Apr. 16, 2008)

The remnants of old bedding compound (see before) and just plain dirt along the port side hatch rail area cleaned up better than I'd anticipated -- the piece of teak that split off the rail remains intact on the cabin top.  (Apr. 17, 2008)

[Closeup Detail]

Both sides of the sliding hatch area and around the companionway cleaned up rather well with a little elbow grease, a sharp putty knife, and lots of acetone and rags.  I'm ready to begin putting the trim back on.

The spots around the companionway where the gelcoat ripped off down to fiberglass matting with removal of the teak trim.  I coated them with epoxy yesterday to seal them -- the trim will cover the flaws when installed, I hope.

[Closeup Detail]
[Companionway before cleanup]