"Steve B" wrote in message
...
I have an older Sea Nymph boat, an aluminum boat with a wood transom. Over
the years, the transom has received a lot of gas and oil. I think this may
have even been good as a preservative. The outside is skinned with
aluminum, the inside is open wood.

What would be a good way to clean this without agressively attacking it
and degrading the wood? I was thinking of spraying a degreaser, followed
by power washing at a distance of about 18" with a wide tip. Do this a
couple of times, maybe use Mean Green, or just Dawn dishwashing liquid, or
even Gunk. Just don't let it sit too long, then don't overblast it with a
power washer.

Then what? Varathane? Boiled linseed oil? I heard of a mix of linseed
oil, mineral spirits, and varnish. I want it to look nice, and realize at
this age, I can't expect full restoration.

Anyone have any ideas?

Steve


First, use dishwashing detergent. A dilute solution of Dawn is perfect.
Use lots of fresh rags. Rinse the wood down with fresh water before wiping
it as dry as you can. Typically, I avoid getting the wood sopping wet but
this is a boat so you may not have to worry. Give the wood a chance to
thoroughly dry after wiping down. You can then use a degreaser. Most of
these require a water rinse so you will be back to wiping dry and then
allowing the wood to finish thoroughly drying by itself. If the wood is
graying, you can use a deck brightener containing oxalic acid or phosphoric
acid. Keep in mind that the brightening effect is only a millimeter or so
thick. If you sand to remove the "fuzzies", make sure you sand only very
lightly or you will sand through to the gray again.

As for finishing, you need something that has UV and mildew / mold
inhibitors in it. Oil is easy to apply but requires frequent applications.
A film finish like a varnish or polyurethane will last longer but when it
has to be redone, it requires stripping. There is no perfect solution but
you can space out how frequently you have to restore the finish by using the
right products and protecting the wood as much as you can from sun and
water. I guess this is where canvas covers come into play.

Good Luck.