I'm presently restoring a 16 ft wood/canvas Otca Old Town. I've finished stripping the old varnish and have replaced rotten wood. Now that I'm at the refinishing stage, I would be pleased to have some opinions on the following questions:
1. I've come across a couple of recipes for a solution to preserve the wood and restore flexibility. One calls for 3/4 boiled linseed oil and 1/4 Cuprinol. The other, boiled linseed oil 1/6 and 5/6 turpentine. The canoe will be stored inside and will not be used on a daily basis. Turpentine seems safer from a health perspective than Cuprinol to work with. Any opinions which would be better, or does it matter? Should the fine sanding (to 220 grit) be done before or after applying the preservative?
2. The floor rack and outwales do not seem to have been varnished. Is this likely? The original build order does not indicate the wood used for these parts. I assume spruce for the outwales and mahogany for the floor rack. If these are to be oiled, any opinion on type of oil (tung, teak, linseed…)?
3. The undersides of the thwarts, seats, and decks were not varnish. Was this just to save time or is there another reason for this?
Thanks.
1. I've come across a couple of recipes for a solution to preserve the wood and restore flexibility. One calls for 3/4 boiled linseed oil and 1/4 Cuprinol. The other, boiled linseed oil 1/6 and 5/6 turpentine. The canoe will be stored inside and will not be used on a daily basis. Turpentine seems safer from a health perspective than Cuprinol to work with. Any opinions which would be better, or does it matter? Should the fine sanding (to 220 grit) be done before or after applying the preservative?
2. The floor rack and outwales do not seem to have been varnished. Is this likely? The original build order does not indicate the wood used for these parts. I assume spruce for the outwales and mahogany for the floor rack. If these are to be oiled, any opinion on type of oil (tung, teak, linseed…)?
3. The undersides of the thwarts, seats, and decks were not varnish. Was this just to save time or is there another reason for this?
Thanks.