HELP! Advice on Wax and Polishing Wood deck

[Paul Davis]

Hi,

 

We recently purchased a classic 1958 Rockholt sport cruiser.  It's really a nice little boat, and it's in remarkably good shape, including the wood deck.  We have been showing going over her cleaning and replacing the few small things it needs.  The wood deck, I believe it is mahogany, has a clear, firm coat of lacquer which, due to lack of attention is a little dull.

 

Finally, our Treewax came in the mail.  It is primarily made of Carnuba wax and is "made specifically for waxing and shining boats".   We figured we'd put a few coats on the deck, who's laquered top is still in really good shape, and our deck would shine like a mirror.

 

We hand applied the wax, and let it dry to a nice, dull finish.  To our surprise, the wax was extremely hard to buff off, and required a lot of elbow grease to remove.  After two coats...nothing.  It didn't look any better than we started.  The finish is still kinda dull.  The weather was sunny and in the mid 60s, we were in our garage. (Was it too cold?)  I don't get it.  When I wax my car, you can see an immediate improvement, with this, we used expensive, premium wax and it didn't appear that any of it bonded to the surface.  This is wherein, I believe lies the problem.

 

If anyone has any experience getting a wood deck to shine, I would be grateful for some advice and/or tips on how we can really restore the lustre and shine to our boat. 

 

Thanks!

Paul Davis

California

[zeehag]

waxed and polished decks make for excellent falls. the best way to treat a wood deck is the way the installer and woodworker has always said--wash with sea water every day--keep the deck watered down every day and it wont crack or leak--mahogany decking?? havent ever seent hat---mahogany rots too easily for decking--are you certain isnt teak?? happy trails--every one to his/her own methiod of cleaning and treating wooden decking--the traditional way, as teak is the best source of non skid--is merely watering it down every day.....i donot like slippery decks....they kill.