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The foredeck and aftdeck on the '58 Cruisers Holiday was painted yellow. I would like to do them both in blond, stained and varnished wood. What type of wood and stain will I want to use?

When I was restoring Chris Crafts with the "blonde" decks we used the lightest colored Mahogany we could find then bleached them to an all most white color. Then applied a Natural colored stain( or not depending on the customers wishes) to bring out the grain and then varnished with the rest of the boat. After many coats of varnish, the golden blonde color was achieved.

The Classic boat connection sells the stain that is used on the blonde CC"s.

Did your deck have plywood originally? I don't believe that Mahogany ply decking would stand up to the bleaching process. You may have to use very thin Mahogany planking or perhaps a marine grade fir plywood. But I don't know that you will like the looks of the fir plywood varnished because it will look like "varnished Plywood" .
Why not just paint it yellow like the original.
Lets see what any one else thinks.
Karl.

I see no problem in bleaching the Philippine mahogany plywood deck.

Andreas

I know the yellow painted deck was original to the Holidays. (Good picture on the Thompson Boats CDROM).

That would be the cheapest and easiest way to go. I just thought the blonde wood grain with lots-o-varnish would look way cool with the dark covering boards.

You are right. The blonde deck with the dark covering boards would look great.
Just the reverse of the Chris Crafts.
You can get the blonde stain from the Classic Boat Connection. I believe that it was made by Interlux. The mahogany ply from where ever you get your boat lumber and the Oxalic Acid to bleach it from your local hardware or paint store.
Post pics when it is done.
Karl.

Thanks, Karl. It might be awhile before it's done. Meanwhile, I'll continue to post with questions and ask for opinions.

I vote for stain and varnish blond vs. the yellow paint.

Andreas

Vernonfarmer,

I agree with Andreas, Blond stain and varnish.

Good Luck,

Phill