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On my Cortand Sea Lancer there is a rear bench seat. The bench portion was coming apart, so I have removed and dissembled it to repair, refinish, re-install. (all the Mahogony had been painted). The bench consists of a plywood panel trimmed in Mahogony. I plan to replace the plywood panel and use the same but refinished trim.

The question; The long pieces (4 feet or so) of Mohogany are bowed unevenly, and I am concerned about getting them back on evenly. If I have fully stripped and sanded them, can I steam them and say clamp them to a straight edge to re-straighten them? Or is the wood likely to dried out after 50 years?

Peter,

I would give it a try. You may find that you will have to over bend in the direction opposite the curve to get it straight.
Worst case is that it will not work, but I think with steam and over bending slightly it should come back at least partially.

Give it a try.

Good Luck,

Phill

soak the piece in water for a few weeks before hand.

Andreas

I might consider soaking the wood first for a few days because ideally you should bend/steam green wood. Hope it worked either way.