Now that I have rinsed it for the final time, I’m letting it dry in the sun. As you can see, the color variations of the old to the new planks really start to blend together.
The back-now that’s a perfect match. Moving forward, it just takes time. Even after I take it out of the sun, I’ll let it dry for about 7 to 10 days.
It’s still blotchy in places, but I’ll let it fully dry out and then it will be pretty even.
Here’s a good picture after it’s dried for days. The original planking turns out just incredible. When I lightly sand and stain it, it all comes together pretty awesome.
Another good picture where you can really see how it takes a new plank and blends it in with an old and vice a versa. It’s totally amazing to me how the new and old even out with this bleach. The first time I did this, I thought I had done something wrong. Kind of scary. This wood is very expensive and you sure don’t want to make a mistake.
Even the engine hatches have to be bleached-everything in the boat that is wood. Otherwise, it all won’t match. All new, inside and out, it doesn’t make any difference, it has to be bleached to make it as nice and even as possible.
Here’s a stack of the interior planking. They turned out pretty nice. I have racks that I put these on to keep them spaced. At this point, I’m getting ready to lightly sand them to prepare for stain.
Here’s the bleached throttle control box and steering box ready for sanding and stain.
Jack