Mahogany is a wonderfully dark wood that is often seen in trim on and around boats. It was once a very commonly used wood in boats, but it lost favor as cheaper grades that were more susceptible to rot in the marine environment were introduced. Some species of mahogany are fairly rot resistant, but it is difficult to predict this so it is best to varnish mahogany if you want to use it on your boat.

Today, mahogany is used primarily as a trim wood on boats, such as mahogany flag poles or laminated mahogany and ash tillers. It can also be found in the construction of tables and clock bases, where a rich, dark wood is desired for show purposes.

Mahogany has a very limited interaction with oxygen (which causes oxidation) so the color of the wood changes only slightly from its natural dark brown to a lighter grayish-brown when it is exposed to the elements for a long period of time. It takes many coats of varnish to fill in the open pores of mahogany grain, but just a few coats will seal and protect it and bring out its natural beauty. Rather than applying enough varnish coats to fill the grain, a quick shortcut is to use a dark, mahogany filler that is wiped into the grain and allowed to dry, which fills the pores prior to applying just a few finish coats of varnish.

If you varnish mahogany, you will bring out its naturally beautiful grain and protect it from the elements. It will hold a varnish much more readily than teak, and it is only necessary to varnish clean wood that is free from oil or grease. If there is an oily residue on the wood, it is often best to remove it by "washing" the wood with a solvent after a final sanding prior to applying the varnish.

Tip: Never use steel wool as an abrasive because it leaves behind very small splinters of steel which rust in the nautical environment. It is much better to use a synthetic scrubbing pad or sandpaper, which is much cheaper than bronze wool.

And, if you can't find the mahogany product that you need for your boat listed here on our web site, please contact us, and we will try and help you out right away.