boatbutcher
11-07-2008, 02:24 PM
I am currently working on a 1972 Sparkman Stevens sailboat, Weatherly, in Seattle. The boat is in for new varnish and repair/replacement of small areas that have rotted. The old varnish was completely striped down to the original mahogany. The boat is in an unheated tent, and my problem is that when it is raining outside (imagine that in Seattle) there are spots on the outside of the house that suddenly look and feel wet, such as some joints, around plugs, in checks in end grain where the wood was routed out for the ports on the house sides,etc. I assume that these spots have salt crystals embedded in the wood and draw moisture when it is raining. The wet spots are not present when it is dry outside and can be mostly removed when I apply direct heat to them. I have never seen this before and am wondering if I am correct in my assumption of salt being present or not, and what, other than heating the very large tent, can I do to remove the moisture before varnishing?