Water stained wood.

I have had experience with light wood being unwantedly stained with water on a water ski. I bleached it and sanded it with some success. It was a lot of work, and I was not able to completely remove the stain.

Now I am considering the purchase of a hurricane damaged boat. The interior has been flooded with about a foot of water and the interior walls stained. What are my chances of success in removing this waterline mark?
What techniques have been tried? Which ones worked? Any recommendations?

 

If this was a diesel powered boat and the engine oil is what made the stain I don’t think you will be successful at all. If it’s just a water mark you will need to clean as much as possible and then stain everything to match. You can’t clean a stain like this to be as good as new.
Good luck and all the best,
Robert Gainer

 

One way to do it, is to clean, degrease and strip all the finish. Then stain everything a bit darker and blend in the stains. It's what a friend of mine calls "an optical solution"

 

How about wainscoting -- or paint and a chair rail.

 

Thanks for your suggestions. I'm not sure what I will use yet.

Michael