John,

Originally, the seats were mahogany and the floorboards were teak.

I've seen the wood in Ensign cockpits finished in a number of ways.

Boats finished with teak oil like Mr. Kokoski's look nice. Varnish looks nice as well. I use Cetol, so that's another alternative.

Appearance, maintenance and safe use seem to be the chief considerations. 'Safe use' means the floorboards can't be slippery when they get wet or your crew or guests could fall. If using a finish on the floor that might become slippery when wet, be sure to sprinkle Intergrip in the second coat and encapsulate it with a third to keep falls at bay. Most people do NOT use a varnish on the floor.

I have found Cetol to be a wonderful product because it is easily maintained and gives a deep, rich color. There are several different shades, but I use the one with the yellow label. There's one Cetol product that turns the wood orange, and that might be what some people prefer, but not me.

Hope this helps...

Bud Brown