I have no idea what the CCCA likes but I have refinished a lot of old wood and what I found works best is to lightly strip the wood and lightly sand it with fine sand paper. I then tack the piece and use a good grade of marine varnish. This usually takes three coates with light sanding with fine paper between coats. You have to be careful in striping the wood because the wood sometimes has a stain on it that you don't want to disturb. If the wood has discolored you can bleach it with oxalic acid then stain the bleached wood to match then put the finish on it. The new poly finishes are easy and quick to work with but you won't get the depth that you get with good marine varnish.