Oh Boy...
This is one hotly debated can of worms! I'd recommend that you check the archives, as teak work is generally a matter of opinion, rather than hard fact. There are several finishes you can use - I would recommend going to West Marine and checking to see if they have a sample stick. Our store has a teak strip with a little bit of each type of finishing agent on it, so you can see what the end product will look like. As for removing/not removing the teak, I would strongly urge you to remove it and take it home with you. In order to get a good result, you need time, flexibility, and the ability to get at the wood from all angles, as well as a controlled environment in which to do this. In otherwords, take the wood off the boat, bring it home, and have at it in a nice, warm environment where you can take your time and do it right, and nurse a beer. Personally, I prefer varnish. It is extra work, but I feel it is worth it in the end run. If you really hammer the coats on (10 or so) you will not have to get at it again for a year or so, and then you will only need to do a light touch up coat. If you choose to do it on the boat, just get a bunch of the blue 3M masking tape, and don't leave it on for more than three days. The problem is that you will have to mask and remask in order to get the adequate number of coats on the wood. Best Regards, Rob
