To oil or varnish?!
- Thread starter Growl
- Start date
I really like MINWAX® WATER BASED HELMSMAN® SPAR URETHANE for the outdoor brightwork. Available at most major home improvement stores, under $20. Lowe and HD are all well under $20!
Be careful not to gouge the grain on those grab rails....sanding only, no stiff brush cleaning. I removed the grab rails and all else that I could, took it home and applied 1 or 2 coats per day.... maybe 8-10 total. The product goes a long way, so only buy one quart. The major application or 8-10 coats should give you one complete year of protection for the outside teak that only then needs a couple maintenance coats, done in place, each season after that. It comes in satin, semi-gloss and clear gloss. They all look fantastic. My one quart can easily lasts 5 years for the outdoor stuff, inside I use teak oil, using a rag for application, like polishing the furniture.
Be careful not to gouge the grain on those grab rails....sanding only, no stiff brush cleaning. I removed the grab rails and all else that I could, took it home and applied 1 or 2 coats per day.... maybe 8-10 total. The product goes a long way, so only buy one quart. The major application or 8-10 coats should give you one complete year of protection for the outside teak that only then needs a couple maintenance coats, done in place, each season after that. It comes in satin, semi-gloss and clear gloss. They all look fantastic. My one quart can easily lasts 5 years for the outdoor stuff, inside I use teak oil, using a rag for application, like polishing the furniture.
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I wrote this five years ago: 
The "natural" progression of "dealing with exterior teak" usually runs like this:
--- teak oil
or
--- Nothing
--- varnish
--- cetol
--- nothing
---teak oil or Semco
--- nothing
--- varnish
--- cetol
Repeat as necessary...
Nothing much has changed in the last 25 years about this subject...
We removed all the varnish from our boat when we bought her in 1998, replaced with cetol. A few years ago I cleaned the cetol off the eyebrows and forward of the dodger. Left the cetol in the cockpit.
The "natural" progression of "dealing with exterior teak" usually runs like this:
--- teak oil
or
--- Nothing
--- varnish
--- cetol
--- nothing
---teak oil or Semco
--- nothing
--- varnish
--- cetol
Repeat as necessary...
Nothing much has changed in the last 25 years about this subject...
We removed all the varnish from our boat when we bought her in 1998, replaced with cetol. A few years ago I cleaned the cetol off the eyebrows and forward of the dodger. Left the cetol in the cockpit.
I hate varnishing…mostly because of the prep…so I would go with oil. Apply as needed, no prep required (unless you have to sand off the varnish).
but I also replaced mine with fake wood…so no more anything.
here the grab rail has been replaced, but I hadn’t gotten to the teak trim piece yet..
Greg
but I also replaced mine with fake wood…so no more anything.
here the grab rail has been replaced, but I hadn’t gotten to the teak trim piece yet..
Greg
i love to varnish. love the look. BUT i know how, most don't
nothing looks as good as varnish.
you varnish to protect the wood.
i'm old school, grew up with wood boats.
ain't many of us left.
season 49 coming up with this boat
nothing looks as good as varnish.
you varnish to protect the wood.
i'm old school, grew up with wood boats.
ain't many of us left.
season 49 coming up with this boat
Oil above decks, varnish below.
Varnish creates more of a greenhouse affect and cooks in the sun (particularly here in Arizona).
Oil application is much easier.
Varnish creates more of a greenhouse affect and cooks in the sun (particularly here in Arizona).
Oil application is much easier.
Depends on whether you like to sail or do woodworking ... Personally, if I saw those badly checked grab rails, I would just replace with fake wood or custom stainless, but I prefer sailing to maintenance. The purpose of a grab rail is to keep my fat ass on the boat, and if I needed to go forward at sea then I would hesitate to grab that rail with my bare hand. I don't know how much sanding would be required before I felt comfortable grabbing those, but I know it means removal and replacement to do it right. Which activity do you prefer spending your few leisure hours doing?
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,774
I tried Total Boat Gleam 2 this year on my cabin top rails. Easy to apply 3 coats without sanding between coats. Then wait a day. Sand and apply another 3 coats. Build up was quick. The high gloss was beautiful. The surface has been exposed through out the winter. We will have to see how it looks this spring. The ability to apply additional coats over an existing good surface in the spring is what I am expecting.
Luckily, I’m retired, but still wouldn’t want to sail an unkept Hunter! Have some pride in your ownership, You maybe just might be a better sailor than me but I’m sure my boat looks better than yours! Lol!
Personally, I prefer the look of varnish and believe it provides more protection than oil. Whether you go with varnish or oil, you should start with teak cleaner and then teak brightener before you do any sanding. That way you’ll sand away much less of your teak.
The rails in the OP don't look too bad to me. They are restorable without sanding that would compromise the structure. I did the toe rails on my Ranger29 with the 2 part cleaner/restorer. The look was much better than the weathered pre.
I know a lot of sailers who advocate leaving teak to weather. I disagree. Teak has natural oils which should be restored as the wood weathers. Otherwise you end up with deep fissures which are ugly and give pause about their structural integrity. I've sailed on boats that I have no confidence in the rails. Just my opinion.
I know a lot of sailers who advocate leaving teak to weather. I disagree. Teak has natural oils which should be restored as the wood weathers. Otherwise you end up with deep fissures which are ugly and give pause about their structural integrity. I've sailed on boats that I have no confidence in the rails. Just my opinion.