Every year I teak oil the small amount of teak on my boat. However it seems that after a few rain showers it wears off and begins to darken up again. I was thinking this year to clean, brighten, and varnish the teak. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
varnish or teak oil
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What I've Learned About Teak Wood
Heres what I learned about Teak Wood, in my years of sailing. Teak wood was used on boats because it has a natural oil in it, therefore it doesn't rot. The reason that it gets darker during the summer it because the oil in it collects the dirt and it gets dirtier. You really can't varnish teak wood, again because to the oil within, because the oil will lift the varnish, especially with the summer heat, and it will start to peal off ....... then it really looks like hell ! The process that I have found to handle teak wood is to clean it, bleach it, then use a product called "Teak Dressing", made bu Semco Co. This stuff seems to keep the teak wood looking good the entire year, and maybe into the next. Hope this helps ....... May You Have Smooth Sailing On Warm Breezes !!!! Bob Burns=Rascal
Heres what I learned about Teak Wood, in my years of sailing. Teak wood was used on boats because it has a natural oil in it, therefore it doesn't rot. The reason that it gets darker during the summer it because the oil in it collects the dirt and it gets dirtier. You really can't varnish teak wood, again because to the oil within, because the oil will lift the varnish, especially with the summer heat, and it will start to peal off ....... then it really looks like hell ! The process that I have found to handle teak wood is to clean it, bleach it, then use a product called "Teak Dressing", made bu Semco Co. This stuff seems to keep the teak wood looking good the entire year, and maybe into the next. Hope this helps ....... May You Have Smooth Sailing On Warm Breezes !!!! Bob Burns=Rascal
Teak guard
I use Teak Guard. It's water based, easy to put on, easy to clean up with a damp rag, isn't slippery when wet and maintains it's color all through the season and then some. Not sure how it'll work with wood that's already had oil in it but I'd give it a try. I wouldn't think of using anything else.
I use Teak Guard. It's water based, easy to put on, easy to clean up with a damp rag, isn't slippery when wet and maintains it's color all through the season and then some. Not sure how it'll work with wood that's already had oil in it but I'd give it a try. I wouldn't think of using anything else.
Varnish = work
If you are not totally in love with varnished wood and are not afraid of doing a lot of work for that beautiful look of varnished teak, put anything else on it but varnish. Varnish = work and only you can decide if it is worth it.
If you are not totally in love with varnished wood and are not afraid of doing a lot of work for that beautiful look of varnished teak, put anything else on it but varnish. Varnish = work and only you can decide if it is worth it.
Epifanes Woodfinish Gloss
I just bought a can of Epifanes Woodfinish Gloss today. I'm going to use it on a mahogany quarterboard and on my teak brightwork. The company claims that is was made especially for teak. Also, it claims that you don't have to sand in between coats if you recoat with 72 hours. That's a big plus. I'm planning on using it to overcoat my existing varnished brightwork as well. We'll see how it works. Good luck.
I just bought a can of Epifanes Woodfinish Gloss today. I'm going to use it on a mahogany quarterboard and on my teak brightwork. The company claims that is was made especially for teak. Also, it claims that you don't have to sand in between coats if you recoat with 72 hours. That's a big plus. I'm planning on using it to overcoat my existing varnished brightwork as well. We'll see how it works. Good luck.
Cant varnish teak is a myth
I have seen on here and many other sites that teak cant be varnished because of the oil. I have also seen the same said about glueing teak. Nothing can be further from the truth. To dispel this myth, all one has to do is walk the piers or even better, go to furniture galleries and look at teak furniture glued, varnished, urethaned, laquered and other types of finishes. To help ensure success, wipe the surface to be glued or varnished a few minutes before hand with acetone or laquer thinner. No need to get vigorous or wild with it, just a good wet wipe will do. This will remove any surface oils. This is not an opinion....this is fact Tony B
I have seen on here and many other sites that teak cant be varnished because of the oil. I have also seen the same said about glueing teak. Nothing can be further from the truth. To dispel this myth, all one has to do is walk the piers or even better, go to furniture galleries and look at teak furniture glued, varnished, urethaned, laquered and other types of finishes. To help ensure success, wipe the surface to be glued or varnished a few minutes before hand with acetone or laquer thinner. No need to get vigorous or wild with it, just a good wet wipe will do. This will remove any surface oils. This is not an opinion....this is fact Tony B
In addition......
All of the work in varnishing is in the preparation. And, the prep can be tedious if the teak has been let go for a while. If you keep up with your yearly varnish maintenance, all that is required is a good washdown with soap, a freshwater rinse and a very light sanding and several coats of new varnish. The key is to maintain the finish every year. To me it is worth the effort. Too bad I havent found the time yet to get this boat cleaned and varnished yet. But I will This year. If the teak is varnished and maintained, it will last for ever. If not, it will slowly rot, yes I said rot away. Look at the wood that is lost between the grain of unmaintained wood. Tony B
All of the work in varnishing is in the preparation. And, the prep can be tedious if the teak has been let go for a while. If you keep up with your yearly varnish maintenance, all that is required is a good washdown with soap, a freshwater rinse and a very light sanding and several coats of new varnish. The key is to maintain the finish every year. To me it is worth the effort. Too bad I havent found the time yet to get this boat cleaned and varnished yet. But I will This year. If the teak is varnished and maintained, it will last for ever. If not, it will slowly rot, yes I said rot away. Look at the wood that is lost between the grain of unmaintained wood. Tony B
In my case.
I removed all the teak from my boat and varnished it in the house. The boat has to come out of the water every winter so if I install the teak right, it should be easy to take it off, sand it, carry it in the house and varnish it. It should always look sweet. According to Rebecca Whitman's book, Brightwork, The Art of Finishing Wood she says no reason to wipe the wood before puting on the varnish. Varnish is oil so why wouldn't the oil mix with oil? Hey she made a living at it, not me so I listened to her. Now, I wipe it prior to gluing teak becasue the glue won't stick to oil, but varnish is made of oil.
I removed all the teak from my boat and varnished it in the house. The boat has to come out of the water every winter so if I install the teak right, it should be easy to take it off, sand it, carry it in the house and varnish it. It should always look sweet. According to Rebecca Whitman's book, Brightwork, The Art of Finishing Wood she says no reason to wipe the wood before puting on the varnish. Varnish is oil so why wouldn't the oil mix with oil? Hey she made a living at it, not me so I listened to her. Now, I wipe it prior to gluing teak becasue the glue won't stick to oil, but varnish is made of oil.
Second Tony B re: Varnished Teak
Having owned a wooden boat for 19 years that had both teak and mahogany in and out and having varnished the teak trim on every other boat I had, I can assure you it varnishes well and holds the finish, assuming normal prep. I'd never heard it couldn't be done, but I know some folks just scrub it and bleach it. Personally, I think unless you oil it too, you'll invite cracking along the grain. Given enough abuse, it will dry out. Rick D.
Having owned a wooden boat for 19 years that had both teak and mahogany in and out and having varnished the teak trim on every other boat I had, I can assure you it varnishes well and holds the finish, assuming normal prep. I'd never heard it couldn't be done, but I know some folks just scrub it and bleach it. Personally, I think unless you oil it too, you'll invite cracking along the grain. Given enough abuse, it will dry out. Rick D.
Just a little teak
With just a small amount of teak I would use Cetol. it is easy to get and it will be a no maintenance solution for several years. Certainly, nothing beats varnish for looks, but with only a small amount of teak it just is not going to matter that much. Cetol would be less work and look good, too.
With just a small amount of teak I would use Cetol. it is easy to get and it will be a no maintenance solution for several years. Certainly, nothing beats varnish for looks, but with only a small amount of teak it just is not going to matter that much. Cetol would be less work and look good, too.
I agree with Higgs
I too have a little teak on my boat and when I bought it this year the exterior teak was in terrible shape. I first removed all the exterior woodwork and cleaned it with Bar Keepers Helper and a 3M scuffpad I then gave it 3 coats of Cetol Natural Teak then I gave it 5 coats of Cetol Gloss it looks great to me and there should be little maintainance with the Cetol.
I too have a little teak on my boat and when I bought it this year the exterior teak was in terrible shape. I first removed all the exterior woodwork and cleaned it with Bar Keepers Helper and a 3M scuffpad I then gave it 3 coats of Cetol Natural Teak then I gave it 5 coats of Cetol Gloss it looks great to me and there should be little maintainance with the Cetol.
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