tired of cleaning my teak

[evecircleM]

Does anyone know the name of the varnish that is used to cover teak? I am so tired of scrubbing it every season. Also is it a good idea to use a varnish?

[BigRed56]

Ahoy frustrated teak rubber , Yeah Glass over it and choose a nice color of gel to match the old look of the teak. Big Red 56 the Pirate.

[Snap]

Read Rebecca J. Whitman''s book "Brightwork, The Art of Finishing Wood" or refer to Henry R. Hinckley''s "The Guide to Yacht Care, How to Keep Your Boat the Hinckley Way." Enjoy!
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[ndsailor]

I''ve found that the sikkens cetol products work best for people that tire of cleaning teak. If you are tired of that type of maintenance, varnishing is not the answer. It takes many coats of varnish to obtain a coating that will last and any chip or nick needs immediate attention or all your work will be wasted and you''ll have to start over. Cetol, on the other hand, is much more durable than varnish.

[bobneidhardt]

I agree with the Sikkens Cetol comment. I started using it in spring 2000. If it is done right initially, a washing with soap and water and one or two maintenance coats a year is all you need. My boat has been in the water in NJ since then and the teak still looks good. I''ll put another coat on it early summer.

[SHIMSHON]

Try an initial coat of Cetol (on stripped and clean teak) followed by three coats, or more, of ARMADA which is a polyurethane finish. Gives the same glassy look of varnish but is harder and more resistant to the effects of the sun. Can last for several seasons by just adding a top coat each year. Also it can be spot repaired. Plain Cetol tends to give the teak an unnatural or Orange tinge depending on which color you choose.

[hamiam]

I would agree with the earlier posts regarding the durability of Cetol. That being said I find Cetol to be an ugly color and don''t find its grain obscuring quality to be aesthetically pleasing. I would try eppifanes or one of the products recommended by Practical Sailor in their teak treatment tests.

[evecircleM]

Thanks I will try that

[sailorfrank]

Me too. In fact, my teak was ugly. Some had turned dark and other sections light colored. So... I gave it a light sanding and then hit it with deck stain topped with industrial sealant. Looks great!
It might look like hell by the end of next summer, so I''ll let you know.

[Snap]

How to maintain exterior teak has been an ongoing debate for as long as I have been in boating which is longer than I care to divulge.

I agree with ndsailor that it does indeed take numerous coats of varnish to provide a lasting as well as protective and beautiful finish. The statement with reference to the durability of varnish as compared to Sikkens Cetol may be questionable because that depends upon the particular varnish used and the application technique used to apply it. Unfortunately one doesn’t learn proper varnishing techniques overnight and the correct application process is the key to achieving a beautiful and protective finish with varnish regardless of the type used. I would imagine that is also true with Cetol although I understand Cetol is more forgiving of user errors. Ndsailor is again correct when he states that damage to varnish must be addressed right away. Further complicating the upkeep is that varnish cannot be “patched” with ease. Some patching is possible but generally, if you break the seal to wood, then that area must be built up to the level of the surrounding varnish and then a final coat or two has to be applied to an area spanning natural breaks in the teak.

I too would like to get away from the drudgery of brightwork maintenance but if Cetol is the answer I just can’t convince myself to paint my teak an unsightly orange…yet. Of course that is “beauty in the eye of the beholder” isn’t it? For now I’ll stick with regular old Captain’s Z-Spar and take the ribbing from those who scoff at time vs. an acceptably beautiful and durable finish. In Florida I apply 2-3 coats to the exterior teak every 4-5 months. Horrible some say, but my wife and I like it.

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