new teak

[xort]

Many older boats have some water stains around the ports. The panels are often fairly easy to replace. But the common practice is to replace them with white formica instead of teak as the original. I'd prefer the teak.

How hard is it to match stain the new teak to the old teak?

[LarryandSusanMacDonald]

Hi, Xort,

It's hard. First, you've got the new teak - older teak has finer grain and is usually evenly colored. Teak these days seems to be coarser grained and has light and dark striations. Not a bad look but doesn't look like the old stuff.

Next, you've got the color. Most of the time, teak has not been stained. Just finished with varnish or polyurethane. Then it has aged. And the color changes.

Third, you've got the sheen. Gloss finish is usually fairly easy. It's glossy - unless it's badly worn. Then you need to stick a coat on the old as well as the new.

However, if you've got a satin finish, there are many degrees of satin - ranging from very flat to almost glossy. Tough to match unless, like the worn gloss, you finish the old to match the new.

One word: Curtains.

[xort]

Interior is not glossy. Hard to say what degree of satin.
I have had good luck getting a wiping stain to match some wood trim at home. I was thinking a good craftsman would be able to match the color and then perhaps revarnish the whole boat to get the satin finish to match...

[TrueBlue]

I've found the points regarding matching older teak that L&S made are for the most part, very true. In my profession though, I've worked with many refinishing pros who can do wonders with matching new to old . . . for a pretty steep price though.

The best success I've had is to strip the old varnish from the teak surrounding the port - up to a point where the surface plane or material changes. Use a heat gun for this followed by sanding - being careful to not remove the teak plies if working with plywood.

Fill the grain with a grain filler compound, if that what exists and use a varnish that simulates the satin, aged appearance of the interior. In my last boat, Interlux Goldspar Satin matched perfectly.

[JimsCAL]

If the interior teak is oiled versus varnished, matching color is easier. My interior is oiled, and I have had good luck matching new trim to match the original wood just with teak oil.