Holly grail for new teak!

JohnRPollard said:

Are you talking about interior or exterior teak, or both?

Personally, I would not coat teak with epoxy. Clear (i.e. unthickened) epoxy is used as an impermeable sealant, to protect wood from water damage. Teak doesn't need protection from water -- it is already virtually impervious to rot because of its natural oils.

Also, the epoxy will need to be protected from uv damage at all times. If you ever miss a re-varnish cycle and the epoxy suffers uv damage, you will have a real mess stripping it all off.

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I talk about the exterior of course. Interior is already protected and less exposed to weather (sun & water).

About Varnish, can I absolutely trust this solution and only have to sand a bit each year and put 2 new coat? I fear the varnish will peal after a while even if I put two new coat each year... In fact, too much varnish will make the full coating too thick, I presume?

Also, because teak is oily, that makes varnish less grip?

Cetol, are your sure is better quality than varnish?

T37Chef said:

I have been using Epifanes Woodfinish Gloss followed by their Extra UV Clear Varnish with great results, but I also keep those teak items covered (wheel, cockpit table, etc.).

More importantly, you say you want to use it on the exterior "floor"? If you mean your teak deck or cockpit floor I would do nothing to it!!!! Unless you like falling on your ass regularly.

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Epifanes Woodfinish Gloss is a high quality varnish but not enough resistant for the flooring?

On my boat, the teak is present on floor inlay, seating area, transom and transom steps and rail!

I want the same finish on all exterior wood and if I can not use Varnish, I will use oil!

Stillraining said:

You might give this consideration if your intent on doing this ..

TeakGuard Products - Teak Finish and Restoration Superior to Teak Oil

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Anybody with Teakguard experience on his boat?

Still don't know what to do... So many different option...

I want the "wet" look provide with oil or varnish but varnish is slippery and oil get dirty and will turn grey anyway?

I don't belive there is not product with UV protection and grip to avoid slippery finish?

So like my bottom paint, I give up and take your advice guys and let the teak natural and make my mind to live with gray/black wood with a crappy black bottom slowing my boat!!!

Just kidding, natural teak and antifouling bottom will only make me more often sailing than cleaning, right?

Stillraining said:

Amen Brother...your catching on now..

What little exterior wood I have I wish was not there at all...nothing but a pain.

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It's still time to remove the teak cockpit option (floor). My boat is a 2010 and not built yet so I can save $1200 but the floor will be fiberglass on the main deck area?

I order it mainly for look but is this option will add lot of maintenance + the cost ($1200), what is the advantage to keep this option?

Convince me guys...

MJBrown said:

Go with Teakguard. I've used it on my last boat for 7+ years and now on my my new Beneteau 43. Mike

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So I found the Holly Grail for teak, Teakguard?

baboon said:

If the boat is not yet built, you might want to re-think the whole exterior wood thing. On a modern glass boat it is all about looks, so if you love it, do it.

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I agree but the boat is comming standard with many wooden stuff :

- teak is present seating area, transom, transom steps and rail!

So by addind the the teak on floor inlay don't make a lot more of teak and for me, the boat will be more coherant (all the back of the boat with Teak).

I like the idea of Teakguard, someone as experience with this product?

Stillraining said:

It is beautiful as a whole in your picture ( when new)...but for 1200.00 I'd pass in a nano second.

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True but the boat is paid in USD and I have CAD. Right now, the CAD gaining 1% per day on USD so I only have to wait 1/2 day before changing currency to get the cockpit floor option for free...

Ninefingers said:

Sorry, first post here, but I had to chime in. That looks more like Garapa than teak

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I double check with documentation and there is not formal mention of teak... So it's wood and I don't know whitch type of wood.

Very good first post niner.

Ninefingers said:

That looks more like Garapa than teak, (from your pic).

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You make me very confuse and feel like an idiot when you said Garapa, not teak...

I double check with the dealer and other source and all confirm the wood is TEAK!

The dealer tells me exactly the same recommendation as the experience guys here in the forum, don't touch the teak and wash it only...

Also, he recommend to keep the teak cockpit floor because when I will move the boat to south, on sunny day, the teak is more comfy compare to fiberglass (turn super hot).

Stillraining said:

So now the .98 cent question....whatca-goona-do?..

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Wait for a USDown!!!

Anybody try the new Cetol® Marine Natural Teak with the next wave technologie UV-absorbing?

MJBrown said:

Wakesurfboy be careful with Cetol or any other product that will leave a smooth surface. Even when dry it'll be like a skating rink. Just sailed a boat with nice smooth teak cockpit sole, similiar to what you're getting, treated with Tequa and on a dry sole we were slipping about when healed.
Mike

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What I understand is this :
- For look, use cetol but boat have to stay on dock.
- For practical, do nothing but cleaning and keep photos of the teak when new.

Do I understand correctly?

T37Chef said:

So WSB, whats your decision? Teak decks or not?

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As I said before, all the deck is already standard with teak and I only add teak floor alley. Why I want to add the floor alley, because my boat is not only a sail boat but also a floating condo and I will pass lot of time on the deck. On sunny days, fiberglass is very hot, not the teak and it is less slippery too.

I don't like gray color of old teak but I will probably live with it because oil get dirty and cetol/varnish are slippery. Teakguard, I don't know? If I can be sure of the result, I'll do it.

Some people use cetol on everything except flooring but look weird. The floor is gray and the rest is honey?

Most of the experience sailor community and the dealer recommend keeping the teak natural. Some people that do only daily sailing with there boat recommend fiberglass floor and others that use the boat for long vacation like the teak floor.

For now, I keep the teak floor option and I will let the teak natural but I'm open to new recommendation and solution…

JohnRPollard said:

That's an interesting observation. I have found the opposite to be true.

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Interesting, I think this Thread will live for a year or more considering oposite experiences, preferences and taste...