Teak decks going green!

[woody001]

Hi,

anyone know how to stop teak decks going green?

Problem is the really dont want to oil them: -

1. i dont want the up keep
2. prefer the grey look of teak

However, the deck keeps going green, what is the best way to clean and to stop this with oiling??

simon

 

[alant]

Sainsbury's dish washer powder will do a great job. Just disolve & scrub.

 

[Vara]

TCM's post here covers it pretty well http://www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.php?C...&PHPSESSID=

 

[LittleShip]

Keep the boat in a shed..............

1. Salt water will prevent them going green, but needs to be done everyday. The salt water acts as an antiseptic for teak and also helps prevent them from drying out.
2. TCP will clean them with a little elbow grease and a nylon pad; rub across the grain not with it. Rubbing with the grain lifts out the softer wood on the teak.
3. As already stated washing powder, but remember the run off into the marina, some folks don’t like frothy water around their boats?? Use the softest brush you can so as not to damage the teak when cleaning.

My decks are green at the moment but this should not cause any harm, you will find at this time of year they will go green in a couple of weeks, so wait for the weather to dry a little, if that ever happens in the UK.

 

[pvb]

There is a way....

I've posted this before, and it's a proven way of helping to keep the green stuff at bay, and (best of all) it involves almost no work! Hallberg-Rassy recommend a product called Boracol, which is generally sold as a timber preservative. It’s highly effective in killing green algae, mould spores and termites. Unfortunately, in the UK it’s mainly licensed for professional use. However, the two active ingredients - disodium octaborate (a fungicide) and benzalkonium chloride (an algaecide) - are available in various amateur products. Easiest to find and use is Polycell 3-in-1 Mould Killer (about £5 a litre from bigger B&Q stores). It’s a colourless liquid. I’ve used it for several years now, and I’m very pleased with the results. In comparison with neighbouring boats, my deck looks pristine.

To apply it, first clean the deck thoroughly and allow at least 24 hours to dry. Choose a day when rain isn’t expected for 24 hours and apply the liquid liberally with a soft paintbrush. I use about 2 litres on my 35-footer. You should wear protective gloves and safety glasses. Wash splashes off skin immediately. Reapply every 4-5 months.

I use the same liquid on the inside and outside of my canvas sprayhood, again with good results.

Most mould and mildew products are basically bleach. This Polycell product contains no bleach, but has the powerful fungicidal ingredients which get rid of the mould. It also has a medium-term residual effect, so a treatment every 4-6 months should keep your deck and sprayhood looking good.

 

[Spacewaist]

Dont scrub too hard. Teak is an open grained wood. If you scrub regulalry you will end up with your decks looking like a standing wave!

If you have got the patience, a LIGHT spray with a high pressure cleaner does the jib, but if you are too vicious it is worse than scubbing.

Plenty of stuff the chander sells does the job but they mainly contain acids which do about as much good as scrubbing. However, many environmentally friendly cleaners (mine is called "the Pink Stuff") do a surprisingly good job.

 

[StellaGirl]

Dont use any "special" teak products, you will regret it forever.
I always use washing powder and agree with Alant. When I was sailing in the Caribbean last year all the big boats use the same. Its very amusing to see someone on the deck of a Swan 77 with a box of Daz.....
My friend is a deck hand on a 140ft yacht in Antigua and they use the same.....if its good enough for them...!