Teak / Iroko Sealer?

[Tim Good]

In the Canaries I met a guy who used Semco to seal his teak. Was quite impressed. He lent me some just to try on a small section and amazingly it still looks reasonable over a year on and yet was 100 times easier to apply than varnish or woodskin (which im using now.

Apart from Semco, does anyone else use a sealer like this to finish their iroko or teak and does it work just as well in a wetter climate?

Semco specifcially was just applied using a cloth. No brushes to clean, no water peeling off layers and no faff... . just rub it in and done!

 

[pvb]

I've deliberately got very little teak, but I sealed it with Semco Natural and I'm very impressed with the stuff. That was over 2 years ago and it still looks good, although I think I'll re-apply it next summer.

 

[Tim Good]

I've deliberately got very little teak, but I sealed it with Semco Natural and I'm very impressed with the stuff. That was over 2 years ago and it still looks good, although I think I'll re-apply it next summer.

UK conditions? Prevented it from going horrible and grey?

I know some people like the “grey look” but my boat benefits greatly from having a wooded cap rail and it looks nice when the Iroko is bright or varnished. Grey looks tired.

 

[pvb]

UK conditions? Prevented it from going horrible and grey?

I know some people like the “grey look” but my boat benefits greatly from having a wooded cap rail and it looks nice when the Iroko is bright or varnished. Grey looks tired.

Yes, UK cold and wet conditions! I treated the teak on the cockpit table and the teak companionway doors. The top of the cockpit table is starting to look a bit grubby, probably because it's horizontal. The rest of the stuff looks much as it did when first treated. This is how it looked 2 years ago. Note that Semco Natural gives a vague yellowish hue.

 

[Tim Good]

Yes, UK cold and wet conditions! I treated the teak on the cockpit table and the teak companionway doors. The top of the cockpit table is starting to look a bit grubby, probably because it's horizontal. The rest of the stuff looks much as it did when first treated. This is how it looked 2 years ago. Note that Semco Natural gives a vague yellowish hue.

View attachment 101945

View attachment 101946

that’ll do for me.

 

[MOBY2]

Just had all my toerails off and refitted and have gone the semco route, my hope is I can either clean off once a year and recoat or better still maybe apply a new coat every 6
months getting used to something matt finished is now growing on me but the 2 goals are easier maintenance and to keep a nice look with the wood ... Let you know how it goes next year ...

 

[geem]

Just had all my toerails off and refitted and have gone the semco route, my hope is I can either clean off once a year and recoat or better still maybe apply a new coat every 6
months getting used to something matt finished is now growing on me but the 2 goals are easier maintenance and to keep a nice look with the wood ... Let you know how it goes next year ...

We have been using it for four years in the tropics. For us, the UV strips the Semco in about 3 to 4 months. We just add another coat.

 

[salar]

I have always used Deksolje and found it very good. It is very runny and quick to apply with brush or cloth. I haven't used Semco to compare, but you did ask if anyone used similar. I use it on topside woodwork, we don't have teak decks.

 

[ashtead]

Plus 1 for Semco for rails. We tend to wash down with washing powder, bleach mix and a green scrubbing pad once a year to keep clean. You can get spots of wear . Then recoat 2 or 3 coats . Not certain I would do the decks if we had teak ones though unless I had paid crew or young children to keep busy in port . Clearly if you like the natural look you could replace the rail with a Flexiteak version if budget permits .

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

Yes, UK cold and wet conditions! I treated the teak on the cockpit table and the teak companionway doors. The top of the cockpit table is starting to look a bit grubby, probably because it's horizontal. The rest of the stuff looks much as it did when first treated. This is how it looked 2 years ago. Note that Semco Natural gives a vague yellowish hue.

View attachment 101945

View attachment 101946

Mighty impressed with your 2 year old pics! Does it still look as good? You used Natural - I had guessed that it was Honey by the colour. I'm definitely going to get some Semco, for decks, but am now pondering the colour!
First world problems!

 

[pvb]

Mighty impressed with your 2 year old pics! Does it still look as good? You used Natural - I had guessed that it was Honey by the colour. I'm definitely going to get some Semco, for decks, but am now pondering the colour!
First world problems!

Doesn't look bad still. As I said, the Natural Semco is a bit yellowish, so I'd imagine the Honey version is quite colourful - best to test it first.

I wouldn't use it on teak decks; I've always preferred to treat them with Boracol and let them go a gentle grey-brown colour.

Edit: Just to clarify in case there's confusion, the cockpit table and companionway doors are the only wooden bits treated with Semco in my pics. The deck and seating is all fake teak.

 

[ashtead]

Personally would start with natural semco on rails,table and rail seats as for us blends best with Flexiteak decks . It’s the toe rail which takes the most wear due to people boarding etc . Honey is quite yellow and given the price of stuff might be best avoided to be having the wrong can. I’ve never seen tester pots of semco but maybe they exist.

 

[Iliade]

I was unimpressed by how yellow the 'natural' is. Definitely do a test patch before you do your whole cockpit

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

Doesn't look bad still. As I said, the Natural Semco is a bit yellowish, so I'd imagine the Honey version is quite colourful - best to test it first.

I wouldn't use it on teak decks; I've always preferred to treat them with Boracol and let them go a gentle grey-brown colour.

Edit: Just to clarify in case there's confusion, the cockpit table and companionway doors are the only wooden bits treated with Semco in my pics. The deck and seating is all fake teak.

Ah OK ... thanks for the explanation. I read it too quickly having got excited about your decks in the pic! Your hatch does look good though. I'll have to have a rethink about the decks ... I've got some Boracol so will try a patch once I've done a two part cleaning job.

 

[Poignard]

Epifanes Rapidcoat is very good. Durable, easy to apply and maintain, and it gives a beautiful finish.

Epifanes Rapidcoat