Teak - oil or not?

[peterandjeanette]

Spent the weekend cleaning boat from top to gunwale. Then came the question from SWMBO who was cleaning the bottom bit - including the teak bathing platform.

"Are you going to oil this?"

"I don't know - I'll ask the forum for their thoughts."

Do any of you have firm opinions on this one?

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[Gerry]

no no no no!!!!!!

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[Tiger Rag]

definitely not!

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[DavidJ]

You will loose that lovely ash teak look if you varnish. Just a scrub is all that's needed.
David


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[tcm]

Re: Teak oil: the case for and against

I have more tond of teak. Some on a boat, but 200 sq metres is the patio in the back garden.

Against:
Once you started, you have to keep oiling. Not actually true - the oiled look eventually disappears, tho it takes a while

Rubber caulking doesn't like oil on it. So technically you should not oil that bit, or er somehow wipe it off.

Raw teak looks really, really good, without oil.


For
Oiling replaces the natural oil. Maybe, tho raw teak will be fine with no oil for yonks and yonks.

Although the teak doesn't look quite as good, oiled teak stays looking fairly good for a few weeks rather than few days like freashly cleaned unoiled teak. A further benefit of this is that you'll want to wash the teak less, so it will preserve the flat surface inside of digging out the teak to make it all ridged.

Oiled teak is better at remove dust from soles of feet in a dry environment, so makes the inside stay cleaner.



Note that on many boats the teak is a thin veneer layer on plywood. It can't be a great idea to oil plywood, imho. "Not washing things much" is a good idea, and I think actually that if your boat ws seaworthy over the weekend you may possibly get fined for not having gone out and about during the best fine weather spell for over a year

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[c_j]

No definately don't. I never did on last boat, and it looked good, but was talked into it on this boat and it has ruined the look. In fact the oil is being removed today to get back to square one. I have been recommended and have seen the finish of a sealent provided by www.onwardtrading.com (havent tried this link yet) and I think it looks great, protects the teak from stains and is a good mellow even colour.

<hr width=100% size=1>CJ
chris@stone.uk.com


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[[2574]]

Chris,

We've just used the stuff from Onward Trading (it's called Sementec) this weekend on our Targa and it has produced a very pleasing result. We are based at Poole presently if you want a look. (A Targa 48 followed us under Poole bridge at 1630hrs last night, was that you?)

Rob

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[Gludy]

Having done the wrong thing here once and learned from my own cock ups - I reckon that the best is to use Teak Wonder cleaner, brightner and silicone treatment - tha is how I ended up and the results are v ery natural and very good.


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[[2574]]

Just had a look at the tin and the stuff is called Semco, I must have imagined Sementec!

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[c_j]

No not me under Poole bridge although if it was white hull I know who it was. Colin Macrea's former boat.

Having looked at the now de oiled teak deck it looks great again and I ordered a litre of semco today for putting on tomorrow weather permitting.

I have seen several boats with this on and I think it looks really good. Not only that but in fact as you know it is a sealant so avoids staining apparently.

<hr width=100% size=1>CJ
chris@stone.uk.com


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[joanne2]

What should we do about our bathing platform steps and flydgridge steps which are looking very pale and weathered which I don't like.

Should we try some of the stuff you recommend or should we teak oil them?

Joanne

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[c_j]

The Semco treatment starts with a cleaner in two parts, after it is clean then you treat with sealent. Have a look at their website but IMHO dont teak oil.

<hr width=100% size=1>CJ
chris@stone.uk.com


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[[2574]]

Joanne,

I'd agree with Chris, don't teak oil but have a go with this Semtec stuff. The two part cleaning part of the process is ghastly - brown filth everywhere as tghe muck comes out, and you can't swill with water as you have to apply an antidote chemical to nullify the cleaning chemical. But when done the results are astonishingly good. The final part of the process is a sealant which keeps the grime off for the future. Our teak was looking dirty and after the weekend just gone it actually looks like it's just has teak laid decks put in. About £40 for a "bucket" of the stuff which contains all the various components. We bought at the LIBS, it may have been a special offer. Go for it.

Rob

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