To seal or not to seal (it's a teak thing)

lisilou

lisilou

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Just 2 parted the cockpit teak floor (again!!) and I don't usually put sealer on it but this time I'm considering it. Bored and sleepless last night, I sat contemplating this for a good couple of hours (sad I know but hey) Question is...will I regret it? Will it suffer under foot over the season? (I've been told/heard it will go grubby with lots of foot traffic). And then I've heard it'll be a bugger to get off.
I want to take it back to its original richer colour which the sealer will do but don't want to waste my time if the general consensus is a no no.
It'll be Semco natural if I do it.
So...anyone done it and regretted it? Anyone not regretted it? Anyone swear by it? etc etc.
Thanks.
L
:)
 
We have done ours with the Wessex two part cleaner and natural Semoco sealer in the past. Benefits are that the sealer will keep the dirt out of the teak, resist spills and maintain the richer colour for longer. My understanding is that the Wessex stuff removes the old sealer.

The old sealer will disappear over time on exposed decks but obviously lasts a lot longer in the cockpit. I am not aware of any downsides to using the sealer.

I got the stuff to do it again but having cleaned up the decks I am thinking of leaving it, primarily because I prefer the natural silver look of the teak when it has weathered. Trouble is that out teak runs from the cockpit out onto the decks so we get a two tone effect because one part is protected from the weather and the other isn't.

For what it is worth I would probably seal in the cockpit because it is a heavily used social area and the teak won't weather due to the canopy. :)
 
We use Semco after Wessex cleaners, have done for about 3 years on previous and this boat. IMHO it is very good, I like the finish and colour it gives, a couple of quite light coats is my recommendation and that will give nice even texture, not too colourful and will encourage water to run off . I apply with one of those microfiber/foam pads used for waxing a car, it is easy to apply and get into into the grain, easy to get a good line up to edges without going on all the grp.

Make sure the teak is completely dry, dry, dry and dry before applying Semco if you do go for it or it will stain black, although even that can be removed by the cleaners and re-stained.

Here's a pic of Hollywood 1/2 way through doing the decks, this was after 1 light coat of semco , the bit I've left undone by the hatch was because that was still damp, went back later and touched it in no problem at all.
Hollywood Semco.jpg
 
Just done (well my good lady did) 2 coats of Semco on the main teak area and bathing platform. The boat was Wessex 2 parted when we collected her in March and until we sealed it was showing signs of use, ie fat splashes from the griddle and general grime collected by shoes from outside the boat/pontoon even though we soap washed it regularly. But since doing it only needs the odd wash and brush to look good. As said the Semco will wear off, but the Wessex 2 part will get rid of it when the time comes in a year or so to do it again. Fair bit of teak to do and the 2 coats take the quart tin but well worth it. Force4 now stock it is you run out.
20140820-2354-1euj3yw_zpscqwgr5jm.jpg
 
Thanks guys. Got bored so thought 'what the heck' and did it this morning. Glad I did now, reading your experiences. I prefer it tbh. Did what I wanted it to which was replenish the richer colour.
Chuffed. Now off to see Take That...enjoy your day guys.
L
:)
 
lisilou said:
Thanks guys. Got bored so thought 'what the heck' and did it this morning. Glad I did now, reading your experiences. I prefer it tbh. Did what I wanted it to which was replenish the richer colour.
Chuffed. Now off to see Take That...enjoy your day guys.
L
:)
Click to expand...
The day started well for you then Lisa, and rapidly downhill :D
 
Andrew M said:
We use Semco after Wessex



Here's a pic of Hollywood 1/2 way through doing the decks, this was after 1 light coat of semco , the bit I've left undone by the hatch was because that was still damp, went back later and touched it in no problem at all.
View attachment 52086
Click to expand...

That's an interesting result.
The bare teak looks quite grey/weathered yet the Semco has changed its colour considerably. Had you cleaned the teak with the two part wessex system some weeks earlier ?

Also - do you find you need to clean with wessex each year rather than clean with mild detergent and re-apply a coat of Semco?
 
Hmm, I'm trying to remember exactly what I did when, I think I 2 part cleaned 1 side, then semco'd it, I think that's when that photo was taken as some of the teak to port of the anchor roller is pretty dirty and green, then I 2 part cleaned the other side and Semco'd that, then the following weekend I re stained the whole lot.

We've only been on the coast since November when we got this boat , and this is the first teak clean I've done on her, so I can't comment on how long it will last. On our previous boat on the Thames , yes, the Semco lasted all year with just the odd soft broom/soapy water clean.

Andy
 
I have used the two part cleaner . But I have decided to wait until later in the summer , repeat the clean then apply the Semco.
The teak which is not protected under the canopy has weathered over the last few weeks but still has a good colour when wet.

A friend applied cleaner and then as soon as it was dry applied the Semco on his Broom last month - two coats applied with a cloth - the second coat was necessary and in any case two thin coats are better than one thick coat - the external teak has retained a colour .
It is hoped the Semco will last a year and will need re-application once a year with no repeat treatment of the cleaner. If this works the expensive Semco will be worth the money. We are based on fresh water so it may well work .Time will tell.
 
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