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Teak finishing for a boat?

1K views 16 replies 8 participants last post by  diverlloyd 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
So what is a good finish and process for finishing teak for a boat? This will be for a platform on the back of the boat to get in and out of the water then into the boat. I have done a lot of reading on boat forums about a thin coat of epoxy then coats of spar finish. Anyone have experience on the subject please leave some advise and comments. Thanks for reading and offering advise if you do.
 
#2 ·
It largely depends on how much work you want to do over your ownership of the boat. Any bright finish will require a good bit of upkeep. If I were going to do a swim grid I would not go epoxy / varnish although that will work in "dryer areas". I would go with Cetol Marine from Sikkens. https://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=167
That is if I were going to finish it bright which I likely would not. Teak goes a very nice silver grey if left on its own and is virtually maintenance free. That would mean a lot more time enjoying the boat and a lot less refinishing.
 
#3 ·
Thanks shipwright it's for a buddies boat and he wants it to be shiny and look more like a mahogany. About 1/16 all the way around the wood was dry rotted and the previous owner just painted over it so I have all the pieces ready to put back together now after planing.
 
#4 ·
As a former boat owner (times five, but I'm clean and sober now!), I agree with Shipwright's recommendation. Cetol is the way to go. Whether you go silver or not is up to you and your buddy. But Cetol will give you a longlasting finish that stands up to UV and other weather damage.
 
#6 ·
My uncle's Mastercraft sees at least 200 hours per year and gets a light cleaning in the middle of the summer followed by teak oil. In the winter (if it comes off the in water lift) it gets a more thorough cleaning with a little light sanding when needed followed by teak oil. This has been the process for 7 boats over the past 30 years or so; quick, easy & effective.
 
#7 ·
Any Polyester underneath a urethane will heat too much in the sun and cause lift of the poly. So I recommend either or. Teak oil is the best in my opinion. Saw a lot of Teak Junks getting the teak oil treatment when I was a kid in Hong Kong and they were 40plus yrs old.
 
#9 ·
Just use a good Teak Cleaner and then Teak Oil. Anything else is just asking for trouble and extensive labor down teh road. Cetol will look like river mud with in 6 months.

- Bumpy
You must have used the wrong Cetol. They have a wide range of products. I've had Cetol "marine" on my decks for twelve years. Cetol "deck" is for sundecks and I think has more pigment. I have seen it look muddy after too many coats.
 
#11 ·
At last check, teak oil is just boiled linseed oil, resin and thinner. It has no UV protection and isn't really an exterior finish. Of course, if yours is from squeezed teak trees…..

Just use a good Teak Cleaner and then Teak Oil. Anything else is just asking for trouble and extensive labor down teh road. Cetol will look like river mud with in 6 months.

- Bumpy
 
#12 ·
Cetol is just another GMA resin. It works very well for outdoor use; But I don t think it does well over polyesters in the long run.

- pontic
Cetol needs to penetrate. It can't work well over anything. It goes on bare wood.
 
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