Does teak oil damage or stain?

[CoralReefer]

I'm going to start a wood resto project on my '81 this week. The previous owner used some sort of varnish/sealer but it's peeling. I plan on using an orbital sander to take away the old varnish and expose the natural wood. I was then going to use Starbrite's teak care kit which includes three products: Cleaner, Brightener, and Oil. I love the natural look of oiled teak and I really don't want to take the time to have to apply several coats of varnish again. Also, does any of the products have damaging affects on the hull? I will pull as much wood off to do the project but a couple of pieces on the sides aren't the easiest to remove. Any suggestions or advice?

 

[sbw1]

That particular system does a fairly good job although you will need to reoil several times during the boating season. Also the oil does leave a residue that turns grey where it contacts the gel coat so you have to be very careful to not let that happen. The stain does clean up with a cleaner polish but it's a pain. I gave up on the teak and removed the stuff on the deck and replaced it with stainless rails similar to the newer models. You need to be very careful with the cleaner too as it is harsh. Use a scotchbright pad and not a brush for cleaning the teak or you will scrub out the soft grain and damage the wood.

 

[fwebster]

Almost all teak cleaners remove any wax or polish you have on fiberglass. They are really harsh and contain an acid and a neutralizer. The trick is to keep a hose nearby and flush any that you get on anything but the teak.

I'm like sbw1, I had a ton of teak on my last boat and I eventually removed nearly all of it and painted the trim etc. with Alwgrip to match the Sea Ray gelcoat. It really cleaned up the look of the boat and made it look much newer and crisper.

Finally, if you are going into this with the idea that you really don't want to take the time to do multiple coats, etc., you might want to rethink doing anything until you consider replacment or painting. Teak care is not for the faint of heart. It takes a lot of diligent hard work to keep it the way it should be kept.

 

[CoralReefer]

Thanks for the advice. I'll definately look at some replacement/paint options before I do anything. The last thing I want to do is take time on pretty weekends to re-oil and I definately don't want to risk damage to the gelcoat. I'll post pics of the finished project when I do it.

 

[sbw1]

Thanks for the advice. I'll definately look at some replacement/paint options before I do anything. The last thing I want to do is take time on pretty weekends to re-oil and I definately don't want to risk damage to the gelcoat. I'll post pics of the finished project when I do it.

You will not damage the gel coat. The stain goes away with Fantastic and a re-wax. As mentioned, teak is a lot of work. I removed it all except for the bow pulpit and the treads where you step to get into the boat. The taft rail was removed and I filled the holes with matching gel coat. The transom door was replaced with heavy lexan plastic that I had awlgripped to match the gel. Also removed all of those wonderful stripes and changed over to a single black stripe at the water line and around the forward cabin. This really cleaned up the appearance of the boat and improved its looks in my view. I did continue to keep the treads looking perfect. As for the bow pulpit, I simply poured bleach out of a bottle on it and lightly scrubbed it with a pad. It was mostly white, but when mildew would start to take hold, I would bleach it again. Teak is making a big comeback and you see it everywhere now. It's great for down below, but it is lots of work when it's exposed to weather.

 

[KRB64]

You guys just ship me any teak you pull off your boats - I love it!

I'll oil a different section every couple times we go out. While the kids swim etc, it is relaxing and provides instant gratafication. But then again I could spend all day and night rebuilding old boats and trucks so I guess thats my thing.

I think the teak is what really makes these old SRs standout. Surely you saved or sold the old stuff?!