Teak

[camjam]

In the fall, I cleaned, sanded and oiled the teak swim platform on my 1999 Air Nautique. My first boat with a teak swim platform. It looked great and still looked good after I pulled it out of storage. Three weeks of sitting on the trailer (unprotected) and it looks like I did not oil the platform. it's back to a natural wood color. I expected this would happen mid summer or later, but not this quickly. Is this normal and is there any thing else I can do to other than retreating?

Jim

[DanielC]

You need to put several applications of teak oil on at first, the wood is like a sponge, and soaks it up. I try to avoid harsh cleaners, they remove the oil, but sometimes you have to.

I just use a stiff nylon brush on my platform, when it is still wet, just after pulling the boat out of the water. I also spray the platform with a solution of Dawn dish soap, and water I mixed up in an old spray bottle. When the platform is dry, then oil it. I also use a bronze wool to apply the oil. Bronze wool it like Steel wool, but made of Bronze metal. Steel wool leaves behind small fragments that rust. I also use Meguire's gold teak oil, most other teak oils have sealers in then that create problems.

[camjam]

Used the Meguire's teak oil. I think four (maybe five) applications with a day between each application. It was necessary to use a teak cleaner as the platform did not appear to have been treated in a long time. I was just surprised how quickly it went from looking great back to an unfinished wood look.
Jim

You need to put several applications of teak oil on at first, the wood is like a sponge, and soaks it up. I try to avoid harsh cleaners, they remove the oil, but sometimes you have to.

I just use a stiff nylon brush on my platform, when it is still wet, just after pulling the boat out of the water. I also spray the platform with a solution of Dawn dish soap, and water I mixed up in an old spray bottle. When the platform is dry, then oil it. I also use a bronze wool to apply the oil. Bronze wool it like Steel wool, but made of Bronze metal. Steel wool leaves behind small fragments that rust. I also use Meguire's gold teak oil, most other teak oils have sealers in then that create problems.

[swc5150]

Apply oil, let dry, wetsand, repeat - many, many times! This was always my winter project. I'd go through this process about 3 times a week over a 6 month span. My platform would stay perfect all summer.

[Rick]

Like he says Teak is lke a sponge

It usually takes 5-6 coats of teak oil. Apply liberally, wait about 10 minutes then wipe off repeat.do this over a 2-3 day period. If you leave it on to long it will become tacky. The bronze wool is great to spread it and work it in. I usually use a disposable paint brush to apply it. During the season as you see spots dry out you can reapply it as a spot procedure

[Chexi]

Or you could do it once with Cetol Marine and not have to touch it for years. I did mine a year ago (just the top and sides, leaving the bottom to breathe) and it still looks great. Others have dones this and had it hold up for years. One person did have his chip off after a few years. I'm guessing he either did not prep right or banged it up pretty good with wakeboards and skis.

It will, however, be slick compared to oiled teak. I will be putting some very thin sano pad strips on mine this year. In have not slipped on it, but other have.

[G-man]

This is an article written by a friend of mine who taught me about teak. It is important to us Starbrite Teak Sealer in the white bottle.

http://mastercraft.com/teamtalk/atta...1&d=1140472173

[DanielC]

I am not a big fan of using a sealer on Teak.

[xlair]

The previous owner of my boat sealed the teak and now it looks like crap. Skis boards have scraped the top and made it look like ****.

Does anybody have any recommendations to get the finish off the teak? I know it can be sanded but its going to take a long time w/all the small grooves and bevels in the platform. Is it safe to use a wood stripper?

[east tx skier]

I've used G-Man's friends method (to a slightly less intense degree) and have always really liked the results. I only have to touch it up once each spring.

As for getting teak oil off, I have always sanded used a sander. I know of others who have used a pressure washer or the high pressure hose at the car wash (I'm not sure how effective the latter would be as a stripper though.