Swim platform/ teak questions...

[Connor]

I recently decided to re-finish my swim platform. I bought the West Marine Teak kit which included the cleaner & brightener, and the teak oil. I followed the instructions and used some other info I found on here and another site. I applied the first coat, let it soak for 24 hrs then reapplied a second coat. My main concern is now that it has been about two weeks and seems "dry" it looks to have a white "film" on it (see pics, first one is right after the oil was applied, the second two are now). I believe this is the excess oil that dried? I can kind of scrape it off with my finger nail but wondering id this is normal, if there is something else I need to treat it with or do to take that off, or after the water and traffic hit it this summer it will be normal again? Thanks in advance!

[s_kelley2000]

I ended up with very similar results as you when I refinished my platform last season using the 3 step Starbright kit. The white went away after the first time I got the boat wet and it looked good for about a month. Unfortunately I had to go through the whole 3 step process again mid-summer because it was looking really bad. The second time I used a stiff brush to really work the cleaner in and that seemed to help some but I still ended up with some of the white stuff after the teak dried. I have heard mention of wet sanding the teak oil in when you apply so that it can soak in deeper. I have not tried this yet but that is my plan for the spring and I have a feeling that it might solve our problems. If anybody has wet sanded teak in and has some tips that would be great!

[ski4evr]

I sanded the teak three years ago to remove some sort of varnish the PO put on it. I used an orbital sander with the vacuum hooked to it and used 220 grit paper. Got it really smooth and used the "cheap" teak oil from lowes. It doesn't have the concentrantion of the other oils, but is 5 bucks. I reapply with a paint brush or mini roller monthly. Just starting to show signs of needing cleaning. Will probably sand it again this winter. Not really taking any substantial amount off, so don't think it is harmful. Might even try 320 grit this time. Also, never leave the oil on more than a couple of hours without wiping off excess.

[Puzzlescort]

i used good teak oil on my deck & it only lasted a couple of months...I was told by a cabinet maker to thin the teak oil down as if its too think it wont penetrate the wood well. Reading ski4evr above this adds weight to what I was told & might explain why its lasted so well as the "cheap" oil as you put it may not be as thick

I will know in the next couple of weeks as I redo mine for our Easter weekend

[Mamigacz]

I sanded the teak three years ago to remove some sort of varnish the PO put on it. I used an orbital sander with the vacuum hooked to it and used 220 grit paper. Got it really smooth and used the "cheap" teak oil from lowes. It doesn't have the concentrantion of the other oils, but is 5 bucks. I reapply with a paint brush or mini roller monthly. Just starting to show signs of needing cleaning. Will probably sand it again this winter. Not really taking any substantial amount off, so don't think it is harmful. Might even try 320 grit this time. Also, never leave the oil on more than a couple of hours without wiping off excess.

I've had the best luck doing the same thing as ski4evr.

[DanielC]

I have found the best way to clean the teak is to take a nylon brush, with a little bit of Dawn dishwashing detergent in a spray bottle of water, and scrub the platform right after you pull your boat out of the water, while the platform is still wet.

When the platform is dry use Meguires teak oil on it. It is only oil that does not have a sealer in it, that I have found. Most other teak oils contain a sealer, and you do not want this.

In extreme cases, you can use a two part cleaner. These cleaners are usually an acid, and then a base, (neutralizer) and bleach the teak wood to a "blond" color. Using the Meguire's will get the reddish teak color back.

And then sit back and enjoy you have a teak platform, and not some fiberglass platform, that gets scratched, and need to have the rubber replaced on it every few years.