Treating your boat's teak!
24 May 2005 - 13:53
For years teak has been employed in boat building, due to its excellent durability and weatherproofing properties. A very rich, close grained hardwood, it can give years of protection for your boats deck and railings.
Unfortunately, even teak is not immune to weathering and turning the dull grey colour we see all too often, and how we deal with this varies depending who you seek advice from!
A common misconception is to seal teak off with teak oil, or linseed oil. Unfortunately, this may give a fresh look at the time of applying, but soon wears and looks even worse that natural weathered wood. This is due to the salinity in the sea air extracting the oil, forcing it to sit on top of the teak, attracting dust and general grime all too easily. It is becoming more recognised that teak on boats should not be treated this way.
As a marine valeting company, we have tried various methods of treating teak, all with some degree of success. But for the last season, we have been using, and distributing a product called Teak Wonder. This product has been used successfully for over 20 years, originating from Miami, Florida, where beautifully tended boats and yachts abound. It is being used both by enthusiasts, and builders and restorers along the South Coast
Consisting of a 3 part treatment, a cleaner, a brightener, and finally a sealer. These products are bio-degradable, and will not interfere with any aluminium or stainless steel fittings, or GRP etc. Also, the sealer is a silicone sealer, so rather than sitting on top of the teak, it permeates the upper layer forming a clear seal that allows the natural wood colour to remain a lot longer. Also, the sealer can be re-applied as required throughout the season, keeping the wood protected and looking fresh.
The cleaner is so effective, in some instances; we have been able to remove paint, tar spots, and other deep stains that would previously have to have been sanded out. The brightener will bring out the teak’s natural colour, giving you the desired finish before sealing.
And the best part is, for cleaning and brightening, the wetter the better! You can save these jobs for rainy days, of which we of course have plenty in the UK! Although the sealer must be applied to a dry surface.
