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Varnishing cabin teak?

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Headhunter
1st Mate

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74 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/04/2002 : 12:33:48

i am considering varnishing the teak inside the cabin, v-berth, etc. Has anyone done this and, if so, are there any problems inherent? I am tired of carting everything off the boat to clean and re-oil the interior teak every year or so.

Doug Riley
"Life o' Riley"

Lake Norman, NC

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Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2002 : 12:45:41

With soooo much oil soaked into the teak dont you think it will make the varnish go cloudy as it leaches out to the surface.

Doug&Ruth
Wind Lass
Tacoma Wa.

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Headhunter
1st Mate

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74 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2002 : 12:47:57

Don't know...That's the kind of feedback and advice I'm looking for. I suppose I should empty the boat and take the old hose and teak cleaner/brightenr down one last time.

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Dave Seely
1st Mate

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46 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2002 : 12:52:02

I varnished my interior wood about a year ago. So far it looks great, the onlt problem is that you have to pull the plugs out that cover the screws to get the trim off. After the trim is varnished and reinstalled you can put teak plugs back in the holes but to sand them flush damages the beautiful varnish job you just spent a month on. I decided to just leave the plugs out.

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jm
Captain

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Canada
290 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2002 : 16:14:18

After a good cleaning/scrubbing with a TSP/water solution, a toothbrush and some 150sandpaper, I used a MinWax quick-drying polyurethane on all my interior teak, except the 'expansive' bulkheads. I admire the purists that love to varnish, but quick and effective was my objective. I met it.

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Headhunter
1st Mate

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74 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2002 : 16:27:14

Dave - Get teh trim off? I was looking to just tape and varnish. Granted, I haven't looked into the detail just yet, but am I to undertand that you took a bunch of the stuff out of the boat to finish?

JM - TSP?

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jm
Captain

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Canada
290 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2002 : 16:57:03

Tri Sodium Phosphate - you wouldn't believe the gunk it draws out of worn/dirty teak. You can get it at the hardware/paint store.

btw - I did most of my teak cleaning/sanding/polyurethaning over the winter, off the boat.

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Dave Seely
1st Mate

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46 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2002 : 22:14:32

Doug

I riped all the wood out except the one structural bulkhead. When I tried scrubbing the wood in the boat I just seemed to be moving the scum around. By the time I got one piece of trim scrubbed clean and sanded I realized all of the dirt, oil, dust, ect from that piece of trim was now on the curtins, windows, stove and other trim. I used something called "TSP substitute", TSP has so many warnings on the label it scared me. TSP and TSP substitute also work great on exterior teak. Takes all the greying out and makes it look like you just sanded it.
I see you are also on Lake Norman. Are you at sailing club on the west side or the yacht club on the east side?

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jm
Captain

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Canada
290 Posts

Response Posted - 06/05/2002 : 08:19:21

TSP - Na3PO4 - no more dangerous than a strong soap - some of the warnings are more 'green' related because of the phosporous elements.
It's obviously not phosporous free, and is slightly corrosive (keep it away from your aluminum mast), but nothing a pair of rubber/latex gloves and some fresh air movement can't deal with.

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Headhunter
1st Mate

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74 Posts

Response Posted - 06/05/2002 : 09:39:12

Thanks to both of you.

Dave...I am at neither. I am in a neighborhood docking area SE of the Lake Norman Yacht Club (what you call the East side). I am a member of an orphan yacht club, the Outrigger Yacht Club, which lost it's docks to development some years ago but is the most active club on the Lake for racing. See www.outriggeryachtclub.org.

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Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3321 Posts

Response Posted - 06/06/2002 : 19:12:29

Doug - there is a very simple solution that Ken Cave found for us (where is Ken by the way?)It's called Howard's Restor-a-Finish and you just wipe it on and let it dry - it smells wonderful and makes the teak look beautiful. You can find it in hardware stores and craft shops! It comes in several shades - I use the Golden Oak.
Derek
P.S. For the external teak - Cetol<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

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Gary B.
Admiral

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USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 06/07/2002 : 02:45:06

I varnished the interior of Encore! and it looks great...because you don't have the UV problem/weathering of exterior teak, it holds up quite well. I haven't touched it in several years...

On the project boat I am just finishing, I used Ken's idea of the Howard's Restore a finish. I could only find mahogany finish, but it, too, works quite well. I had to do several coats on the top step, as it was quite dried out...actually, because of weathering from rain, etc. when the companionway is open, a few coats of varnish on the steps might really hold up well....

Gary Encore! SR/SK #685
and Suede Shoes #496

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wmkoines
1st Mate

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56 Posts

Response Posted - 06/07/2002 : 19:35:42

I took off all the teak off, sanded about four years ago (good winter project) and varnished interior. Still looks great. If you do, it get a satin finish, it's not as glossy and gives the inside a very rich look.

W. Koines
C25 1661 Windswept
Oyster Bay, NY

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joshuaheard
Deckhand

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USA
22 Posts

Response Posted - 06/12/2002 : 15:05:07

Why do you remove everything from the boat? And, why do you use teak cleaner on interior teak? I don't think you need to use teak cleanter on interior teak, only exterior teak. I just oil my interior teak every 3 months or so and it looks great. It takes about an hour, and I remove nothing from the boat. For my exterior teak, I use Cetol. I put on 5 coats last year and so far, so good. I think interior varnish that I have seen on other boats looks great, but I will stick with oil. It's easier, and now that it has been oiled, I think it will require too much prep work to varnish.

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wmkoines
1st Mate

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56 Posts

Response Posted - 06/12/2002 : 19:46:40

A few reasons for removing the wood.

1) Didn't want to make a mess inside both with the dripping varnish and the sanding. Taping off the area doesn't work for me.

2) This was a winter project and I can sit in my heated ,vented and well lighted basement, hide from the wife and kids and dream of sailing while I work on the wood.

I agree the pre-work for varnish is a lot. But nothing beats the look of a nice satin sheen on teak.

W. Koines
C25 1661 Windswept
Oyster Bay, NY

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Don Hood
1st Mate

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30 Posts

Response Posted - 06/12/2002 : 22:50:43

When I got my boat the teak was so dry from neglect there was nothing left on it. I did a simple sanding on everything and used a good spar varnish and it all looks great. I put on another coat this season and freshened it up real nice. The key to varnishing is to get it on, smoothe it once and let it alone. Also, buy a good medium grade brush and then throw it away when you are done. Trying to clean it enough to use it again is not worth the time. I find it is good therapy to varnish but then I used to be a cabinetmaker.

Don on Namaste' #1929 swk

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