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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Teak: oil or varnish?

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Bruce Baker
Captain

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USA
402 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/09/2007 : 07:48:18

For years, the teak on my boat has been a weathered grey color. But a friend let me use his powerwasher, and it blew the grey away. So I'm thinking I might like to have my teak a nice wood color. What do you recommend as a treatment, teak oil or some kind of modern polyester "varnish"?

Thanks,

Bruce Baker
Falls Church, VA
"Yee Ha" 3573
'83SR/SK

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2007 : 08:32:49

Oil if you want to continue to love your teak, everything else betrays you eventually. Walk the docks you will see.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2007 : 08:53:35

Oil if you want to oil your teak every month or two to keep it looking as you like... (In TX or FL it'd be every week or two.) I'm about to try Cetol's new Natural Teak on my new boat--it's not supposed to be orange like the original. I just use the standard satin finish--a gloss topcoat is optional. Cetol can be easily touched up or overcoated--once a year is generally all you need. DO NOT use varnish on the exterior teak--somebody here used Bristol Finish and had a very sad story to tell!

As for gray, the fact that your powerwasher blew the weathered wood off is evidence that weathered teak is just deteriorating teak. Some people think that's the classic look--I think it's the abandoned look. (BTW, when I put my C-25 on the market, it sold in about 45 hours. Was it the Cetol? It didn't hurt.)

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 05/09/2007 08:57:23

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2007 : 10:58:59

I personally love the bleach and oil method, well kind of. Around here there's so much salt and sand I actually prefer just cleaning and bleaching and forgetting about the oil. But definitely no cetol

for me.

Edited by - DaveR on 05/09/2007 11:02:42

djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2007 : 11:06:39

My C25 was all high gloss Cetol. Can someone post a picture of what sanded and oiled looks like. My new boat is grayed out and I never did like that look. Cheers.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2007 : 12:06:49

original rails from my 89

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djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2007 : 12:22:53

Wow, those look great. So the bottom one is oiled right? What did you oil it with? How long between oilings? Cheers.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2007 : 12:53:11

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by fhopper@mac.com
 Oil if you want to continue to love your teak, everything else betrays you eventually. Walk the docks you will see.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Frank,

Any finish, especially oil, will betray you if it is neglected and if you walk the docks, it's not a finish doing the betraying, but rather owners who've betrayed their boats.

My teak, finished with Cetol, looks as good today as it did when I first applied it six years ago and the time and energy I've expended to maintain it is, without question, much, much less than if I had used oil. A few years ago, I used only oil on my newly made swim ladder steps and I couldn't believe the time and effort that was needed to keep them from graying out. After that one PITA season, I coated them with Cetol.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2007 : 13:15:10

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by djn
 Wow, those look great. So the bottom one is oiled right? What did you oil it with? How long between oilings? Cheers.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Oiled teak always looks great the second after you apply the oil...If only it would stay that way.

Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2007 : 13:30:42

And then there are those who wretch at the sight of teak finished in any way other than natures way, CAPE COD GREY

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2007 : 13:51:49

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by tinob
 And then there are those who wretch at the sight of teak finished in any way other than natures way, CAPE COD GREY

In my home I might go for a Danish oil finish on woods, even teak, but on a boat nada. I'd rather spend the time enjoying the SAIL boat, time spent doing weird things to teak is time not spent doing what the sailboat was made to do.

Val on CALISTA,#3936, Patchogue, N.Y.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

That is kinda my point, the worst oiled teak ever looks is naturally grayed, once a person stops keeping up with other treatments the teak looks decidedly worse than Cape Cod Gray. ALso, as I always bring up in these discussions, oiled teak with a tarp to protect it when you are not at the boat looks great all season long.(and you never have bugs in your boat.)

I just use Starbrite oil.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2007 : 13:53:05

Shouldn't this thread be on the C25 forum? We C250 sailors don't have no stinking exterior teak to maintain. We sail!

When I had a C22 I let my teak go gray. I like that look.

Edited by - on

mhartong
Navigator

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USA
152 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2007 : 14:53:01

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Hear Hear!!

Mark

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2007 : 15:53:35

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Nautiduck
 Shouldn't this thread be on the C25 forum? We C250 sailors don't have no stinking exterior teak to maintain.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

One would think the topic title (Teak: oil or varnish?) would've given you a clue, but alas...

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Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2007 : 16:40:01

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Shouldn't this thread be on the C25 forum? We C250 sailors don't have no stinking exterior teak to maintain. We sail! <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Pretty myopic point of view. I know I read most of the posts from all the forums even though they may not pertain specifically to my boat or area of interest. I usually enjoy the conversations and sharing of knowledge regardless of the subject. Regardless, the last time I checked the Capri had teak trim on it, and there are several 250's who have added teak cockpit tables or other accessories. So I cannot understand why it should not be a "general" topic.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2007 : 18:16:34

I am sure it was meant in good fun, we all know each of us appreciates the particular solution Catalina provided us. Teak is expensive to buy, work and maintain, those of us with older boats are just lucky enough to have a little. I know I am sure glad that I don't have a teak deck to deal with!!

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2007 : 18:53:58

I was just having fun with you C25ers

I love to look at someone else's well maintained teak. No offense intended, just causing trouble.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 05/09/2007 18:59:48

Jefffriday
Navigator

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USA
198 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2007 : 19:34:58

I am about to try Deft Oil Marine (UV protected) I have used Deft oil on the furniture I have made for years, and love it. It is a mix of oil and polyurethane, but you wipe all excess off with a rag after 10 or 15 minutes, so there is no build up. It looks like oil protects like poly, super easy to touch up, just use 0000 steel wool and apply over a scratch or sanded repair. I will let everyone know how it holds up through a summer of mountain sun exposure (the acid test for sure) of course, first there is the removal of the PO's neglect and poor choices. I have all the wood from the outside (89 C25 SR/WK) off now for stripping and sanding.

Edited by - on

At Ease
Admiral

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672 Posts

Response Posted - 05/10/2007 : 15:13:04

Man hour for man hour, dollar for dollar, look for look, you can't beat Cetol.

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DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2007 : 07:46:19

I believe the consensus is there is no consensus

As far as the effort involved; I consider it a privilege to tweak my teak, or scrub the deck, or polish the stainless. Not everyone has such a pretty thing to take care of! Hhhhmmmmmmm, "tweak my teak"........ have to remember that one .....

Edited by - DaveR on 05/11/2007 07:56:34

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2007 : 08:12:33

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by DaveR
 ...I consider it a privilege to tweak my teak...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Hey Dave--a little less time on the decking on your dock and a little more on your teak...

Indeed, this topic always takes us as far from a concensus as Iraq does the US Congress!

Edited by - on

DanM
Captain

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USA
256 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2007 : 08:43:19

The gangway steps were looking a little shabby on Perfect Day, so I removed them and refinished at home with Cetol. Re-installing them required lots of muscle. Did Cetol make them grow?
Next to the steps, the drawers looked shopworn, so I took them home for refinishing. Then the hatchboards. Now the rest of the trim looks dull. There no end to all this teak!
Anyway, I like the results with Cetol. Will Cetol our deck furniture today.

Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2007 : 08:55:53

This topic ALMOST gives me enough impetus to photograph my beautiful CAPE COD GREY and display the teak here...ALMOST!!!!

Val on CALISTA #3936, Patchogue, N.Y.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2007 : 09:08:17

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by tinob
 This topic ALMOST gives me enough impetus to photograph my beautiful CAPE COD GREY and display the teak here...ALMOST!!!!

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Just be sure to shoot if from far enough away that we can't see the cracks, pits, and mildew...

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2007 : 13:51:54

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Bristle
Hey Dave--a little less time on the decking on your dock and a little more on your teak... <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Hey now! It's just cause the pic was taken in the shade

Edited by - DaveR on 05/11/2007 13:54:07

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
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Response Posted - 05/12/2007 : 07:54:09

No cracks, pits or mildew, just an even shade of grey

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