Teak Refinishing

[Ralph Erickson]

I've had my CP16 for about 2 years now (a 1985) and would like to refinish the teak.  What's the best way to go about this & what products should I use.  Thanks.

Ralph

[Gil Weiss]

Yo Ralph,

I was about to look for your email address and found this post. I have been working hard the past several weekends on Steppin' Up and I am ready to launch, hopefully next weekend-possible on Friday. I really went over the boat this year detailing every last spot and she looks better than ever.

I have been using Cetol on my teak. The teak was in good shape when we bought this boat and the dealer (The Sailboat Shop) told me about Cetol. It is a Sikens Paint product and I feel it works great. Goes on easy, looks good and holds up very well in the sun. It gives the teak an orange look and changes the original teak look a bit but I feel the way it holds up is worth it. I painted my entire interior (2 coats), which is all teak too, and it really made it look nice. This year I just recoated the exterior with one coat. I use the regular Cetol (not Cetol light) in the semi gloss finish. I normally give the old finish a light sanding.

My neighbor has a 23'  power boat with a badly weathered teak stern swim platform. I gave him a used can of Cetol two years ago and he gave the wood three heavy coats with little prep. It soaked in and really looked great considering how it looked before the Cetol. Of course it retained the dark color, probably from dirt, etc. but the Cetol has kept it preserved.

Products like teak oil, etc, may work on interior wood but just gather dirt outside and cause it to work into the teak. The Cetol really protects the wood from dirt and the sun.

My 2 cents . . .


PS, I was up at Nock last Wednesday as I was in the area for work. The docks no longer look as pristine from last year the result of bird residue, mold on the rubber edging and the sun but they will work fine. (I am considering some remedial work on my area) I saw several boats in the water already including a few Compacs. Two 16's and a 19 near me. The confusing part was that these boats appeared to be put back in looking like they just came out if you know what I mean. I frankly do not understand how one can have a dirty boat with worn lines and broken hatch boards, etc??? Oh well, to each his own I guess.

I assume you are moved and settled by now?

[Ralph Erickson]

Hey, Gil.  Good to hear from you.  Thanks for the info on the Cetol. Sounds like just what I've been looking for.  

I haven't been able to work on the boat yet, because we're not moved yet! Turns out our realtor isn't all she was cracked up to be.  She hasn't been marketing the house aggessively, and it's like pulling teeth to get her to respond to us.  We're trying to get out of our contract and sign with another realtor, but worse case scenario is that our contract is up June 2.  So that's been taking up my time, plus painting the inside of the new place.

Just brought "Patricia" home Saturday.  She weathered the winter quite well. I plan to wax her thouroughly, refinish the teak, replace any lines that need replacing (I know I need a new topping lift - mine broke during my last sail last year), and do whatever else that needs doing. I know what you mean about folks putting their boats in without cleaning them up from the year before.  I just couldn't do that!

Hope to work on the boat evenings this week and this coming weekend, and hopefully can launch her next week sometime.  I was going to buy a roller furler from Lithincum (sp) this year, but what with having to pay 2 mortgages for a while, that will have to wait!

I'll look for you when I'm at the lake!  Please do the same!

[Gil Weiss]

rALPH,

Great to hear from you. The real estate stuff is a bummer. I have had some business trips recently with one more to go next week - Phoenix. I hate when work interferes with my boating activities! This past week I was in Boston through Saturday.

I replace the topping lift line every year as I don't want it to break. I use a 5/32nd inch multicolored line that West Marine sells on a small 35ft spool. I saw a fellow at Nock last year use a wire topping lift. This seems to be a consideration as it would not break but I hate dealing unnecessarily with wire and this line I use seems to work fine.

I polished the boat with a fine white rubbing compound and then waxed it with Mother's Gold. Even though I clean and wax the boat before winter storage I do it again before spring launch. The mother's gold was recommended on this site and seems to be a tough wax. It went on and off fine. I did the WHOLE boat! The bottom was clean after last year but I put another thin coat of Aquagard on anyway. I think it could easily go two years but I always recoat.

I highly recommend the roller reefing jib as you know. Much easier to deal with on all counts. I typically replace my running rigging every two years.

That's about it for now. I find that early to mid may is a practical time to launch for the year.