Interior Teak Wood...too many options!

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Originally Posted by CoastalLiving

What type of oil do you use on your Westsail? It is beautiful!
Isabel

Thank you Isabel, the last was West Marines teak oil, wood has been only done a couple of times over the last 8 years, and it was a different product the last time which I don't remember. Only the solid teak pieces get oil, nothing on the paneling.

The point of the oil is to keep the nice rich color of the wood, much easier than any vanish work, yet still takes several days to complete all the work required as I mask off most areas so oil only stays on teak and this takes considerable amount of work.

Over the last number of years I use the boat as a test bed and have used a wide variety of varnishes, oils, two parts, etc. to try and get a feel for what works and what doesn't. As the goal is always to sail more, have been trying to get the vessel to a point were the finishing products look good but don't require huge amounts of time to maintain, so far boat is still 90% work for 10% sail time, hope this helps.

[CoastalLiving]

Thank you all so much. I got some oil that I am testing on the back of some paneling now. One question that I don't think I've asked that has crossed my mind. If I put oil on the wood and then decide to apply varnish, will I have to sand the surface since it has oil on it? Or, do you think it will adhere? I really feel that oil needs to go on the boat to nourish the wood. But, this could all be in my head
Thank you,
Isabel

[jeepbluetj]

You gotta sand. But you gotta sand anyway. Stop try oil first. Sanding suks

[Loredo]

Hi,
Simply put, DO NOT SAND!
If you want to redo the whole inetrior, Use varnish / paint remover instead!
WAAAYYY faster and easier than sanding. NO dust. I did my previous boat 15 years ago this way in three weekends. That was a 37 footer.
Once the paint is removed the only surface preparation you need to do before you paint is to take any residuals off with fine steel wool. Always follow the veins ,Voilà.

Another "trick" use a varnish for wood floors instead of the "marine" stuff.
Costs one third and if you can walk on it at home....

Like I said, I did the boat 15 years ago and it still looks like it was done yesterday.

[Cheechako]

Varathane works great on t he cabin sole (and elsewhere actually). I got that tip from a friend who worked at the local high school maintenance dept. That's what they used on the basketball court floor!

[Annie in WA]

Hi Cheechako. We left the Skagit and are in San Francisco now. On the Varathane, which product did you use? Spar varnish? Annie

[Cheechako]

I wouldnt use spar varnish except outside, it is a bit more flexible and gummy. I just used regular varathane exterior. I actually used some interior (satin) also ... on the bulkheads I think. Reportedly the only difference is darkening agent added to t he exterior to block UV. As such it darkens the wood a little more than the interior type... and be sure to stir it well as the darkening stuff sinks to the bottom over time. varathane may make a special floor type and for the sole I would use that.
Tried quite a few varnishes over time (Epiphanes, mcClosky, Interlux, Schooner, Deft Bear Hide, Cetol etc)and came back eventually to varathane.

[JPA Cate]

Once had a Canadian friend who had spent time in the tropics and was returning. She wetsanded (!) her interior varnish, and it took very little time and she was able to control the mess very well--no dust everywhere. She "re-varnished" with Cetol clear, as I remember, and it lasted more than 5 yrs.! Very impressive.

I, personally, do not like to use oil because when we go to the tropics it feeds the mold, to which I am allergic. In the long run, getting rid of the oiled bits and varnishing them served me well.

Ann

[Ketchgould]

Can Amazon oil and the like be applied in any temperature? It's 30 degrees in Minnesota now. No indication on product.

A woodworkers guild mentioned this schedule for new wood: apply once a day for a week, once a week for a month, once a month for a year, and them as needed. Seam excessive on mahogany?

Thanks

[CoastalLiving]

I realized when I was looking back through some of the threads I didn't reply to some of the responses. Thank you all for your thoughts
Isabel

[puffcard]

I have an oil interior that was just oil with West teak oil after 7 years of not doing anything. We just came down the ditch to Fla and mold is popping up for the first time in 20+ years. the boat is a 1979 Tartan 37, lots of teak.

Help. Is one oil better at not supporting the mold? What is this best way to get rid of it? We leaving for the Bahamas in a few weeks, not looking to start any super major projects

[JPA Cate]

Puffcard,

As far as I know, all the oils feed mold, but one of the posts above suggested that Watco teak oil actually killed mold. I don't know whether that is correct or not. I have also heard that clove oil spray will kill the mold spores, so you could spray your wood with that (Googling it will get you the proportions of clove oil to water), and wipe. It will eventually come clear. What you use after that is a hard choice.

In your shoes, I'd talk to others at the marina, where you can look at what they've done and see how you like the finish. Oiling is easy, but in the tropics, in my experience, it always gets moldy, if you use furniture oils on it. Whatever you do will be an experiment, and there's a lot to be said for oil since it's so easy. If you want to not have to do it again for a long time, then use some kind of varnish, perhaps the polyurethanes for floors are overkill, except for the cabin sole.

If you didn't read the whole thread, you might want to look back through the posts, and see what you like from the pictures and the info in the texts.

Ann

[puffcard]

Thanks for the reply, I'm leaning towards Watco or 100% Tung oil mixed with citrus oil. Still looking.

[a64pilot]

I believe mold grows in natural oils, I use Scott's Liquid Gold, which I believe is a synthetic and does not support mold.
Scott's Liquid Gold does have a mold control product that they sell, I have not used it, but it might be worth a look?
Amazon.com - Scott's Liquid Gold 50001 Mold Control Kit - Hepa Filter Air Purifiers

I do not know if it can be used on teak or not, myself I'd try it on a small, hidden area first, even if it says it can.

[hellosailor]

"Oil" can be many things, including mold fertilizer.
AFAIK genuine teak oil does not encourage mold, and some of the citrus oils should also kill mold. Cedar oil, used to rejuvenate cedar closets, repels bugs and should be similarly toxic to a lot of growth.
Dunno about Scott's but it has a fine reputation as a finish/cleaner, I'm sure the company could comment directly if you contact them.