Easiest teak treatment, please!!!

[lostsoul]

I have a 34 foot sailboat with teak toe rails, coamings, and grab rails, and a few other trim items.
I let it weather for the past 20 years and now it is disappearing. I need to cover it with something. I have considered paint, but I am not sure I could bring myslef to do it.
I am seeking the easiest treatment that I can do.

Practical sailor said that Semco is very easy. You coat the wood after a washing. Then it last 3 to six months. Then you wash the wood and coat again. No special teak cleaners or sealers are needed. The coating just wears away and you recoat. What could be simpler? At least that is what PS said.
I like this concept and would choose such a product, if one is available.
Simple is the key here.

Anyone have any input here?

[lostsoul]

help, how do I edit the above post. I posted it 3 times!!
sorry..

[a64pilot]

I got it for you, your ability to edit a post is time limited

[evm1024]

Just a note should you decide to clean your teak:

You could use Teka for cleaning your teak or make your own....

Start with any Sodium Hydroxide solution which is what part A is. You can use something like Zeps Industrial Purple Cleaner. I often dilute it 2:1 with water but can use a full strength.

Follow up with a phosphoric acid solution which is what part B is. I use Skyco Ospho but other phosphoric acid based etch and prep solutions work well.

Total cost for a gallon of each is around $45 USD.

If you really want to get serious you can look up the MSDS of teka and adjust the concentrations to match.


Regards

[appick]

Easiest long term option is to remove the teak all together.

[DotDun]

Semco is the easiest....you were told correctly.

[Sea Dreaming]

The po of our boat left their teak to weather. The comming joints were large enough to pass pencils through. 4 coats of teak oil later the joins are closed and the rich natural color of the teak is showing. I'm a big fan now. Big fan!

Ps, just brush it on. No danding, no wiping...easy peasy!

[Dave22q]

I've been using heavy coat of denatured linseed oil, brush on, next day apply more to dry areas. Gives a nice but short lived glossy look but weathers to very dark brown until it wears to gray. Repeat every year or two. Cheap and easy. Based on great reviews I just ordered some Interlux Cetol which applies like oil, just brush on. use 3 coats 24 hours apart. Supposed to give a varnished look and last for years with annual touch ups.
At minimum I would use oil, teak untreated goes bad.

[roberthowell]

best and cheapest stiff brush, sea water, teak oil. teak naturally has to much oil in it to paint

[Matsubob]

Anyone heard of "Teak Wonder"? Japanese sailor friends swear by it. It requires an initial washdown with cleanser, then it is sealed with sealer and it is low to no maintenance, maintains the rich teak color. I like the warmth that teak renders, both to the touch and to the eye.

[LeeV]

I used Armada (which turned out very nicely) on the last boat with any external teak I had years ago. I can't speak to longevity as we sold it 9 months later but it still looked nice then. Now I only have teak inside, on which I use the Lemon Oil treatment. Looks and smells nice!

[Seadoc777]

I have and continue to use Teak Guard it lasts well and keeps looking good.

[Scout 30]

I have a lot of teak & I'm now using the oil based version of Australian Timber Oil. It's similar to Semco in that it soaks in, never has to be removed & never peels. For prep you just wash & apply. I use a brush & get on as much as possible. Unlike teak oil it has UV inhibitors & pigment so it last much longer & the wood never turns black like it does with teak oil. There are several colors & the darker the color the longer it lasts. I get about a year between applications in Florida. Another similar product is Deks Olje which I've never tried but seems to get good reviews. The biggest problem with Cetol & varnishes is that when they start to go they have to be completely removed which is much more work than the actual application.

[hsi88]

Not sure about easiest, but a couple of coats lasts at least a year without much sign of weathering. It is oil based so it won't sit on top like a varnish and will never peel.

I mix 1/2 Tung oil, with equal parts of:
Cedar oil - protects, helps with bug/mold resistance, smells nice.
Tea oil - helps with bug/mold resistance.
Linseed oil - protects, brightens somewhat.
Turpentine - helps oil soak into wood.

I make sure the oil is warm when applied. As a last coat, I rub in SPF 50+ sunscreen oil for UVA/UVB protection. Am thinking of trying 303 for UV protection this year.

[jrbogie]

easy teak treatment???? oxymoron not unlike military intelligence.