Teak & Wood Treatment for Boats & Yachts

Coat the teak wood or not?

- Which advantages does a wood treatment bring? -

Teak has a high fibre density and tight grain, which makes it very robust. These properties make it ideal for outdoor use and in boat building, such as teak decks. Here, the wood is constantly exposed to weather, such as rain, UV radiation and temperature changes. After some time, teak will develop a natural silver-grey patina. If you like it, you can leave your teak untreated. Teak is naturally very oily and therefore does not necessarily have to be treated with oil or paint. The high oil content not only makes the wood extremely weather-resistant but also protects it from harmful pests and mould. If you want to preserve the honey-brown colour of teak, you should regularly remove the grey from the teak and oil it, preferably 1-3 times per year. It is recommended to apply one coat before winter storage and another afterwards. A third coat can be applied a few weeks after winter storage. When deciding whether to oil your teak deck or not, please remember that oiled surfaces should be covered as much as possible in winter. Untreated wood can be left outside without any problems.
 

Sanding teak wood

If your teak is already greying, you can remove the patina by sanding the wood with a sanding machine or by hand. The sand paper grain should not be too coarse when sanding teak. If so, it may cause the surface to become uneven and the teak to appear dull. Sand the wood with light pressure in the direction of the grain. The warm honey tone that your teak deck originally had will gradually come back through.
 

Cleaning Teak

After sanding, dust and dirt must be removed with water. In addition to cleaning with fresh water, there are various teak cleaners from brands such as Star Brite, Yachticon, Epifanes or Sika. In some cases, a special cleaner may be sufficient to remove the silver-grey patina. However, depending on the age of the wood, several cleaning procedures may be necessary. When using teak cleaners, make sure that you use cleaners for boats in fresh or salt water areas.
 

Applying Teak Oil

As soon as the teak is completely dry, apply teak oil sparingly with a brush or sponge; a foam brush is particularly suitable. By sanding beforehand, the wood oil can penetrate deep into the teak. You only need to dip the brush lightly into the teak oil so that it absorbs just a small amount of product, and apply a thin layer. Always work along the natural grain of the wood so that the oil can spread evenly and does not become too thick. After one hour it can be wiped with a clean cotton cloth to remove excess teak oil. You should then allow the coating to dry for a few more hours in a covered area.