Visit our Popular Forums

n5ama · 20-09-2020, 12:12

My boat’s bulkhead is wood which I presume is teak. I’m sure it has some protective coating to prevent staining and aging. It does not appear to be a varnish or other grain filling topcoat and the wood is flat and not glossy.

Is this some sort of oil finish that doesn’t build up a surface layer? Would this be teak oil and if so, how often should it be applied?

If not teak oil what do I put on it to continue protection of the wood?

Thanks,
Tom

Mickeyrouse · 21-09-2020, 05:17

Likely teak oil, though could be wax. Try oil on a test patch in an unseen spot, such as where cushions fit up against the bulkhead.

n5ama · 21-09-2020, 05:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mickeyrouse

Likely teak oil, though could be wax. Try oil on a test patch in an unseen spot, such as where cushions fit up against the bulkhead.

Thanks for the reply Mickey! I will try the teak oil as you suggested first. It’s a mid 80’s Cape Dory and I don’t know what they commonly applied to the interior woodwork back then.

I’ll put something a bit more durable on the sole.

Thanks again,
Tom

Mickeyrouse · 21-09-2020, 06:02

Teak oil looks great but has little outdoor staying power. Even inside it can dry out over time. When it does the wood starts to lighten and dry out. If you’re looking at refinishing, I’d encourage you to consider a satin marine varnish. What I’m familiar with is Interlux interior satin, no.60. It holds up (my present inside re-finish was done in ‘07).

n5ama · 21-09-2020, 19:20

I guess that would be a suitable solution. I just don’t want a glossy finish and something that covers the texture of the wood. I’ve always liked Interlux products and will definitely look into it.

Thanks
Tom

Mickeyrouse · 22-09-2020, 04:41

Interlux interior satin may cover ther grain more than you’d like. A pint will run about $20 at Blackburn’s which is usually a little cheaper than West Marine. Defender may even be less but freight eats up the savings.

n5ama · 22-09-2020, 04:52

That’s cheap enough. Shouldn’t take a whole bunch and a pint will tell me what it looks like in a non visible area.

I’m making my way down from Lk Superior, Minnesota this morning so my timing should be good for dodging the storm in Galveston Bay (this weeks storm anyway). All bets are off for next weeks hurricane.

Phantom Jim · 22-09-2020, 05:50

If the appearance is uneven, Howard's Restore-A-Finish can even out this. It is available in most hardware stores in a variety of shades.

Our interior woodwork is an oiled finish that we keep good by alternating between Howard's Feed-N-Wax and Old English Lemon Oil.

Phantom Jim · 25-09-2020, 16:14

A couple of photographs of the wood work in Phantom and the products I use to keep it good looking. The finish is original to 1981

n5ama · 26-09-2020, 05:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phantom Jim

A couple of photographs of the wood work in Phantom and the products I use to keep it good looking. The finish is original to 1981

Thanks Jim,
Your woodwork looks great! My interior finish is even overall but probably needs to be refreshed. I would like to refresh it with something that penetrates the wood but doesn’t fill the grain and be difficult to deal with later, having to sand it off to refinish. I don’t mind putting additional coats every year.

Again, this is for interior bulkhead wood. I realize that exterior teak is a whole different animal.

I would also prefer not changing the color of the wood. I realize that it will be darkened some when almost anything is applied.

Thanks,
Tom

Mickeyrouse · 26-09-2020, 06:28

Sanding is not necessary to remove old varnish. When re-finishing the interior of our boat, (40 ft, every surface is wood except the ceiling of the cabine) I removed the old varnish with a heat gun (prox. $20 at Harbor Freight, slightly higher at Ace Hardware) and a scraper. Practice on a surface that doesn’t matter. You’ll get the hang pretty quickly. Be careful not to scorch the wood, but my two scorches were removed with light sanding. Light sand with a 240 grit disk to get the remaining fuzzy parts off. I did this successfully on thin veneer, and re-finished with satin. Two coats, looks great 12 years later.

Phantom Jim · 26-09-2020, 06:57

The attached are photographs taken when we purchased Phantom in 2001. The interior finish was in reasonable condition other than scuffs and wear spots.

Restore-A-Finish comes in stain colors as well as clear. Phantom has three different woods inside: mahagony, ash and teak. We used the mahagony stain generally on mahagony and teak, but used clear on the ash.

At a cost of less than $20 (two cans, mahagony and clear), we have not had to do any other refinishing on the interior wood in Phantom. We maintain the finish with oil and wax.

It works for us.