Prepurchase: Teakdeck with yellow stains

[csdjng]

Hi all, I'm in the process of purchasing a sailing yacht and made some sight visits during the past weeks. One of the options is a 50ft Dufour from 2009, which seems to be in a decent condition at first sight. However, one of my points of concern is its teakdeck. This shows signs of some sort of intens treatment after which it clearly shows yellow stains on it. I couldn't really understand what the deck was treated with exactly, but the owner ensured it was normal and this will fade away within months. Since I'm no expert on the subject, maybe some of you can help identify whether or not this is something I should worry about. Surely, I will be hiring a surveyor when I'm a bit further in the process, but it would be great if could get a bit more feeling about this already, since this subject could potentially be nothing to worry about, or at the other end of the spectrum a big red flag. Thanks for the help!

[Bill O]

Hard to tell from the photo, but my best guess would be it looks like oxalic acid bleaching, then didn't apply part B (sodium carbonate solution) to neutralize/even out the bleaching form the oxalic acid. Also it could be they let the oxalic acid soln dry on hot teak before rinsing/neutralizing, causing the uneven bleaching.

Yes it will probably fade in time or you'll want to go back and redo it if you purchase the boat. Not sure a surveyor will know exactly what treatment was done. Unsure why the owner/broker won't tell you how it was cleaned unless obviously they don't know. I'm sure they had someone come and clean the deck. Find who that was and give them a call.


Bill O.

[coopec43]

"The teak on out SO 379 model year 2012 is very blond and looks untreated. When I wash down the boat there is a yellow tint to the water. It appears that the coach roof teak grab rail is leeching something amber colored. I don't think there has been any oil applied but I'm not sure. Any ideas of how to stop this and what is causing it? The teak on the cockpit floors also rinses off with a yellow tint but not as severe as the grab rail. I'm concerned that with the winter rain coming soon I'll end up with a rather nasty looking yellow boat if the leeching continues

Read more: Teak care and maintainence | Jeanneau Owners Forum

Clive

[Bill O]

The darker "amber"/brownish color is typical from teak. Worked with a lot of teak, mahogany, camaru, ipe, etc. for boat projects. Seen blood red leach from mahogany w/an acid cleaner, but never seen real teak leach yellow.

I have seen Australian beech used for decking and it looks like teak, but obviously isn't.
You may want to try a simple trisodium phosphate (TSP) soln. as a cleaner instead of the 2 part oxalic acid/sodium carbonate cleaner in the deck wood. Usually works well on most woods, but try in a small non-conspicuous area before the whole deck. TSP powder/granuales is usually easy to find in hardware stores as general cleaner.

If we have more stubborn stains, we make our own teak cleaner w/sodium percarbonate (like a super Oxyclean), TSP and a nonionic surfactant. Typically 3.7g/L, 6.0g/L and a couple of drops of liquid dish soap respectively, mixed in hot water. Apply on teak, scrub and rinse. Usually we apply in a spray bottle and let it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing w/a scotch brite type pad, but don't let it dry out.


Bill O.

[sailor_ed]

It looks to me like the deck was treated with Semco teak sealer or other colored opaque treatment and it is wearing off. Sanding a small area will determine if the color is only on the surface in which case it will probably wear off over time or could be sanded off. Or the deck could be recoated.

[Cheechako]

It just looks like a deck that has been cleaned and not all the grey was removed, so some areas look "yellow" ish.. Even dishwashing soap will do that. That's a ton of teak to maintain, but it's not the stuff you need to varnish anyway. If you leave that for some time it will all be grey again. I cant tell from the photo but hopefully it's not attached with screws.
Indication of acid washing will often show grooves in the teak where the acid has eaten away the softer portions in the wood. Intense scrubbing will do the same thing. That appears pretty smooth... but not sure. Never use a brush, use scotch brite pads, sandpaper or similar if you must use anything. Once it's all returned to nice brown teak use only salt water on it often.
Better yet, do nothing at all to it. It's non skid.

[SofiaB]

Originally Posted by sailor_ed

It looks to me like the deck was treated with Semco teak sealer or other colored opaque treatment and it is wearing off. Sanding a small area will determine if the color is only on the surface in which case it will probably wear off over time or could be sanded off. Or the deck could be recoated.

I agree with Semco. Natural color Semco yellows like this and if so can be removed. Use Semco cleaner / brightener and then possibly go with another color. I use brown and it looks great (to me). Or, you could mix to lighten the color. I touch up the brown every six weeks to keep it looking new. Photo is after 3 seasons in the Great Lakes.

[LeeV]

Originally Posted by SofiaB

I agree with Semco. Natural color Semco yellows like this and if so can be removed. Use Semco cleaner / brightener and then possibly go with another color. I use brown and it looks great (to me). Or, you could mix to lighten the color. I touch up the brown every six weeks to keep it looking new. Photo is after 3 seasons in the Great Lakes. Attachment 179877Attachment 179878

Very nicely done! I love teak......on other people's boats, especially when they know what they're doing! :-)

[SofiaB]

If you like working on the teak then get it. If you don’t then...

[LeeV]

Originally Posted by SofiaB

If you like working on the teak then get it. If you don’t then...

That's why I said I admire it on other's boats. No slight either way, then...

[SofiaB]

Originally Posted by LeeV

That's why I said I admire it on other's boats. No slight either way, then...

Oh I get it. Often wish I didn’t get the teak. But I do love it in the cockpit. Semco makes it really easy though. Goes on with a rag and dries almost instantly. Takes 15 min to touch up and 2 hours to reapply completely. No masking also. Wipes right off the gel coat.

[csdjng]

Thanks all for your reply's; will look into the Semco version that could have caused the discoloration... The yellowish ain't my personal favorite, but than it appears that it is not much to worry about.

[David B]

Originally Posted by csdjng

Hi all, I'm in the process of purchasing a sailing yacht and made some sight visits during the past weeks. One of the options is a 50ft Dufour from 2009, which seems to be in a decent condition at first sight. However, one of my points of concern is its teakdeck. This shows signs of some sort of intens treatment after which it clearly shows yellow stains on it. I couldn't really understand what the deck was treated with exactly, but the owner ensured it was normal and this will fade away within months. Since I'm no expert on the subject, maybe some of you can help identify whether or not this is something I should worry about. Surely, I will be hiring a surveyor when I'm a bit further in the process, but it would be great if could get a bit more feeling about this already, since this subject could potentially be nothing to worry about, or at the other end of the spectrum a big red flag. Thanks for the help!

Without actually being there and checking personally, it looks from the photo to be a nice deck with a bit of care put into it the way it has been laid.

From the photo, it looks like it has been treated with Semco ('Natural Tone' from what I can see). As the treatment wears, the exposed teak starts to weather, and you get what you are seeing now.

If it was me, I would be checking for any caulking problems and bonding issues (teak to FRP deck) etc. That can all be fixed, but it should be factored into the price.

Once she is yours, I would re-treat with Semco Cleaner Part A (sodium hydroxide - it is tough on the timber, but you only do it once in many years), then Part B. You will be amazed at how good it looks once dry. Then if there is any excessive 'tramlining' (grooves from pressure washing or scrubbing the softer parts away), give those areas a light sand, dust off, and give the deck a good coat of Semco 'Natural Tone' sealer, then a couple of coats of Semco 'Clear Tone' sealer (the 'Natural Tone can build up colour too much if you just keep laying it on, and also your black caulking will start to adopt the colour of the teak).


You could as many do, leave it to weather grey, but the key is in that word 'weather'. We are not talking 1/2" or better planks these days, and leave it to weather, and that's exactly what happens - your already thin teak slowly washes overboard. Far better in my view to have the teak looking like a new deck (we still after seven years have people asking if it's a new boat), and just have the Semco wash away slowly, and be restored annually.


As to work, we use one of the empty cleaner bottles to squirt Semco around the deck then quickly spread with a decking pad. That part on a 50 ft mono takes about half an hour once a year (we use a winter cover in the off-season). The cutting in with a small brush is the fiddly bit, but still only an hour max. So with prep and clean-up, say two hours a year to have a deck that is 1. - looking like new, and 2. not wearing away, is in our view well worth while.

I hope that helps.

[Cartagena]

I am a specialist in wood and I export teak from Colombia and other hardwoods.
I see the wood that shows very natural, teak wood has very special properties that can withstand sun, water and salt.
If the wood is pure heart teak is preserved for many years, if the wood has sapwood and whites it is possible that it can be damaged by there, since it is the softest part and more susceptible to fungi and damages.
For now my recommendation is to just pour teak oil or some product that keeps the wood toned, natural.
I do not recommend painting it with because it drowns it and in the end those bright glazes are detached with the sun and water.
If you need teak I have a lot in Colombia and I can cut the pieces that you have damaged to measure.
many thanks
Pedro

[David B]

Originally Posted by MHParts

I am a specialist in wood and I export teak from Colombia and other hardwoods.
I see the wood that shows very natural, teak wood has very special properties that can withstand sun, water and salt.
If the wood is pure heart teak is preserved for many years, if the wood has sapwood and whites it is possible that it can be damaged by there, since it is the softest part and more susceptible to fungi and damages.
For now my recommendation is to just pour teak oil or some product that keeps the wood toned, natural.
I do not recommend painting it with because it drowns it and in the end those bright glazes are detached with the sun and water.
If you need teak I have a lot in Colombia and I can cut the pieces that you have damaged to measure.
many thanks
Pedro

A teak expert advocating protecting the teak. Excellent! We always say, it is a beautiful timber, but it is still timber and needs care and protection if it is to last - especially with the thin teak planking on modern boats. Nothing looks as nice (to us and many others anyway) as a nice teak deck - and it is very little work to keep it that way. Actually less work than keeping a white deck looking clean!