Removing Sikkens

[Tmacmi]

We recently purchased a Beneteau 331. It has teak inserts on the cockpit bench seat tops.

The previous owner faithfully applied sikkens year after year to the point that you can't see the grain and it is as slippery as a playground plastic slide.

I would like to remove it. I'd like any suggestions.

One issue is that they have overpaint on the rubberized dividers between the planks. Suggestions on how to deal with that are also appreciated.

[Orion Jim]

Your best bet would be judicious use of a heat gun and a scraper to remove the old finish. Be very careful with the heat gun or you will soften the mastic which holds your teak to the fiberglass surface and it will lift from the surface.