Teak cockpit table maintenance

[silvercreek]

Is there a better brand of Teak cleaner/Teak oil than Starbrite? Or is that going to be the best bet for regular maintenance of a teak cockpit table that you don’t want to let weather and go grey? I have a nice cockpit table I want to keep looking “new” as long as possible. Don’t mind spending more for a better product, if there is one.

[psk125]

Ours is varnished.

[shimari]

I love Semco cleaner and natural sealer.

https://semcoteakproducts.com/semco_products.htm

The cleaner does an amazing job!

[Jon Hacking]

Our cockpit table turned out to be teak-faced plywood in the middle, with a good inch of laminated teak strips around the outside. But water leaked past the teak veneer & started rotting out the plywood underneath.

During an extended refit in Phuket, Thailand, our carpenter carefully routed out the plywood on one side & fitted in some nice thick teak planks. Then he repeated that on the other side, & again for both sides of the folding section. When he was done, he was justly proud of his work, & asked us how we wanted it finished.

After chasing outdoor varnish for 8 years on our previous boat in the 80s, we now have a rule that we don't have outside varnish, as it's too much work.

He replied, "NO. It WILL be varnished!" (We learned then that some workers can't really be directed, only guided)

So we eventually settled on sanding it very smooth (of course) & then coating the teak with epoxy. After light sanding & carefully washing all of the amine off, we then sprayed it with 3-4 layers of 2-part polyurethane varnish, & then a final sprayed coat of 3-part(!) AwlGrip clear [something].

So it looks lovely, but we had to knit it a Sunbrela cover, which comes off (& goes back on) easily when we want to use it. We also tend to use a table-cloth, or at least place-mats, to protect the finish.

This has allowed us to (technically) have some outside varnish while not really having to maintain it, as we haven't needed to do anything to it in over 8 years.

[David B]

Originally Posted by silvercreek

Is there a better brand of Teak cleaner/Teak oil than Starbrite? Or is that going to be the best bet for regular maintenance of a teak cockpit table that you don’t want to let weather and go grey? I have a nice cockpit table I want to keep looking “new” as long as possible. Don’t mind spending more for a better product, if there is one.

Semco 'Natural Tone' Teak Treatment.
Clean first with their two-part cleaner and brightener, then sand when fully dry.

If you want a more 'varnished' look without varnish, then Cetol Marine.

[David B]

Originally Posted by shimari

I love Semco cleaner and natural sealer.

https://semcoteakproducts.com/semco_products.htm

The cleaner does an amazing job!

It does indeed!