Wood has a splotch?

[dmksails]

Last year I removed all the varnish from the wood on my boat. Now that it’s been dry for weeks I’m getting ready to start varnishing - except I’ve got this. It isn’t wet and last month it wasn’t there. Any idea what might be happening here?

[capt jgw]

If that's teak it could be the natural oil leaching out, but I don't know why it would be just that spot. Try a good acetone wipe and see if it clears up. You should do that before varnishing teak anyway, it let's the first coat soak in better.

[Jammer]

Salt? Oil? Coffee? Who knows. Could try distilled water. Could try acetone (using care as it's extremely flammable). The varnish may cover it up, too.

[dmksails]

Tried acetone - didn’t have any effect. Light sanding did make it lighter. Guess I’ll try teak cleaner next. Trying not to sand - there’s not much wood left!

[Ryban]

Can you see the splotch when you wet the teak with water? If not, then you won't be able to see it when he's varnished either.

[JPA Cate]

To me, it looks like water in there, that has wicked up through the teak from the join below it. If you set up a heater to blow on it, and it looks like going away, that would support the idea. Anywhere further along forward from there, where water could get in might be where it's coming from. Perhaps it has been dewy of a morning? Can you put your tongue on it? If it is salty, it probably IS water intrusion. I don't think you want to varnish over it if water's getting in, and I think you'll need to locate the source and fix that, first.

When you sanded it, and it got lighter there, did the sandpaper clog? If it is water wicking, I wouldn't think the wood would look lighter when sanded, so maybe it isn't water, and if it's teak oil, what you would do is like Jammer said, sand lightly, wipe with acetone and varnish over it, and it will look nice.

Ann