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Post by Zanshin on Aug 16, 2021 16:29:16 GMT
I have always kept my teak decks and teak table as natural as possible. Cleaning with dish soap on occasion, a very dilute acid when I really wanted to get rid of grey and get some gold and once I had to sand my table because of wear. I cleaned my decks with liquid dishwater soap and dilute acid in the last couple of days, using the lengthy and heavy rain to wash everything away. I used a cloth and very little pressure to scrub across the grain so I wouldn't remove too much wood. The result looks like this: This is perfect for me as I don't need megayacht golden smooth nor do I want tired-grey. But my cockpit table (here an older picture): is a different story. I've kept it natural as well but I am afraid to really use the table for food or other items that may potentially stain the top. Particularly food - a drop of fat from a steak or burger or salad, even a short contact with Parmesan or soft cheese and I've got an unsightly blemish that is very hard to get rid of. So I am debating using an application of teak oil or going whole-hog and varnishing the table (and the leaves, of course). I guess that added seasonal maintenance is going to be a small price to pay for getting a cockpit table that I won't be afraid to use. I'm open to recommendations or suggestions or comments while I decide which route to go. I'm currently in St. Lucia and there are a number of expert freelancers here at the docks who will do any work very cheaply and professionally - it is a good opportunity as I'm going to stay here for a while longer.
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Post by Tafika II on Aug 16, 2021 17:31:21 GMT
We keep our table varnish with about 6 coats of Epifanes Clear Varnish. While I do sand it between coats, you don't have to if you apply the next coat within 24 hours. Out table is covered when not in use, so it does not see a lot of direct UV from the sun.
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Post by rxc on Aug 16, 2021 18:55:48 GMT
I stripped and revarnished my table about 6 years ago, and it has held up pretty well, but it is now time to re-do it. I also keep it covered, and it looks much better with the varnish. As a comparison, I also varnished the wooden strips along the top of the main sliding hatch, and the doors for the hatch about 3 years ago. The hatch is normally covered, but the wooden strips are not, and the strips definitely need to be redone, while the doors are in great shape. A simple cover really saves the varnish.
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Post by zaphod on Aug 16, 2021 19:32:35 GMT
I think a nicely varnished table looks great. Oiled teak looks good too, but it is much more prone to staining. I spilled red wine on my table and it just wiped right off. Not sure it would be that simple with oiled teak. Once there are a good number of coats of varnish there really isn't that much annual maintenance as long as you keep it covered when not in use.
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Post by MartyB on Aug 17, 2021 0:35:35 GMT
Get a cover and varnish.
As noted, I keep my tiller, and some handrails varnished too. Even here in Salish Sea, ie Puget sound for me. I need to redo every 2-3 years or so keeping uncovered.
Marty
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Post by NZL50505 on Aug 17, 2021 1:30:48 GMT
I have always kept my teak decks and teak table as natural as possible. Cleaning with dish soap on occasion, a very dilute acid when I really wanted to get rid of grey and get some gold and once I had to sand my table because of wear. I cleaned my decks with liquid dishwater soap and dilute acid in the last couple of days, using the lengthy and heavy rain to wash everything away. I used a cloth and very little pressure to scrub across the grain so I wouldn't remove too much wood. The result looks like this: This is perfect for me as I don't need megayacht golden smooth nor do I want tired-grey. But my cockpit table (here an older picture): is a different story. I've kept it natural as well but I am afraid to really use the table for food or other items that may potentially stain the top. Particularly food - a drop of fat from a steak or burger or salad, even a short contact with Parmesan or soft cheese and I've got an unsightly blemish that is very hard to get rid of. So I am debating using an application of teak oil or going whole-hog and varnishing the table (and the leaves, of course). I guess that added seasonal maintenance is going to be a small price to pay for getting a cockpit table that I won't be afraid to use. I'm open to recommendations or suggestions or comments while I decide which route to go. I'm currently in St. Lucia and there are a number of expert freelancers here at the docks who will do any work very cheaply and professionally - it is a good opportunity as I'm going to stay here for a while longer. Your cockpit table looks perfect as-is - don’t touch it! Crack another beer and relax…
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Post by sailingabe41ds on Aug 17, 2021 2:38:29 GMT
I do the same thing as you do for the cockpit teak....slight acid and Dawn detergent for oily food stains when it gets bad. However, I keep the table varnished for the same reasons you mentioned to prevent food and crap stains on it and it is easy to wipe off. We also use those sticky matts with little squares on it (non adhesive shelf liners) to prevent things from sliding and protect the wood.
Abe
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Post by jy51 on Aug 17, 2021 12:18:39 GMT
For this very reason I chose not to have teak on the cockpit table of my JY51.
However, natural teak is a silvery colour and can only look clean by killing off the black algae that grows within its open grain, I found Boracol to be most effective in keeping teak looking natural. Colorants that add a yellow do more harm as they burn the grain.
The real issue here is grease, and only constant washing with detergent can counteract the problem.
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Post by Zanshin on Aug 17, 2021 12:36:19 GMT
I agree that my only motivation to varnish (or oil) the table is because of grease and other contaminants. Here in St. Lucia there are some very good varnishers who are currently working on the boat next to mine who can do an excellent job at a very good price and that is why I'm contemplating it.
So far nobody has recommended oiling - it seems that varnishing is the way to go. When I'm aboard the table is under a bimini and only gets indirect tropical sunshine, and during storage I've got a Sunbrella cover so I hope that UV won't do too much damage.
Is it worth varnishing the 2 folding table wings? I don't use them all that often, perhaps only varnishing the cockpit table top and oiling the two wings might be sufficient.
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mdrsail
Full Member
Posts: 43
Jeanneau Model: 2008 39i
Yacht Name: Grace
Home Port: MDR
Country: USA
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Post by mdrsail on Aug 17, 2021 16:28:05 GMT
The two leafs unscrew easily. You can hand them off to the guys next door and have them done rather cheaply. I concur with others- varnish and cover.
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Post by Zanshin on Aug 17, 2021 17:10:46 GMT
I just looked at the work done next door and it is excellent, the guy doing it ("Friend") has been doing this for 30 years and also worked on various Herreshoff yachts in the USA so he definitely does know what he is doing. He just looked at my table and sees no great problem - they will finish next door in a couple of days and then make me an offer. I'm sure it will be acceptable. I'll do the table and leaves.
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Post by Charlie-Bravo on Aug 17, 2021 20:44:13 GMT
Danish oil is quite good, but for external wood the varnish will protect and last a lot longer, french polishing is best left to indoor woodwork in my experience. CB
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Post by johannes on Aug 19, 2021 8:19:20 GMT
I have always kept my teak decks and teak table as natural as possible. Cleaning with dish soap on occasion, a very dilute acid when I really wanted to get rid of grey and get some gold and once I had to sand my table because of wear. I cleaned my decks with liquid dishwater soap and dilute acid in the last couple of days, using the lengthy and heavy rain to wash everything away. I used a cloth and very little pressure to scrub across the grain so I wouldn't remove too much wood. The result looks like this: This is perfect for me as I don't need megayacht golden smooth nor do I want tired-grey. But my cockpit table (here an older picture): is a different story. I've kept it natural as well but I am afraid to really use the table for food or other items that may potentially stain the top. Particularly food - a drop of fat from a steak or burger or salad, even a short contact with Parmesan or soft cheese and I've got an unsightly blemish that is very hard to get rid of. So I am debating using an application of teak oil or going whole-hog and varnishing the table (and the leaves, of course). I guess that added seasonal maintenance is going to be a small price to pay for getting a cockpit table that I won't be afraid to use. I'm open to recommendations or suggestions or comments while I decide which route to go. I'm currently in St. Lucia and there are a number of expert freelancers here at the docks who will do any work very cheaply and professionally - it is a good opportunity as I'm going to stay here for a while longer. Your cockpit table looks perfect as-is - don’t touch it! Crack another beer and relax… +1
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Post by Zanshin on Aug 19, 2021 16:50:46 GMT
That was the table after I'd cleaned it. As soon as I put down a glass water or wine or beer and eat a steak or even just a sandwich it gets stained. I just don't have any pictures of what it usually looks like. This boat is my home 6 months of each year and I spend most of my time in the cockpit, so that table sees some use.
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Post by NZL50505 on Aug 19, 2021 23:46:17 GMT
That was the table after I'd cleaned it. As soon as I put down a glass water or wine or beer and eat a steak or even just a sandwich it gets stained. I just don't have any pictures of what it usually looks like. This boat is my home 6 months of each year and I spend most of my time in the cockpit, so that table sees some use. All the more reason not to fuss it in my view! I had a glossy cockpit table once before and I got fed up with everything sliding off it so easily (plates, glasses, mugs, phones, binos etc) in the slightest roll. Meaning I always had to get rubber anti-slip mats out. Which inevitably get wet or blown off. Hence I went back to the natural ‘well used’ look which has more natural grip than high gloss and I’m also less precious about people plonking anything down on it from wine glasses to toolboxes.
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Post by horton44 on Aug 22, 2021 22:36:56 GMT
I have tried gloss varnish and oil. I now build a good coating of Epifanes multi coat gloss (no sanding between coats - up to five are OK) - about ten coats in all , then two coats of the Epifanes rubbed finish. Let it sit for a few weeks to harden, and then burnish it back with 350, 600 wet, then rottenstone and finally wax. The final burnishing only takes a few hours. The nice thing about a burnished finish is that it gets rid of the inevitable minor imperfections in a gloss coat, and is also slightly less slippery. Goes without saying that a cover will keep it in great shape for several years.
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Post by Zanshin on Aug 23, 2021 10:34:53 GMT
The weather here has been very rainy and windy, so the varnish guys haven't come by to give me a quote and begin work. I had to look up rottenstone, I hadn't heard that term before.
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Post by loredo on Aug 23, 2021 13:15:05 GMT
I've owned the new to me J57 for a few months now.
I'm starting to doubt that the cockpit table is even teak!?! I mean to say, I've owned other boats with un-varnished teak tables. I could put a bottle of cold water on them without leaving stains. The J57 table is a whole different beast! Washed, cleaned, decent looking, put a few drops of water on it and there you go with them stains. HUH???
What kind of teak is this???
For me, no doubt, I'll varnish it ASAP. Once the more important things on the to do list are finished...
Loredo
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Post by Tafika II on Aug 23, 2021 15:05:55 GMT
To Horton44...After you use the rottenstone and wax, does this yield a high gloss finish?
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Post by Zanshin on Aug 23, 2021 16:05:13 GMT
I've owned the new to me J57 for a few months now.
I'm starting to doubt that the cockpit table is even teak!?!... What kind of teak is this??? For me, no doubt, I'll varnish it ASAP. Once the more important things on the to do list are finished... Loredo
The table is solid teak, as are the 2 collapsible leaves. But the 2 hinged covers only have a thin veneer of teak covering and won't take any sanding at all before showing the ply underneath! Those two have been replaced on my boat already and you should think about doing that as well before varnishing. I just got a quote - all prep work, materials, minimum of 8 layers of Epifanes and they will do the teak enclosure at the aft section of the table which holds binoculars and other items as well. US$2000 and minimum 10 days of work assuming the weather plays along. I've seen the work that these guys finished on the boat next to mine and it is very good, so I think that is a fair price.
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Post by Zanshin on Sept 6, 2021 22:19:31 GMT
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Post by NZL50505 on Sept 7, 2021 0:29:14 GMT
You have deserted the ‘authentic look’ cause and said goodbye to the relaxed cruising lifestyle! You are now destined to a life of continuous varnishing & sanding interspersed with sliding wine glasses and suspicious new scratches. There will be no coming back from this… 😊
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Post by Zanshin on Sept 7, 2021 10:12:51 GMT
How right you are - this is my first foray into varnished wood on board and I've resigned myself to doing some varnish work every 6 months or so; hopefully no more often than that...
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Post by Zanshin on Sept 27, 2021 17:04:55 GMT
I finally put the table back together yesterday. 10 coats of varnish on everything, including both sides of the table leaves and lids. It took the 2 workers about a month of work in total (they weren't being paid by the hour, so they took their time and worked about 5 hours or so each day).
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Post by Charlie-Bravo on Sept 27, 2021 20:23:10 GMT
Best eat off a tray on your lap from now on, table is far too nice to use !
CB
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