[Public-List] What finish to use on teak cockpit seats

[R Kirk]

Michael... Thanks for asking. I see Gordon beat me to it and already answered your question, and nicely at that. I can’t remember the teak being as thick as he said – it seemed only 1-2 inches thick to me at the edges, but that was long ago and maybe the Iowa’s teak had been holystoned a lot. I can remember watching (I was a super-lucky freshman midshipman and got out of that detail*) a gang of mids, shoulder to shoulder, each moving a boiler firebrick back and forth at the end of broomstick, in unison. They moved to the next board on signal from the boatswain. The deck glowed.
Interesting aside: Doctrine said that teak deck coverings were only for peacetime decoration and were to be removed for safety (splinters & fire) to bare steel deck in time of war. Nonetheless, when Vietnam later came along, the battleships that went there (USS NJ & ?)  kept their teak. Shows how much they were concerned about that war, I guess.... Bob
*I paid for it later - steel-wooling the bare steel main passageway "Broadway" in the engineering section on my hands & knees. Starting forward on Monday and reaching aft on Friday -by which time the forward end would start to rust  again.

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Connolly <crufone at comcast.net>
To: R Kirk <isobar at verizon.net>; public-list at lists.alberg30.org <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
Cc: greg at midnight-oil.us <greg at midnight-oil.us>
Sent: Tue, Feb 15, 2022 12:30 pm
Subject: Re: [Public-List] What finish to use on teak cockpit seats

  Mr. Kirk, 
   Iowa Class Battleships, honestly!  Very cool.  When I was studying these ships I was shocked that there was enough teak left in the world to deck them in teak. Do you have some idea of how thick it was and how it was attached to the steel underneath? Mastic?   Michael #133  
  On 02/15/2022 8:31 AM R Kirk <isobar at verizon.net> wrote:   
   
   
  I have known a number of people with teak decks and they either cleaned and left the teak raw(bright) or cleaned and used MoldArmour to keep them bright. I know you are not talking about decks here.    
  gg Of course, the right way to clean teak decks to a lustrous finish is to use an endless supply of sailors rubbing sand & seawater across the deck, in unison & rhythm, with holystones. Repeat weekly until the teak is worn enough to replace. (USS Iowa 1956 experience) 
 
 
  -----Original Message-----
From: Michael Connolly via Public-List <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
To: Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
Cc: Michael Connolly <crufone at comcast.net>; Greg Roberts <greg at midnight-oil.us>
Sent: Mon, Feb 14, 2022 10:17 pm
Subject: Re: [Public-List] What finish to use on teak cockpit seats

  Greg, 
I have known a number of people with teak decks and they either cleaned and left the teak raw(bright) or cleaned and used MoldArmour to keep them bright. I know you are not talking about decks here.  Steve has a point, Teak oil if used (sparingly) will saturate the teak and bring out the tone.  Too much teak oil and you end up with basically an oil finish which looses its non-skid effect. Oil finishes are much easier to care for than full blown bright varnish. Teak oil is an oil finish and will support mold growth, esp in the southern climes.  My experience is with sweet water boats.  Salt water southern climes are another story entirely. 
 
I would strongly caution you and head in a new direction only after you have throughly investigated what is best for the climate where you normally sail. Also remember KISS = Keep it simple stupid.  Whatever you add to your teak you are adding to its maintenance = less time enjoying sailing on the water.  Personally I liked the Herreshoff design with all the teak treated with Mould Armour.  This guy was from Chicago, IL and applied the Mould Armopur once a season ....like in May and I saw his boat in late August and it looked like he had just cleaned the bright (raw) Teak.  I questioned him extensively and he had been doing this process for the past ten years with very nice results and not much labor to boot. 
 
How often do you clean your teak?  My Dad had a CC Constellation with teak decks. He cleaned them two or three times a season.  He purchased the boat in 1967 and sold it in 1976 and the decks looked the same when he sold it as when he bought it. Again this was a Great Lakes boat. Greg what you have now.... raw Teak is the simplest for maintenance you can get. 
 
Good luck, 
Let the group know what you try and what results you get. 
Michael #133 
> On 02/14/2022 12:12 PM Greg Roberts via Public-List <public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote: 
> 
>  
> Hi Folks, 
> I have solid teak seats/lazarette hatches that I've left raw for 
> non-skid reasons. What, if any finish have folks used that doesn't 
> create a slick surface when wet? I'd like them to look better but 
> safety first... 
> Regards, 
> Greg 
> Ayla 
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