Perfect timing for this "religious" discussion of varnish / cetol / oil etc
etc... I just took the full canvas cover off my Baba 30 for the season,
and I need to do *something* with the teak where the varnish if flaking off.

My teak was all beautifully done with Interlux Schooner varnish when I
acquired it in 2000, and I've spent a moderate amount of time over the last
6 years trying to maintain. I have lost the battle, mostly due to the fact
that I haven't had the time to do it myself, or the money to pay someone to
do it. (Philosophically, I do all the work myself on my boat...) Now it's
time to start the battle all over again, with a slightly renewed strategy.
My experience from the first several years living on the boat was that
varnishing is a way of life. During the summer, you have to take every
opportunity the weather gives you, to get a coat in before you go to work,
during your lunch hour, right after work, on the weekends... Blue tape,
cans of varnish, tack cloth, sand paper, and teardrop scraper (my personal
favorite) are all just an arm's reach away. :)

My new strategy will be to only varnish what I have canvas covers for, in
addition I will maintain the varnish on the bowsprit and the belay pins.
The pinrails, toerail, eyebrow, and exterior gunnel will all be getting
stripped to bare teak, and then either oiled or coated with cetol. I've
used oil over the last year on the pinrails and cockpit footwell grates, and
have been happy with the results.

I've had several close calls almost slipping on a wet toerail where I could
have been seriously injured. A varnished surface wet with water might as
well be ice when stepping on it.

Obviously much of this discussion comes down to personal taste. I imagine
I'll have stronger opinions after I maintain the teak for another 6 years!

Fairwinds,

Ken Pearce
s/v Shantih, Baba-30
Bellingham, WA

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Received on Mon Apr 17 15:23:38 2006