Teak Platform

I live in southeast Ohio right on the Ohio river. My wife and I own a really sweet 1986 2001. The plat form really needs to be completly refinished. I do not have the place,time,nor tools to tackle this task. Does anyone know of a service fairly close that performs this service. Thanks in advance...

Like Chris said, this is a real easy job. Mine was really bad when I got it. I hit it lightly with 60 grit sand paper first to get the crap off, you don't need to sand it smooth, you want to leave the grain open so it will soak up a lot of oil. I used a combination of laundry detergent and TSP and mixed it into a paste and then scrubbed it in with a stiff brush then rinsed it completely and let it dry in the sun. I used the Starbrite teak oil and applied it until it wouldn't soak in anymore. Now I just keep applying oil when it is starting to look dry.

Mine was really bad too. Had moss and other crud on it.
I used a light nozzle on my pressure washer and it really cleaned up nicely.
I removed the platform and was able to do the top, bottom, and all sides.
Then as Randy stated.. oiled it until it would absorb no more. They really look nice when cleaned and oiled.

Carl, Refinishing the teak as mentioned isn't hard. You are not refinishing a grand piano or a 30's Garwood here! The term "refinishing" is misleading. You are cleaning and reoiling the wood! Go with the 3 step and follow the directions. Removing the teak from the boat/brackets does make it easier.

Looks like I need to give it a try, thanks for the help. Great site,great people,as always....

8122pbrainard wrote: Carl, Refinishing the teak as mentioned isn't hard. You are not refinishing a grand piano or a 30's Garwood here! The term "refinishing" is misleading. You are cleaning and reoiling the wood! Go with the 3 step and follow the directions. Removing the teak from the boat/brackets does make it easier.

Pete, Question for you, I just "refinished" mine with the 3 step Starbrite products last week. Cleaned up nicely, then used the brightener, let it dri for a few days and oiled 3 times over 3 consecutive days. I actually did the clean and brighten steps twice. Looked awesome. Used the boat last saturday and sunday and every last drop of oil is gone from the teak. Looks like it did after the brightening. It had sat for about 3 days before putting it in the water. So I re-oiled it and it looks fine again but I bet it will leach off again this weekend.

This is not the first time I've done this and my oil never seems to last. I use Maguires Gold so it's not cheap oil. Have you ever heard of anyone cutting their oil to thin it so it soaks in better, I heard to do that on the first coat but what would you cut it with?

Alan, I know exactly what you are talking about! The old teak oils were pretty much nothing but Tung oil and they would last at least a summer. The big problem is they being a organic, they support the black mold growth and then required lots of aggresive cleaning. The newer teak oil products are oil blends and usually will state they don't support the mold growth but you're correct they seem to only last a couple weeks. Our swim platforms being in the water so much seem to wash it right off. It's a tough application! I haven't tried any of the "coatings" for teak yet because I'm leary of them sticking! (we've all seen the results of someone trying to varnish a platform) I'm for now sticking with the new oils and coating it on a more frequent basis. I feel it's the easier way than having to go through the PITA process of getting the black mold out of the teak pores.

A couple months ago, someone posted they were going to try Teak-Gaurd (a coating) but don't recall seeing a follow up on the results.

8122pbrainard wrote: Alan, .

Thanks Pete, I don't mind reaplying it, just thought I was doing something wrong. I did the platform just before GL and by the end of the week there it was trashed.

OM45GE wrote: It doesn't take but a few minutes to recoat it.

I understand that and recoat my platform everyweek, I was just asking if there was a better product to use or something to cut the oil with.

Alan,

I think you saw my platform. I use Amazon gold. Once I've cleaned it, I put on a coat every day for at least 4 days. Then, I'll touch up if someone scraps it. My cover also goes over the platform. I get about two seasons from a thorough clean and oil.

BKH

my mooring cover covers the platform most likely just like BK's.

I use boiled linseed oil cut about 50% with mineral spirits so it soaks in better. Really worked well on my steps. Im putting on a swim deck now and will coat it the same way. I read that most teak oils are linseed oils thinned down. Ive had really good luck with this over the years on wood truck bed floors, teak on different boats, etc.. I really like the dark color it brings up as well.