Good intentions, poor execution.

I stored my boat at a family friend's cottage for a couple weeks and with good intentions they used a little extra wood sealer/varnish from the dock to seal my swim platform!!! Apparently they don't know about not sealing teak! This is nasty, oil-based, thick sealer. Can I chemically strip it or will that wreck the teak?

They tried to do me a favor, so I can't fault them, but I'd never, ever seal my platform! Good intentions, but poor execution.

sorry to hear that but man you never mess with someone else's boat unless they tell you too. Not sure on the striping if it would hurt it or not, maybe having it sanded down would be better. I know where I'm from there is a shop that has a large thickness sander that my buddy used on his platform but the damage might all ready be done and there might not be any way to save it hopefully there is.

Joel, Get it off the boat and then use whatever paint and varnish remover with take off the coating. Don't worry about hurting the teak. You won't. Pressure wash it, let it dry, use a teak cleaner/britener on it and then a non organic teak oil. It will look better than new!

Chuck, What is your concern with a methyline cloride based stripper like Bix or Zip Strip? Just wondering because I have done my fair share of stripping and have yet to find anything that works as good.

Pete (imho),

I helped my son start a deck cleaning business to work his way through college. Deck strippers are very effective, cheaper, biodegradable, and less caustic than methylene chlorides (although you still need to cover skin and eyes). They help lift off oil or water based stains, although a pressure washer greatly aids the process. Deck strippers are specifically designed to remove these products on exterior wood surfaces without damaging the wood.

Methylene chlorides would be needed for varnishes and oil or acrylic based paints, which I don't think is an issue here. I'm not saying Bix would not work, just that there are other products that are available.

Chuck

It's some sort of sealer/varnish. I got a glance at the can, which said sealer, but the surface is glossy and thick. A bit oily to the touch, so it feels different than a straight varnish or polyurethane-style coating. Deck sealers are certainly not my area of expertise.

jbear wrote: When is it gonna be "between 70 & 90" there again Chuck......June? john

I'll have you know Mr. Florida that the weather is perfect today. 80 degrees, the lake is like glass right now--unfortunately I'm not on it. The Royals also won this afternoon, breaking a long losing streak-again.

In the mornings there's just enough briskness to the air to put a jump in your step and the lining in your motorcycle jacket.

Chuck

[QUOTE=8122pbrainard] Thanks Chuck. I'm used to stripping.
I'm so ashamed Pete,you make it too easy

Not a big fan of pressure washing any wood.

From marine store

How NOT to clean teak...
"With a powerwasher - Powerwashers just blast away dirt and expose raw wood. Not only is this rough on your teak, it also doesn't kill the mold and mildew spores in the wood."

I know you are not dealing with the "mold and mildew spores in the wood", but still - pressure washing beats the hell out of the wood. Use a chemical stripper designed to remove whatever your "helpful" friends applied.

Let me be the first to state that I'm no expert, but I do have a little experience with teak. Not to disparage any of the suggestions, but some seem to sort of fit with one of my sig lines.

Oh, and as far as I know, Amelia Earhart never cleaned a swim platform.

Mike

John,

I remember that you introduced yourself because of that sig line when I was a newbie. Thanks to you and all the board members who have helped me out since.

I have not sent the trans out yet - it still works fine in forward and there are a couple weekends left so I'm going to push it as long as I can. Based on the magic I have seen come out of Ohio, I figure I may as well bring the entire boat to Eric. I'll leave him a credit card and a promise to give him my first born. Hopefully that will have me back on the water come April (just kidding Eric!).

BTW, we need more women with the spirit of AE, glad I found one.

Thanks,
Mike

ps - M3Fan, my humblest apologies for the threadjack

Just to follow up on this- I finally stripped of this finish today. Used Ace brand paint stripper. Applied it, waited 15 minutes, and the finish came off in ribbons with a plastic scraper. Ribbons. Went through 2 rounds of that, then cleaned up with mineral spirits, let dry, and hit it with 60 grit and then 150 grit with the orbital. Looks great now.