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Covers Protecting Exterior Teak

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3442 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/11/2016 : 04:55:47

First, let me say that the "Search" function on the forum is alive and well. I was looking for an old posting of one of the projects I put on the backburner. I found it by clicking on archives in the search function and have it listed below.

I have always noted that while my tiller has what I suspect is the original varnish on it and is in relatively good shape since the beginning of time, all other exterior teak I maintain with Cetol and thru the years, it now has quite a few areas where I had to scrape away/sand out flaked areas and so while the teak rails/companionway boards are all pretty much protected and look fairly decent, the areas where there were flakes, though resealed, are noticeable and takes away cosmetically from a nice pristine smooth finish. Then each year, I scrape out the new flakes and reseal all the wood.

A totally unrelated minor project has coincidentally brought to the front burner, my 2012 past posting thoughts to make sunbrella covers for exterior wood similar to what protects the tiller all these years with no re-varnishing. I have had for many years replaced the life ring with a "Life-Sling". Any with one f those that was furnished with the white fabric bag will or have found out that the UV rays evenetually deteriorate the top and some of the side of the bag and it costs about $49 to replace the bag with same fabric and more costly if with a sunbrella bag or astronomical with the fiberglas/plastic bag. I decided to buy some sunbrella and with snaps I installed, I now have covered up the UV deteriorated top and side panel of the bag with a sunbrella cover to help preserve the bag a few more years (though the top is already very deteriorated). In buying the sunbrella (by the yard and only needing a ~ 10" x 14" piece) I decided to buy a few yards of matl....thinking about that 2012 backburner project for protecting most teak.

So....Life sling cover installed and I have now taken companionway, etc dimensions. I now have bought the SS snaps and also a snap tool to make it easier to install multi-snaps. My first task will be to make a companionway sunbrella cover and install the snaps to match snaps that my Cat 25 already has installed (that's the way it came when I bought the boat) on perimeter of the companionway and below the grab rails (probably to install one of those cabin covers when the cabin top is in the raised position).

Plan is that after I start making progress with the covers, I will then strip the Cetol off the companionway boards, first, then decide if I use a more durable varnish, sealer or go with teak oil. Then I will start on covers for the rails and/or combine with replacing some with CDs plastic ones.

I'll report out on my progress but I have no plans to complete this for the early season. I may take my time and enjoy sailing and finish the project perhaps this summer.

Below is original 2012 posting (but did not copy entire posting thread. The posting is in the archives and apparently cannot migrate it easily since it is now a dead posting from eons ago.

_2012 Posting_____ ____ ___

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2862 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/05/2012 : 04:05:49 Show Profile Email Poster Visit OLarryR's Homepage

I have now for 7 years been using Cetol on my exterior wood. I have been mostly satisfied going this route as it seems the best balance between keeping the wood in relatively good appearance with minimal periodic effort to maintain it. Thru the years, I have had a few areas go bare from the Cetol chipping off or wearing away. My annual/semi-annual 1-2 coat maintaining has resulted in some of those areas appearing lighter and so my exterior wood is now not a completely uniform single wood tone but has some lighter areas. I probably will need to strip the wood completely and start again or just live with it as it appears right now...It is better than bare wood but just not a uniform wood tone.

In contrast, my tiller is probably the original with the boat and has the original varnish on it which has held up in excellent like new condition all these years because it has always had a Sunbrella cover on it.

So...I have been thinking about a potentially new project to buy some Sunbrella from Sailrite and make a covering utilizing the snaps on my cabin top that are probably there for fitting cover on when the pop top is up. I could use those snaps to hold a custom made Sunbrella cover that would mostly cover all the exterior wood. The snaps are just inward on the cabin top from the wood rails but if I utilized a Sunbrella cover with snaps, the cover could have flaps with small weights to hold down the flaps in case of wind and that would extend the cover down the sides of the cabin top to not only cover the rails but the 8 foot long thin wood strips below the rails.

If the exterior wood is covered, my thought is that I could then entertain using varnish, Cetol or maybe even teak oil on the exterior wood and still have relatively low maintenance if a cover protects the wood.

Any of you covering your wood ? How are you treating yuor wood and how well does it hold up thru the years ?

By the way, one impetus for this is that I may replace my 8 foot long wood strips since catalina Direct sells replacements and I have one that is worn from underneath due to the last 3 screws not holding any longer and the wood strip sticks out about 1/4" letting weather conditions deteriorate the underside of the wood. I need to remove the wood strip and epoxy the screw holes and at very least recondition, rebed/re-install the old strip. But I may replace the wood strips and if I do, that would be the time to install a cover to protect the new wood..and old wood hatch slides and the hand hold rails as well.

Larry
'89 Robin's Nest#5820, Potomac River/Wash DC http://catalina25.homestead.com/olarryr.html

Edited by - OLarryR on 06/05/2012 04:08:39

Larry
'89 Robin's Nest#5820, Potomac River/Quantico, Va
http://catalina25.homestead.com/olarryr.html

DavidBuoy
Admiral

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USA
707 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2016 : 05:52:06

Trying to make a few of the covers for production, eat away at the cost?

I think what would be nice is a cover that covers the companionway and all the wood on top. Would snap in where the pop-top covers snap. Protect all the wood and help slow any water intrusion. Maybe design it with a spine to help shed water.

Oh Shoot! Just read further. Looks like you might be doing that.

Captain Rob & Admiral Alyson
"David Buoy"-1985 C25 SK/SR #5053

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5896 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2016 : 05:59:08

Thanks for the reminder. I need to make new grab rail covers, and had forgotten about it. They're very easy to make, and keep grab rails looking nice for years. I'll do it today!

Steve Milby J/24 "Captiva Wind"
previously C&C 35, Cal 25, C25 TR/FK, C22
Past Commodore

DavidBuoy
Admiral

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USA
707 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2016 : 06:04:23

quote:
Originally posted by Steve Milby

Thanks for the reminder. I need to make new grab rail covers, and had forgotten about it. They're very easy to make, and keep grab rails looking nice for years. I'll do it today!

Hop to it Steve!

Sounds like your doing better, good to hear. Let me know if you want to go win some races this year!

Captain Rob & Admiral Alyson
"David Buoy"-1985 C25 SK/SR #5053

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5896 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2016 : 06:38:43

quote:
Originally posted by DavidBuoy

Sounds like your doing better, good to hear. Let me know if you want to go win some races this year!

Best I've felt in 2-3 years! The docs found the problem and fixed it. Damn right I want to win some races! I got a new North racing 155 for the Cal 25, am giving her a fresh bottom job this spring, got her rig tuned right last year, and am hoping for a good season!

Steve Milby J/24 "Captiva Wind"
previously C&C 35, Cal 25, C25 TR/FK, C22
Past Commodore

Edited by - Steve Milby on 03/11/2016 06:39:43

sethp001
Mainsheet C-25 Tech Editor

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814 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2016 : 20:07:53

quote:
Originally posted by OLarryR

First, let me say that the "Search" function on the forum is alive and well. I was looking for an old posting of one of the projects I put on the backburner. I found it by clicking on archives in the search function and have it listed below.

While I'm glad that the search function on the forum is working for you, search is not "alive and well". If it doesn't work reliably with Safari, Chrome, and Firefox on Mac, nor Safari on IOS, nor on IE11 on Windows 7, "half dead" is a more apt description.

Someone at the association should look into this ongoing problem.

Seth
"Outlier" 1987 Catalina 25 SR/SK/Traditional Interior #5541
"Zoo" 1977 Morgan Out Island 30
"Nomad" 1980 Prindle 16
"Lost" 1988 Catalina Capri 14.2 (sold - yay!)
"Marine Tex 1" Unknown Origin POS 8' Fiberglass Dinghy
https://whichsailboat.com/2014/07/27/catalina-25-review/

Edited by - sethp001 on 03/17/2016 20:12:38

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5358 Posts

Response Posted - 03/20/2016 : 09:34:36

Going back to the wood question, I like the idea of a sunbrella cover for the cabin-top, if anyone has a design I'd love to send it to Defender to allow them to fabricate one for me.
Regarding re-doing the teak with Cetol, I plan to remove the companionway hatch boards, the hand rails and the oval scupper trim to retreat. The eyebrows, the hatch slider boards and the companionway trim and bridge will not come off so easy, so I'm tempted to treat them in place. Plenty of masking tape and Vaseline (I hope) should prevent staining...
A friend said I can prep the wood using a scotchbrite pad, and I don't have to sand the finish off entirely and restore.
Am I dreaming???

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

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