Most of us have a soft spot for those classic beauties trimmed with teak decks and wood coamings, toerails, and tillers. They evoke romantic ideas of riding wind, water, and wave-a visceral attraction that no nonskid deck or aluminum toerail can ever match.
Unless, of course, the teak-laden ship is yours, then the brightwork is most often just that: work. Even if youre of the nature-over-nurture crowd that prefers the silvered patina of teak-au-naturale to a satiny varnish or deep oil, youve likely logged many hours cleaning the wood.
Aside from aesthetics, what differentiates wood finishes is the work required-and to some degree, the protection they offer. With varnish, theres a big upfront investment of time and energy-and taking it down is a bear-but the coating can last multiple seasons. With synthetics and stains, less work is required initially, but maintenance will be more frequent than with varnish. The same can be said of oils, however, they typically must be reapplied every few months.
In this, the fourth installment in our ongoing look at exterior wood coatings, were focusing on the application of teak oils and sealers. The previous segments covered one-part (August 2007) and two-part varnishes (December 2007), and synthetics and stains (October 2007).
What We Tested
For this test,Practical Sailor evaluated eight teak oils and sealers. For teak, oils seem to be a good compromise between the hardworking varnishers and the do-nothing crowd.
While there are many on the market, we tested products that performed well in past tests or were suggested to us by readers and industry pros: Dalys Seafin Teak Oil, Deks Olje No. 1, Interlux Premium Teak Oil, Le Tonkinois Huiles Bio Impression, MDR Amazons Golden Teak Oil, Semco Teak Sealer, Star brite Premium Golden Teak Oil, and Star brite Tropical Teak Sealer.
Choosing to apply an oil or sealer to exterior wood rather than use another coating or nothing at all, as always, boils down to a boat owners taste, maintenance schedule, deftness with a brush, and boat usage. When choosing a wood coating, be sure to take into consideration where the wood is located and how much handling or traffic the spot is likely to see. For decks and other areas where nonslip surfaces are warranted, oils/sealers or synthetic/stains are the obvious choice. They also are an appropriate solution for areas that see a lot of action: cup holders, grab rails, etc.
Wood finished with teak oil or sealer will never chip, crack, peel, or blister the way a varnish does. The woods natural oils tend to push off hard finishes. Teak oil, however, simply replaces the woods natural oils.
What sets a teak oil and a teak sealer apart is the amount of solids in the product. Sealers usually have a higher percentage of solids, providing better protection from UV light and allowing the coating to build up faster on the substrate. They also last longer than oils typically.
The bonus of teak oils easy application comes at the cost of more frequent applications and finish longevity. When it comes to the durability of a single application, teak oils can’t compare to other finishes. And some teak oil critics maintain that the finish attracts dirt and encourages mold and mildew growth.
Oils don’t protect the wood as well as a thick coat of hard varnish or a pigmented stain with its ultraviolet (UV) blockers. But they do offer more armor than nothing at all. Although silvered teak appeals to many boat owners tastes, over time, untreated teak can take on a washboard appearance.
The only teak oil that made it to Practical Sailors Teak Treatment All Stars finale in the Feb. 15, 2005 issue was Deks Olje No. 1. Testers noted that it penetrated better than any of the varnishes, synthetics, or pigmented stains, but that it was long gone at the six-month mark while other types of coatings were still going strong.
How We Tested
Testing for this group of exterior finishes followed the same protocol as our recent wood coatings tests. All prep work and applications were conducted per manufacturers instructions.
Note that the Value Guide table above lists ratings for each products ease of preparation and ease of application. Because teak oils typically have a low-gloss or matte finish, testers opted not to rate their glossiness and instead listed our observations.
As with the synthetics and stains test panels, we were not able to apply all of the teak oil test products to a single piece of teak because some arrived late, after the original teak had been used up. More than half of the panels were of the same teak, while the Semco and Dalys are applied to sections of another teak plank. The Le Tonkinois Bio Impression, a new product, was applied to a darker piece of teak, and while the finish is darker than others, it appears more so due to the hue of the unfinished teak. Testers kept these differences in mind when rating the panels.
Stay tuned for the results of our next phase of testing: The Rack. For longterm durability testing, the eight teak oil panels have been mounted alongside the dozens of other test panels on a large wood rack set up outdoors in the torturous South Florida weather. These results will offer a larger picture of which type of wood finish weathers the elements the best and which products are the standouts in their respective categories. Look for rack updates in future issues.
Dalys Seafin Teak Oil
A Washington-based finishes manufacturer, Dalys offerings include a line of marine wood products. Its Seafin Teak Oil can be applied to interior or exterior wood and is recommended for teak, mahogany, and other hard woods.
It was the only teak oil tested that required sanding between coats. While this was an added step, testers found that the wet sanding resulted in a more even application and smoother finish. More of a bother was the recoat wait time, eight to 24 hours, the longest of all the tested oils.
The Dalys Seafin was the only oil with a significant gloss to it. Aesthetically, the finish was one of testers favorites. However, weve heard reports from Dalys users that although it looks great at first, the coating will quickly fade to gone. As this is the first time weve included the Seafin in our coatings evaluation, were curious to see how durable it is.
Bottom Line:
The Seafin finish looks great and the prep is minimum, but the required wet-sanding, lengthy recoat time, and six-coat minimum leave it with a Fair for ease of application.
Deks Olje No. 1
Made by the Flood Co., Deks Olje No. 1 is the first part of a two-step wood protection system. Deks Olje No. 1 is a penetrating oil that can be overcoated with Deks Olje No. 2 for a gloss finish. (Practical Sailor reviewed the full system, Nos. 1 and 2, in the October 2007 issue.) Following manufacturers orders, testers applied numerous coats to the Deks No. 1-only panel. Once the application is completed, a three-day curing time is needed before the wood can be put into use or overcoated.
The Deks panel had some sheen to it, not a gloss, but a very slight sheen. It can be used on any wood, above or below the waterline.
Bottom Line:
While the Deks No. 1 wasnt the easiest application-due to the many coats that can be laid on in six hours-no between-coats sanding is required, and testers liked the warm finish.
Interlux Premium Teak Oil
Premium Teak Oil is part of the teak care system manufactured by marine coatings giant Interlux. The company describes the product as a “traditional Scandinavian formula.”
It was the only oil tested that touted a rust inhibitor to protect metal fasteners and deck hardware from corrosion. With a linseed and tung oil base, Interlux Premium was the only product that claimed it could be successfully applied to damp wood-this could be a real time-saver in shower-prone and humid areas, but its not recommended.
Like most makers, Interlux suggests cleaning the wood with its own teak cleaner, Premium Teak Restorer, a Practical Sailor Recommended product in the March 2008 teak cleaners test. To maintain the finish, reapply the oil seasonally.
Bottom Line:
Among the easiest to prep for and apply, the Interlux is a Recommended product. Testers also liked its bright, warm finish.
Le Tonkinois Bio Impression
American Rope and Tar, U.S. distributors of the well-known traditional varnish oil Le Tonkinois, have a new product on the shelves, Le Tonkinois Huiles Bio Impression.
It can be used alone, as a penetrating oil-sealer with a matte finish, or as a sealer base coat before applying the Le Tonkinois Original for a glossy finish. Bio Impressions makers do not recommend using it alone, but there are boat owners who prefer its matte finish, so we thought wed see how it fares solo and with the Original overcoat. (The Bio Impression-Original application will be reviewed in a soon-to-come report on other latecomers.) The Bio alone does offer some protection, but it will not have the longevity it would with the varnish overcoat, according to ARTs Bill Rickman.
Like all Le Tonkinois products, the Bio Impression is 100 percent natural. It contains linseed, castor, and palm oil, and has a slightly darker hue than the other products. It took a little longer to dry in the Florida humidity, but its prep and application are easy.
Bottom Line:
At $33 per quart, its the most expensive test product by far, and that keeps it out of the winners circle thus far.
MDR Amazons Golden Oil
Made by Marine Development and Research, Amazons Golden Teak Oil is a sealer and a wood finish. Like the Bio Impression, it is biodegradable and non-flammable.
Prior to oiling, a teak cleaner and Amazons Teak Prep are maker-recommended. The directions call for the oil to be diluted with the Teak Prep at a 3:1 ratio and to be applied with a cloth, never a brush.
Its rated for interior or exterior wood, hot or cold weather. The finish leans toward a warm-honey, where most others have an amber hue.
Bottom Line:
The product went on nicely and its comparatively inexpensive, but the prep and application are slightly more arduous than some other products in the test. Durability testing will determine whether the added work is worth it.
Semco Teak Sealer
The Semco Teak Sealer is highly touted by boatbuilders and boat owners. Many boat manufacturers like to use it on teak decks because of its barely-there appearance.
Semco comes in several colors that can be mixed to create a custom color. We used the Natural Semco and found that the thin liquid had a yellow-paint look to it. It must be stirred regularly to ensure even coloring, and as its stirred, the yellow gives way to a warm, golden color. Once the test panel dried, it looked as if it had no coating on it at all. According to Semcos makers, the advantage is that it allows the woods natural grain to shine through without turning gray or allowing mildew to grow.
To prep, Semco suggests cleaning the wood with a two-part cleaner. Application is easy: two, back-to-back coats with a foam brush. It is recommended only for exterior wood.
Bottom Line:
Testers excitement over Semcos super easy application was tamed by the products stout price-$26 per quart-but we still recommend it for coating decks.
Star Brite Premium Golden
From Star brite, a major player in the boat maintenance game, we tested the Premium Golden Teak Oil, a sealer and a finish with UV blockers. It uses chemically modified natural oils to protect the wood.
For preparation, the maker suggests using Star brite Teak Cleaner. In our recent test of teak cleaners (March 2008), we found that Star brites Gel Teak Restorer performed better.
Bottom Line:
The warm amber finish shows off the teaks grain, and it was a breeze to apply. At $19 quart, it gets the Practical Sailor Budget Buy.
Star Brite Tropical Sealer
Star brites Tropical Teak Sealer (Classic Teak) is as easy to apply as the Premium and goes on a bit thicker.
Testers initially noted it was a bit muddy. Its orangish tint was reminiscent of the original Cetol products. Often these type of products have a high solids content and offer better UV protection than clear products. Well see whether this benefits longterm protection.
Unlike other teak oils and sealers, Star brite claims, this one doesn’t get darker with time, it just eventually fades away.
Bottom Line:
Testers did not favor the opaque finish, but it was fairly easy to apply and could prove to offer superior durability. Well see.
Conclusion
Recommended products are Semco for decking and Interluxs Premium Teak Oil. Star brites Premium Golden Oil gets the Budget Buy nod. Remember, these ratings are for application and initial results. Our longterm test may find that the more difficult a product is to apply, the longer it lasts-or we may luck out and find that the easiest is also the most durable.
Well keep you posted on the progress of this and our other wood coatings tests.
Thank you for your great review on this! I just wanted to let you know that it helped me, and I appreciate all the work that you put into this.
Have you published the longer term tests. Most of these finishes sit in the sun most of the time.
What is the best for INTERIOR? Cabin Sole? Steps? Leaning towards Semco on my 1985 Freedom 32 teak interior that needs a mega-deep clean first.
I have bought TotalBoat Teak Oil. It’s the best marine teak oil for me as it can take care of the teak wood well. This teak oil works like magic. The only flaw that I can say is that a red, bright warning label should be added. The one that is added to the can is a bit small so it won’t be seen right away. Keep in mind to dispose of rags or clean the brush well after use as it’s flammable.
I used Bare Decor yellow teak oil. Saw it used in marine environments for boats and pools and decided to try a set of teak racks in our bathroom. It’s really easy, we wait 5 minutes according to the instructions and wipe off the excess. It looks great, dripping in the shower. I find this not only protects the wood but also prevents the beautiful teak color from quickly graying. I don’t notice any strange smells or problems with the apps I’m using in the garage. We let it dry completely before putting it in.
The product is very good, I have read many articles about this oil and received many compliments.
Thanks for the comprehensive review.
Is there a long term follow up comparison? (say 6, 12, 18 months). A lot of products may be easy to apply and show nice initial results, but the real value for teak decks is the longer term efficacy and further damage prevention, not necessarily by mold but from UV and degradation of the teak surface, also by the loss of its natural oil.