Summary of Practical Sailor testing of teak treatments

[Rich]

Here's a very brief recap of a teak treatment test report published in the March 2000 issue of Practical Sailor. Let me preface by saying the article included some helpful background on teak treatments and is worth reading in it's entirety. The issue also included a summary of bottom paint tests they have conducted. (Reprints can be ordered for $7.50 plus $2.50 shipping and handling.)

Testing method – Coatings were applied per manufacturer’s instructions to 1’ x 1-1/2’ sanded, teak plywood panels. One third of panel covered with aluminum flashing to allow comparison of exposed and unexposed areas. Panels were drilled for testing seepage under coating. Test was conducted in New England where panels were left outside for six months, oriented for southern exposure and tilted 45 degrees. If panels survived, they were retested following year without adding a maintenance coat. New panels are added to on-going tests as new products are introduced.

Best of the lot:
Cetol Semi Gloss – Best of semi gloss/matte finishes, needing recoat at 42 months
Armada Semi Gloss – New formulation slightly less orange than Cetol, holding up almost as well as Cetol at 18 months
Honey Teak Gloss – Slightly lighter appearance after 42 months, no sign of deterioration, can be recoated without stripping
Smith & Co. Five Year Clear – Considerable darkening after 42 months, no sign of deterioration, application process more difficult than Honey Teak and must strip to recoat if coating begins to fail
Woolsey Protective Wood Coating (semi gloss) – Holding up well at 18 months



rpassmore42@hotmail.com

[Bonnie Gilmore]

Be aware that the Sikkens Cetol gloss treatments are specifically designed to be used OVER original Cetol or Cetol Lite, and not as
an alternative to varnish or other glossy treatments. The back of the can also cautions the user. We spent over 200 hours [sanding time included] doing the britework on our Hans Christian 43 this summer, and applied 4 coats of Cetol Lite and 2 topcoats of Cetol Gloss. My Significant Other is pleased, I think that while Cetol Lite looks less orange tha the original, it is has a milky orange hue and doesn't hold a candle to varnish. Then again... hopefully we'll be sailing next summer and not retouching our teak!



bgilmore@ci.santa-rosa.ca.us

[Kurt B. Kaiser]

Yes, if I were to choose, I'd rather have the orange color, which is closer to freshly oiled teak, than the milky effect from the Light, which is certainly not Lite.



kbk@deletethis@shore.net