Ode to treating Cape Dory teak

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Bill Goldsmith
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Joined: Feb 7th, '05, 08:47
Location: CD 32

Ode to treating Cape Dory teak

Post by Bill Goldsmith »

After 20 years of owning Cape Dorys I’ve tried many different teak treatments.

With apologies to the Traveling Wilburys (can’t believe only one member survives), the following is to the tune of Handle With Care.

Tried honey teak looked just fine
Once it failed showed too much grime
Cetol and varnish got me to the end of the line
Handle me with care.

Chasing gloss gets old real fast
Eats too much into sailing time
Cape Dory teak is /<]#$& vast
Semco goldtone is looking fine
Handle me with care.
Bill Goldsmith
Loonsong
Cape Dory 32 Hull #2
dgsail
Posts: 58
Joined: Mar 26th, '05, 17:28
Location: 1986 Cape Dory 26, Hull 50, Bridget, Montrose Harbor, ChicagoOriginal Owner

Re: Ode to treating Cape Dory teak

Post by dgsail »

I too landed on Semco-goldtone as my product of choice. Enjoy!
Debbie Garrity
Bill Goldsmith
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Location: CD 32

Re: Ode to treating Cape Dory teak

Post by Bill Goldsmith »

dgsail wrote:I too landed on Semco-goldtone as my product of choice. Enjoy!
Thanks. I was beginning to think the CD board had written me off as having lost my mind!!

Do you generally re-treat with Goldtone when the time comes? I read a review that the pigment in it can build up and look like paint. I'm wondering whether interim re-coats with Natural or Clear would reduce that issue?
Bill Goldsmith
Loonsong
Cape Dory 32 Hull #2
dgsail
Posts: 58
Joined: Mar 26th, '05, 17:28
Location: 1986 Cape Dory 26, Hull 50, Bridget, Montrose Harbor, ChicagoOriginal Owner

Re: Ode to treating Cape Dory teak

Post by dgsail »

So far, I have been re-applying the gold tone annually without any prep other than washing and wiping with some thinner to clean before applying. Been using it a good 10 yrs or so. I typically only get time for one coat, which by the next season is worn down and in need of a re-coat. So far, I've not seen a build up. I do think there are some spots that are in need of a little bit of sanding, but nothing major.
Debbie Garrity
Capt Hook
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Joined: Jul 3rd, '15, 21:50
Location: Kumbaya, CD 31, hull no. 73

Re: Ode to treating Cape Dory teak

Post by Capt Hook »

dgsail wrote:I too landed on Semco-goldtone as my product of choice. Enjoy!
Debbie,

Wow, I'm impressed. I see you have a 1986 CD and you're the original owner. That must be some sort of a record.
Capt Hook
s/v Kumbaya
Cape Dory 31, Hull No. 73
New Orleans, LA
sloopjohnl
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Location: Typhoon Weekender "DAERAY"

Re: Ode to treating Cape Dory teak

Post by sloopjohnl »

Two of the wilburys survive to present i believe - bob dylan and jeff lynn
Bill Goldsmith
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Joined: Feb 7th, '05, 08:47
Location: CD 32

Re: Ode to treating Cape Dory teak

Post by Bill Goldsmith »

sloopjohnl wrote:Two of the wilburys survive to present i believe - bob dylan and jeff lynn
Of course! Thanks for the correction!
Bill Goldsmith
Loonsong
Cape Dory 32 Hull #2
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mgphl52
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Re: Ode to treating Cape Dory teak

Post by mgphl52 »

And I'm quite content to let my teak age the same I color my hair...
every year year I add a little gray just to look natural....
(any good day to mess with teak is probably a good day to sail instead...)
-michael & Toni CDSOA #789
s/v KAYLA CD28 #318
2012 FLSTC Heritage Classic
Niceville FL
+30° 30' 24.60", -86° 26' 32.10"
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Carl Thunberg
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Re: Ode to treating Cape Dory teak

Post by Carl Thunberg »

I suppose I should be happy I have no idea who the Traveling Wilburys are, however, I do know how to use Google and find out. It's amazing where the Board will take you!
CDSOA Commodore - Member No. 725

"The more I expand the island of my knowledge, the more I expand the shoreline of my wonder"
Sir Isaac Newton
sloopjohnl
Posts: 206
Joined: Aug 24th, '05, 05:43
Location: Typhoon Weekender "DAERAY"

Re: Ode to treating Cape Dory teak

Post by sloopjohnl »

if you are in my age vicinity you can't help but like the Travelling Wilburys
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Sea Hunt Video
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Re: Ode to treating Cape Dory teak

Post by Sea Hunt Video »

sloopjohnl wrote:if you are in my age vicinity you can't help but like the Travelling Wilburys
I'm on the wrong side of 70 :( and, like Carl (who is much younger) have never heard of Travelinig Wilburys. Of course, there is much in this world I have not heard of. But it's never too late to start learning new stuff. Buying and operating a smartphone is my goal for 2018. So far, not much progress.
Fair winds,

Roberto

a/k/a Sea Hunt "The Tadpole Sailor"
CDSOA #1097
________________________________
"I wish to have no Connection with any Ship that does not Sail fast for I intend to go in harm's way." Captain John Paul Jones, 16 November 1778, as quoted in Naval History and Heritage Command, http://www.history.navy.mil
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tjr818
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Location: Previously owned 1980 CD 27 Slainte, Hull #185. NO.1257949

Re: Ode to treating Cape Dory teak

Post by tjr818 »

Carl and Roberto,
You guys are really missing out on some good music. Go to iTunes, or Spotify, or Pandora and listen to some of their music....Please.
PS. I too am on the far side of 70. I would not call it the wrong side, I consider this my Victory Lap years.
Tim
Nonsuch 26 Ultra,
Previously, Sláinte a CD27
csoule13
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Re: Ode to treating Cape Dory teak

Post by csoule13 »

As apparently the young pup on the board, I'll first chime in that I am completely aware of the Willburys, though much prefer their work away from the group. This is sacrilege, but Orbison's voice never did it for me.

With that out of the way, I'm curious why Semco gets the nod here. My old man applied some on his Ericson last year, and within a month in the sun, all of that lovely golden color was bleached out. The wood remained water resistent, so I suppose the product was still useful, but it was terribly disappointing. As always when my old man is involved in a boat project, I'm assuming user error and lack of proper prep work. Still, I'm all ears.

Best wishes from southern France(until late June),
Chris
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Jim Cornwell
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Re: Ode to treating Cape Dory teak

Post by Jim Cornwell »

I've gotten quite a few recommendations for Semco goldtone for Yankee's bare, gray teak. How does one get started with it?
Bill Goldsmith
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Joined: Feb 7th, '05, 08:47
Location: CD 32

Re: Ode to treating Cape Dory teak

Post by Bill Goldsmith »

Jim Cornwell wrote:I've gotten quite a few recommendations for Semco goldtone for Yankee's bare, gray teak. How does one get started with it?
Clean the teak with a teak cleaner. Two part cleaners are quite aggressive but may be needed. Suggest maybe using a one part cleaner first to see if that is enough. After it's dry a light sanding with 220 can even out areas where the grain has washed out or raised up by the cleaner. When the teak looks clean and blonde, apply the SEMCO. Some say use a foam brush and wipe off excess. Some say just wipe it on with a rag. Put on 2 coats. No need to tape off. If you drip any, wipe it up with mineral spirits. I have found that dried drips come off well with a light cleaning using BarKeepers Friend.

Oil does require reapplication, but a wipe-on application with a rag a couple times a season is preferable to 7 coats of varnish that will fail in 1.5 years in my climate without religious reapplication. Of course I may have been doing the varnish wrong, but that's my point, I need a better ratio of time and effort versus success as to cosmetics/teak protection. I would rather spend my boat maintenance time making sure my rig is always sound and my engine is in tip top shape, keeping the cosmetic time to the minimum required that protects the wood from getting dirt embedded and drying out and still gets dock people saying "nice boat."
Bill Goldsmith
Loonsong
Cape Dory 32 Hull #2
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