Ode to treating Cape Dory teak

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Tom Keevil
Posts: 453
Joined: Feb 6th, '05, 23:45
Location: Cape Dory 33 "Rover" Hull #66

Semcoe experience

Post by Tom Keevil »

We started using Semcoe Natural in 2011. This was after Cetol, Varnish, bare gray, and Teakguard experiences. The varnish of course was spectacular, but too much time spent at the dock working on it. In preparation for the Semcoe we scraped, cleaned and sanded. It was very nice, and elicited many favorable comments and inquiries. We did not apply any this Spring, and are probably returning to gray. The alternative is stripping it off and starting over.

The problem for us was twofold. It needs to be reapplied several times a year, and our boat is in the water 12 months, so there is no winter respite under cover. Winter weather in BC is damp, so finding an opportunity to apply it that coincides with a trip north from Oregon is problematic. The other problem is that it wears off irregularly. Horizontal surfaces degrade rapidly, while vertical surfaces are much more durable. The result of this is that our finish became increasingly blotchy. In some areas the teak had become exposed, and turned gray, while in other areas the Semcoe built up until it began to look like paint. These irregular areas were often immediately adjacent.

So for us Semcoe was not a miracle cure for low-maintenance teak. I do realize that expecting anything to last this long without a major restart is delusional. But we are now in the San Juan Islands, doing a shakedown before a three month cruise to Haida Gwaii, and working on teak is a very low priority, even though it currently looks like hell.
Tom and Jean Keevil
CD33 Rover
Ashland OR and Ladysmith, BC
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Cathy Monaghan
Posts: 3502
Joined: Feb 5th, '05, 08:17
Location: 1986 CD32 Realization #3, Rahway, NJ, Raritan Bay -- CDSOA Member since 2000. Greenline 39 Electra
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Re: Ode to treating Cape Dory teak

Post by Cathy Monaghan »

Hi Bill,

We’ve been using Semco Natural on our CD32 for over 20 years and love it. Even if you have to reapply during the sailing season, it’s so easy (no need to tape, just have a rag handy) and quick to apply and dry, it doesn’t matter.

Cathy
CD32 Realization, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay
Message Board Admin. - CDSOA, Inc.
CDSOA Associate Member #265
Founding member of Northeast Fleet
Former owner of CD32 Realization, #3 (owned from 1995-2022)
Greenline 39 Electra
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay
Tom Keevil
Posts: 453
Joined: Feb 6th, '05, 23:45
Location: Cape Dory 33 "Rover" Hull #66

Re: Ode to treating Cape Dory teak

Post by Tom Keevil »

Cathy,

Twenty years is an impressive record. How do you deal with the irregular weathering? Also, do you occasionally take it back to bare teak, and start over?
Tom and Jean Keevil
CD33 Rover
Ashland OR and Ladysmith, BC
User avatar
Cathy Monaghan
Posts: 3502
Joined: Feb 5th, '05, 08:17
Location: 1986 CD32 Realization #3, Rahway, NJ, Raritan Bay -- CDSOA Member since 2000. Greenline 39 Electra
Contact:

Re: Ode to treating Cape Dory teak

Post by Cathy Monaghan »

Hi Tom,

Realization's teak has weathered pretty well. If the teak needs more than a good cleaning, we sand it VERY LIGHTLY. We never totally remove all of the pigment, there's no need to, since we reapply the Semco. If we decided to use another product, we'd have to remove the pigment, but a good teak cleaner takes care of most of that. That best teak cleaner we've used is BoatLIFE Teak Brite Kreme Cleaner. Unfortunately, I don't think they make it anymore.

-Cathy
CD32 Realization, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay
Tom Keevil wrote:Cathy,

Twenty years is an impressive record. How do you deal with the irregular weathering? Also, do you occasionally take it back to bare teak, and start over?
Message Board Admin. - CDSOA, Inc.
CDSOA Associate Member #265
Founding member of Northeast Fleet
Former owner of CD32 Realization, #3 (owned from 1995-2022)
Greenline 39 Electra
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay
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