Bertram33 User Forum

The teak around my cabin door, rear windows and bridge compartment doors has some type of varnish material on it that makes the teak look very nice and glossy. The problem now is the glossy material is flaking off down to the bare teak. What kind of tips do you guys have for removing the old and putting on the new? What's the best product to use? Thanks, Scott 1987 B33 SF Dealer's Choice V Edisto Beach, SC

TSP is a good cleaner for it, but it sounds like you have some Sikkens on it. Best way to remove it is to tape it off with duct tape and sand it down. Then it just depends what kind of a finish you want. Sikkens is nice but in 4-5 years, it'll look like that again unless you keep up to it. Rick Ticket 85 SF Merc 454 MPI's Falmouth, MA

I re-coat with 1 coat of sikkens each year. Miss a year and its a little more work in year 2. Miss 2 years, its worse, etc...

Awl Spar and then Allbright by Awlgrip! Trick is lots of coats of both, you will be happy. The nice thing is when it needs it a good scuff and another coat of awlbright will bring the shine right back. I have tried a lot of different treatments and the awlgrip stuff is the best! To remove old varnish I sand it or heat gun to soften then scrape, and then sand. Sanding with 150 grit to remove the old varnish and then 220 grit or finer to prepare for the new finish. Either way it is not fun and that why you should use a high quality finish. Check the UV rating on the varnish as some brands have very little UV protection. Or the other method, strip to wood prime and paint to match the rest of the boat!

Thanks for the help. As always, I knew you guys would come through. Thanks again. Scott 1987 B33 SF Dealer's Choice V Edisto Beach, SC