Teak Swimstep re-visited

Well thanks for the advice I received from my fellow Wakeworlders in this thread: http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65921/420622.html

I think I've finally got it where I want it...it's still drying after the 2nd coat but It's looking sweet. I kind of used a combination of different ideas: I used the 2 part chemical solution, sanded the snot out of it, used the Star-brite Teak cleaner & brightener and then most important - the Star-brite Tropical Teak Oil/SEALER. What a difference!

Before:



After:




I'll post another pic once it's all dried out.

Thanks again to everybody who chimed in...it was all very helpful.

That looks amazing. Good work! I should probably get off my ass and do our platform before this season begins...

Thanks...it took parts of 3 days but was well worth it. My only prob now is that I timed it wrong and it's still not ready to go in the water. So no riding tomorrow...

Nice job! Looks very clean! I'm with Rod though - I still have to get out and do mine. I'm going to have to use your old thread b/c I haven't done it yet. But yours turned out awesome!

Well, I guess I know what I'll be doing for the next couple of weeks till we put the boat in.
That looks amazing!

before you use it wipe it down with a dry towel or it will rub off on your boardshorts.

KaNi & Lauri, here's a little more info on what I used. I got everything from West Marine:

2-Part cleaner - http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/10001/-1/10001/72434/10001/552/11204/4



If you are going to sand it, make sure to use the teak cleaner afterwards to clean out all the gunk and open up the pores of the wood. I'm thinking that if I had sanded it first, I could have just used the 2 part cleaner and not had to use the cleaner/brightener from Star-brite. I'll probably try that next time. I used the cleaner & brightener from this kit that I had used previously - http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/10001/-1/10001/72433/10001/552/11204/4



And I used this Teak oil/sealer. Make sure that it is not just oil but a sealer as well. I don't know if it comes in a smaller size or not - http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/10001/-1/10001/72427/10001/322/11204/4



Good luck!

Brian, tell me about it. This stuff takes alot longer to dry than other oils. It's still a little wet.

looks like it will be real slippery.

we just got done sanding the crap out of ours to get some sealer junk the previous owner had on it that made the platform so slick it was dangerous.

(Message edited by ttuclint on March 25, 2007)

Iused the Star Brite

before

after

Clint, this stuff is actually not slippery. That first picture was when it was still wet. It's been out in the sun for a couple days now and it's actually more tacky than slippery. I wet it down with the hose pretty good and it still didn't get slippery.

Aaron, looks great. It's amazing how this stuff works.

Here's a couple from today after it was dry...

yeah, those after pics look pretty good. I might have to look into getting some of that stuff.

Joe, very nice work. I have never used the sealer. Do you seal it after you have oiled it, or do you use the Teak Sealer "instead" of teak oil?

The Star brite product that I used is a Teak Oil/Sealer so I guess it's one product. It's a lot thicker than the normal stuff in a bottle. I used a brush to apply it.

I have the same boat. My platform was terrible, as the previous owner tried to stain it or something.



I sanded the deck with a belt sander. This is half way through:



I then applied as many coats of teak oil as the deck would take. I also added a wedge door with OEM Malibu hardware.

+++ jpeg +++ 428056 +++ Upload)

On my '88, I had the Starbrite Sealer/oil on my deck. Looked good, lasted a long time. I think I prefer the color of straight teak oil, however. +++

Whoops. Here is the complete deck:

Great job...your deck looks incredible. Yeah, I think I like the color/look of the straight Teak oil too. I went with the oil/sealer for longevity and maintenance. I'm hoping that with this, I'll just have to give it a light sand once a season or so and re-apply.

What year/model is your Malibu?

the fiberglass swim platforms look a ton better. especially on newer model boats. Less maintenance as well.

I have a '98 Sunsetter VLX with 05 Wakesetter graphics.



From the gel pattern and your rear hatch, I'd guess you have a '00 or '01 Wakesetter VLX.

As for longevity, I oil my teak every time I use the boat (don't want to have to refinish the deck again). When I used the sealer, it needed almost no maintenance.

Just sounds funny when someone says "Great job...your deck looks incredibly."


Did you steal that from Jeff Foxworthy?

Hahaha...or "incredible".

Well it does...

I'm a newbie on this forum, but I'll post a pic too.

Here's a before


And an after:

Very nice...what did you use on it?

Welcome to the site!

The first picture shows where the platform started. The second picture shows the platform after sanding and washing. The third picture is with 3 coats on it. And I have done 2 more since then so its darker now. I will take more pictures when I put it back on the boat.