bow pulpit teak, greyed out bad, alternatives to just teak cleaner?

[Bob Quinn]

My bow pulpit is completely grey. I tried multiple attempts using cleaner / brightener /teak oil last year.

It only partially cleared up, and went right back to grey after just a couple months.

So.... what about a brown toned deck sealer or just flat out paint it?

I've also considered replacing it with the plastic decking material but that's a lot of work for possibly a mediocre result.

Anyone used some kind of deck stain or paint to achieve something good looking?

Thanks!

 

[rsmith]

Need to sand it first teak cleaners only do so much

 

[SEVEN]

Use two part wood bleach. Sand smooth and apply 3 coats of tropical cheek sealer from West Marine. Once Once a year Clean lightly sand and apply one coat. It looks fabulous.

 

[doc g]

Or remove the teak and fair it then Awlgrip . Very few of those are actually ever sealed from underneath, also eliminates water getting into the pulpit.

 

[Bob Quinn]

After another inspection I am contemplating replacing it. Someone apparently was trying to put grooves in it with a router... and it didn't go well!

I'm trying to research the pvc deck boards but not sure how that would work out.

They would have multiple cuts on the edges and the inside of this stuff doesn't look good.
The outside barely looks better. I am looking now to see if there are any "fake" wood composites that have some kind of homogenous internal structure. I'm guessing that will be a dead end.

 

[Bob Quinn]

Or remove the teak and fair it then Awlgrip . Very few of those are actually ever sealed from underneath, also eliminates water getting into the pulpit.

That might be an option. Nice clean and white!

 

[SKYCHENEY]

leave the wood. You're in the great white north. Its not like you're in Florida. It takes less than an hour a year to maintain the pulpit

 

[Bob Quinn]

leave the wood. You're in the great white north. Its not like you're in Florida. It takes less than an hour a year to maintain the pulpit

Yeah, looking at options. It's messed up anyways, maybe I can just go new teak, or IPA or something. There are a ton of options for hardwoods, I was researching a while back. Teak is only on the middle of the scale for hardness. I don't know about durability though. More research.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

The teak is probably just fine. Sand it and refinish. easier than replacing.

 

[Bob Quinn]

The teak is probably just fine. Sand it and refinish. easier than replacing.

Except for the router that got out of control on someone LOL.

 

[whoover]

Bob if you send me the length and width of your teak I might have replacements here that will fit. I took mine off and replaced with PVC when I had to recore my pulpit.

Walt Hoover

 

[Bob Quinn]

Bob if you send me the length and width of your teak I might have replacements here that will fit. I took mine off and replaced with PVC when I had to recore my pulpit.

Walt Hoover

Thank you Walt I will do that!

 

[tom5518]

Use two part wood bleach. Sand smooth and apply 3 coats of tropical cheek sealer from West Marine. Once Once a year Clean lightly sand and apply one coat. It looks fabulous.

Gotta keep them cheeks lookin' good

 

[Bob Quinn]

Need to sand it first teak cleaners only do so much

Thanks for the tip. Couldn't believe it it cleaned right up with sanding. Took about an hour.

As per Seven's suggestion I got the Starbrite Cheek Sealer.

Did a Starbrite clean and brighten and will apply the Cheek Sealer hopefully tomorrow.

 

[Bob Quinn]

Before and after... Sort of

No before picture when it was totally grey, but after sanding, and then after applying Seven's Secret Sauce! Thanks for the tip Seven! that stuff is amazing! (this is just first coat)

 

[tom5518]

Your pics were making me dizzy, so I put them right side up. Looking good, that cheek sealer worked well.

 

[SEVEN]

Bob, when you start to see gray reappear, you don’t have to do anything but clean and apply a new coating over the top. I always do a light 400 grit sandpaper just before applying the new coat but they say that’s not necessary. I do it Because I like things to have good bite.

 

[cww]

That looks very nice. This is the only wood on the boat that I don't bother to maintain varnish on because it only lasts 6 months in the Florida sun. Not sure what's different about the railings that I get a year or two out of, but this is always the first thing to let go by a wide margin. I may try this if it's that easy.

 

[Sadey]

Mine has varnish on it but it’s time to refinish. I noticed some water leaking out from underneath so obviously the black caulk needs to be redone. What’s the best way to remove the black caulk so I can start over. I was planning on using the black Sika 295UV. Any other suggestions?

 

[bostonhatteras]

No safety wire on the shackle bolt?