Trojan Boat Forum

One more Cetol endorsement!

I used Cetol Marine on all the exterior teak except the cockpit sole. I applied three coats four years ago to the cabin bulkhead, helm, cockpit trim, and swim platform. Everything under the hardtop still looks like new. Anything not protected by the hardtop showed signs of wear after two years. I leave the teak cockpit sole bare and 2-part acid clean twice per season with normal light cleaning between. I use Watco brand teak oil for the oiled surfaces in the interior.

'Don't think I'll use Cetol Marine again because of it's orange tone, which deepens with each additional coat. Cetol Marine Natural would look, well ...more natural.

I used Cetol Natural on my swim platform and I like the natural look but it is not as warm as my varnished railing.

I am from a slightly different climate that you Florida types, so wear will be a bit different...

I have Cetol on my swim platform and the 'boarding strips', varnish (Interlux Goldspar) on the aft rails, and Cetol overcoated with Cetol Gloss on my pulpit. I have been told Goldspar is discontinued.

Cetol related work was done winter of '05/'06. Four coats. Just overcoated with 2-3 more this past fall in prep for next year. Some don't like regular Cetol as they feel it takes on an orange cast - I find it good as it helps hide underlying blemishes and makes overall colour more consistent.

Cetol Gloss really makes it pop (its like a varathane coat over top), but can be slippery when wet so should not be used on surfaces you will be walking on.

Varnish job was done winter '07/'08. Stripped to bare wood then seven coats. Brought the railings home in the fall as they are showing a lot of cracks in the varnish (no peeling though). Going to try light sanding and overcoating, else will be back to stripping again.

I haven't really used Cetol Light much (one or two small trim pieces as an experiment), but for my money Cetol is the easiest to apply, most forgiving in application, and low maintenance. Slap 3-5 coats on now and ignore it for the next 4 years.