Natural vs Teak covering boards

[Adopo]

Looking at Flemings and other boats, and was just wondering why no one goes natural? I know the varnish is to protect the teak, but is there something you can do besides varnish?

I asked for a quote on varnish for a Fleming 65 just for all the exterior teak you see not counting decks and was quoted about 26K. I know it's a lot of work but it just sounds like a ridiculous waste of money. I just spent a very stupid amount at Hinckley on the small boat pictured in my profile. I have never seen a Fleming or for that mater many other boats natural, sep maybe an occasional sport fish and it seems some European boats.

So, why not go natural? I can find nothing on this subject, for instance Natural vs Teak covering boards.

 

[Adopo]

euro boat

 

[mvweebles]

When I had Weebles painted in Ensenada, I had the caprails encapsulated in fiberglass and painted a contrasting color. It added $2500 to the overall cost of the paint job. My goal was that unless I dropped a toothpick on the deck, there would be no exposed woodwork.

Natural teak looks best when cleaned with occalic acid so while it's less maintenance than varnish (a lot less), it requires some care.

Peter

 

[Comodave]

Maybe look at Semco sealer. It is very easy and fast to apply but it doesn’t last as long as varnish. Depending on location it may last a season or in Florida maybe 3 or 4 months. Here in Michigan it lasted a season.

 

[BruceK]

Teak has soft and hard sections. Left unprotected, the softer areas may erode, leaving the harder areas, forming ridging and unevenness.

 

[Adopo]

Teak has soft and hard sections. Left unprotected, the softer areas may erode, leaving the harder areas, forming ridging and unevenness.

Kind a what I was thinking, but surely there must be a solution. I know owning such boat is part of the expected ritual, and if you have to complain about it you cannot afford it right? But it just seems ridiculous to me. They did have a 17000 solution, to put on vinyl wrap that last four years! Vinyl yuk! But hey, the boat is fiberglass lol....

 

[Phil Fill]

The best is to cover the teak with canvas/tarps or epoxy/fiberglass. Most varnish lasts 1 to 2 years. Captians marine premium varnish seems to last the longest but very expensive and 2 to 4 coats.

Best time is the hottest and driest months. The wood has to totally dry or it will blister. Most years, lightly sand between costs, but there are areas the require sand to bare wood and build muli coats. The Eagle long teak woof rub rails are a yearly complete sanding and multi coats. Seattle August is the best month

 

[omoore]

Looking at Flemings and other boats, and was just wondering why no one goes natural? I know the varnish is to protect the teak, but is there something you can do besides varnish?

I asked for a quote on varnish for a Fleming 65 just for all the exterior teak you see not counting decks and was quoted about 26K. I know it's a lot of work but it just sounds like a ridiculous waste of money. I just spent a very stupid amount at Hinckley on the small boat pictured in my profile. I have never seen a Fleming or for that mater many other boats natural, sep maybe an occasional sport fish and it seems some European boats.

So, why not go natural? I can find nothing on this subject, for instance Natural vs Teak covering boards.

Many people do go natural!

 

[salish]

Maybe look at Semco sealer. It is very easy and fast to apply but it doesn’t last as long as varnish. Depending on location it may last a season or in Florida maybe 3 or 4 months. Here in Michigan it lasted a season.

I've been using Semco for many years.

 

[rgano]

While many do go natural, the wood gets rather coarse as the years go by with the softer parts being eroded away. Solution? Sand it flat. Then damage it some more with harsh cleaning solutions. Pretty soon, the wood is worn too thin. Learn the joy and satisfaction of leaning back and admiring your varnish work.

 

[MichaelD]

I hope you realize that this is a religious topic. You'll find many devotees of various truths. Here are a couple of mine, based on both experience and faith:

1. never put fibreglass on wood. wood flexes. fiberglass tends not to, traps moisture, leads to inevitable dry rot.

2. A solution I've found acceptable for attractive bright work with a minimum of effort is the line of Cetol products. If you follow the prescribed process and sequence of application, it is pretty easy to apply intially and to maintain, and it looks pretty good.

3. For me "pretty good" is good enough, given that I don't want to devote my diminishing remaining years in the tedium of maintenance. There are many who would gag on that and insist that the amazing look of higher maintenance varnish products is the only way to go. I do not disagree on the superior appearance, but I do disagree on the "only way to go".

Good luck with your choice.

 

[GeoStr]

I asked for a quote on varnish for a Fleming 65 just for all the exterior teak you see not counting decks and was quoted about 26K.

Whoever quoted on that probably figured if you could afford a Fleming 65 you could afford a ridiculous quote.
Our new-to-us GB32 decks are 43 yrs old. Never been varnished (a no-no for decks), show signs of aging... but they are 43 years old !!

 

[ABfish]

Many of the custom Carolina sportfishers have natural covering boards in the cockpit area. Cockpit floors are also unfinished teak. The caprails are normally varnished. Go figure.

 

[mkel7]

Looking at Flemings and other boats, and was just wondering why no one goes natural? I know the varnish is to protect the teak, but is there something you can do besides varnish?

I asked for a quote on varnish for a Fleming 65 just for all the exterior teak you see not counting decks and was quoted about 26K. I know it's a lot of work but it just sounds like a ridiculous waste of money. I just spent a very stupid amount at Hinckley on the small boat pictured in my profile. I have never seen a Fleming or for that mater many other boats natural, sep maybe an occasional sport fish and it seems some European boats.

So, why not go natural? I can find nothing on this subject, for instance Natural vs Teak covering boards.

I went over mine on my 1989 Cape Dory. I know…sacrilegious but no more maintenance. Ripped Azeks pvc board,cypress color,dn to 1/4” veneer thickness and went over it

 

[mkel7]

View attachment 164027
I went over mine on my 1989 Cape Dory. I know…sacrilegious but no more maintenance. Ripped Azeks pvc board,cypress color,dn to 1/4” veneer thickness and went over it

This is the swim platform I did back in 2017…holding up well..1&1/4” thick

 

[jjpatrick]

Looking at Flemings and other boats, and was just wondering why no one goes natural? I know the varnish is to protect the teak, but is there something you can do besides varnish?

I asked for a quote on varnish for a Fleming 65 just for all the exterior teak you see not counting decks and was quoted about 26K. I know it's a lot of work but it just sounds like a ridiculous waste of money. I just spent a very stupid amount at Hinckley on the small boat pictured in my profile. I have never seen a Fleming or for that mater many other boats natural, sep maybe an occasional sport fish and it seems some European boats.

So, why not go natural? I can find nothing on this subject, for instance Natural vs Teak covering boards.

Check out Ocean Wraps near Stuart they have been installing a wrap and PPF over the cap rails. I understand Burr has had several Flemings done that way and it comes out great. I used Ocean Wraps for my boot stripe and PPF my teak tables. They do great work

 

[RonR]

Good varnish looks amazing.
Good varnish takes a lot of time to do right and keeping it up.
I don’t recommend it to anyone!
But I like to do it.

 

[ramkay]

While many do go natural, the wood gets rather coarse as the years go by with the softer parts being eroded away. Solution? Sand it flat. Then damage it some more with harsh cleaning solutions. Pretty soon, the wood is worn too thin. Learn the joy and satisfaction of leaning back and admiring your varnish work.

You got that right. Nothing better than a glossy varnish job showing the teak wood grains and veins. Twice a year, I lightly sand the whole teak (not the deck) and apply 2 coats of International Woodskin varnish, and when done put my sunglasses on to look at it and admire the beauty of the varnished wood.

 

[Maldwin]

You could varnish with Awlwood, and get 3 to 4 years depending on where you are

 

[Adopo]

Wife flew us down in the diesel and visited the 65 Fleming listed in Beaufort, SC. They are doing all of the varnish now at their dock, so should be taken care of. Teak decks are in need of attention I think, electronics etc. as well as general cosmetics but the boat is solid. Great owners, engineer types etc. Fairly reasonable hours at around 2700. I think Burr told me their wrap was around 17000 and lasted about four years on the 65. Wife says buy it, but I sure wish I could find one that is PB Condition ready to go without the premium. Might not be possible...what a solid boat the Fleming is and it feels bigger than 65. Especially compared to the "cozy" 55. Problem is we have been looking at newer boats on a used boat budget lol. Wife also said buy the 58 2022 Sabre but it seemed smallish in the salon. That was a nice boat, different style mission and feel of course. I think we want something that is comfortable and more spacious than the Sabre. Paralysis by analysis when Nike would do?

 

[sealandsky]

Looking at Flemings and other boats, and was just wondering why no one goes natural? I know the varnish is to protect the teak, but is there something you can do besides varnish?

I asked for a quote on varnish for a Fleming 65 just for all the exterior teak you see not counting decks and was quoted about 26K. I know it's a lot of work but it just sounds like a ridiculous waste of money. I just spent a very stupid amount at Hinckley on the small boat pictured in my profile. I have never seen a Fleming or for that mater many other boats natural, sep maybe an occasional sport fish and it seems some European boats.

So, why not go natural? I can find nothing on this subject, for instance Natural vs Teak covering boards.

Here you go! https://www.jamestowndistributors.com/product/product-detail/168

 

[SteveK]

Whoever quoted on that probably figured if you could afford a Fleming 65 you could afford a ridiculous quote.
Our new-to-us GB32 decks are 43 yrs old. Never been varnished (a no-no for decks), show signs of aging... but they are 43 years old !!

My 1971 GB36 had original teak decks in great shape. It was moored inside a boat house for many years. Outside, I gave it regular salt water rinses after learning that helps them. Rain water can start wood rot process.

 

[SteveK]

Many of the custom Carolina sportfishers have natural covering boards in the cockpit area. Cockpit floors are also unfinished teak. The caprails are normally varnished. Go figure.

my Bayliner cap rails do not appear to have been varnished and turn grey during the year, but clean up nice with a gentle power wash.
After years of applying varnish to previous boats, they will stay natural.

 

[Adopo]

Speaking of natural, I looked at several Flemings overseas and noted this one in Malta. What a great place to be, we visited there and loved it. They were filming Gladiator II when we were there. If you ever want to do a small cruise, try Ponant from Malta to Nice. Something similar to this: Cruise Mediterranean Island Voyage: Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, and Elba – with Smithsonian Journeys from Valletta to Nice - May 2026 | Ponant


Having a Fleming there would be a dream. She's been for sale for quite some time. Look at the natural teak, something you don't see here. Yes there is nothing like a highly varnished end cap or rail, but this seems to make sense to me. The European way? The varnished name board looks fabulous.

If you visit Malta I'd recommend our hotel highly. Right at the gates to Valletta.

Homepage - Five Star Hotel - The Phoenicia Malta

The Phoenicia Malta - A timeless classic reinvented for modern times. Malta’s most iconic hotel, located just outside the capital of Valletta

www.phoeniciamalta.com

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www.yachtworld.com

She is currently moored in Grand Harbour Marina, Valletta, Malta on a long-term berth, available for take-over.