On Mon, 04 Dec 2006 18:03:56 -0500, Wayne.B wrote:

On 4 Dec 2006 08:09:33 -0800, "steve_hayes_maine"
wrote:

Try Deks Olje; part 1 will seal and part 2 will give you the
varnish-like appearance you want. Once you get through the initial
work, upkeep is relatively easy (a once a year quick update for me). It
also darkens the teak a bit but gives you a consistent finish.

I know that some people swear by it but for some reason it has never
been rated very highly in any of Practical Sailors teak coating tests.

My varnish would probably last almost forever in Maine but down here in
south Florida the sun is brutal. Perhaps PS did their testing in the
tropics also.

Do they live with it and maintain it for a couple of years, or just report
on how it goes on and looks immediately afterward?

Does anyone else have Deks Olje experience - pro or con?

I've been using it for the last 6 years. Until recently I swore it was
the best thing going. Maintenance is far easier than with traditional
varnish, and takes a lot less time.

The downside is that it isn't as hard or glossy, and doesn't last as long.
In South Florida I'm sure it won't last as long as in the Pacific
Northwest.

After a couple of years testing Cetol on some areas and Deks on the rest,
we've switched everything to Cetol. It's harder to sand and apply, but
lasts so much longer. Every spring the Deks would need moderate
patching, as well as a thorough sanding and a couple of finish coats. The
Cetol needed nothing but a top coat for good measure, and patching only
where it had been physically damaged.

So I think I'm a Cetol convert. If I were on the boat year-round to
do regular touch-ups, I might go back to Deks -- especially just the #1
satin, which alone is a really nice finish. But I haven't left it on
without the #2 long enough to know how well it lasts by itself.

Many people don't like Cetol's orange color. The new Light version
is less orange.

Deks Olje has a traditional varnish color, darker than average.

Finally, a safety issue -- Cetol is so hard that it's very slippery, while
Deks is soft enough that it's almost non-skid.

Matt O.