Teak has long been known for it's resilience in hostile environments, and has been a prized wood for boats for centuries. The wood is easily worked and has natural oils that make it suitable for use in water, where it is durable even when untreated.

Teak is also a precious hardwood with dwindling supplies that can only be grown in certain parts of the world. That means the teak on your boat is not just part of the structure; like the roof on your home or the paint on your car, maintaining your teak is vital to maintaining the value of your boat.

The grain of teak has ridges of very hard, dense wood, with bands of softer wood between. As teak wears, the softer bands erode leaving the ridges of harder wood more prominent. This is the reason teak offers better footing for decks; as it ages, it develops a "tread" like a tire.

But under constant abrasion from ropes, stiff-bristled brushes, and foot travel the wood can develop what is called "washboarding", where the tread can be seen.

Another problem is that teak does not weather the same way everywhere. In many areas it goes to a silvery gray color that is often thought elegant. But in freshwater areas, or regions where there is considerable air pollution, it tends to turn black or mottled.

The big question with teak boat surfaces is what you want it to look like. If you're looking to preserve a "new" appearance, or if you want to get a "weathered but durable" look, or if you simply want to avoid the "looks really bad" class, you need to choose a maintenance path and stick with it.

LOOKS LIKE NEW!

You'll never keep it that way unless your boat is in a warehouse. The oils and waxes in teak break down over time and can never be restored, but you can keep your teak looking young and fresh by religiously oiling the wood every 6-12 weeks with a good grade of tung or linseed oil. There are many "preservative" applications out there, but most of them are based on these oils.

Varnishing is a great way to keep decorative teak in good shape, and it should be done as soon as any raw wood becomes exposed. Varnished surfaces are almost always decorative (not something you'll look at every day) and need regular inspection.

Protect areas that are subject to constant wear. Use boarding mats, keep the ropes off the teak, and never scrub your teak with anything abrasive (including brushes!).

Do not use any harsh soap or detergeant to clean your teak. Cleaning agents will dissolve the natural oils and

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