---

I just bought my first whaler. It is a 1989 outrage. The teak is weathered. What should I do to restore it?

---

Here is one of many articles and project albums that will help you..
http://www.whalercentral.com/articles...icle_id=31

Also look through the Project Albums link on the left sidebar along with members Personal Pages link.
Bottom line is Sand, Sand, Sand.

---

Thanks

---

Here is another one in the Project Album section.
http://www.whalercentral.com/userphot...lbum_id=10

---

I am just finishing restoring mine and the project albums Joe linked are a great resource to go by. The one issue you have to decide on is if you want the plain oil look or if you want a varnished look. There are many differing opinions on this and it is strictly a personal choice. For me I just like the oiled look and feel and I have an opinion that Teak should remain open so it can breath and accept fresh coats of oil from time to time. Once you make the decision to coat and seal it with a varnish it could be very hard or even impossible to bring it back and you may have to stick with the varnish for the long run.

On my boat the Teak has never been varnished and was very easy to sand and re oil. It has a warm glow and soft feel after a few soaking coats of good oil. It will bleach out and likely require additional coats of fresh oil a couple times each season which is fairly simple and easy. I have to give the Teak a big thumbs up for being 37 years old and out in the NY weather all this time and still being completely solid and serviceable. The Mahogany pieces on my boat were varnished and did not fair nearly as well and had to be replaced.

I hope to be able to set up my own project album here after I get my boat completed and can take her next maiden voyage. This will probably be after most of this summer and a couple thousand dollars more. It is a labor of love filled with lots of curves and expense bringing an old boat back to life. The Teak was actually the least labor intense and the least costly part of my rehab.

---

I just re-did mine. I went the varnish route. However I did something else as well. I applied 4 coats of west system expoy to the teak first then I applied 15 coats of ephaines varnish to that. So far it has turned out great, how long will it last time will tell.

---

Both look great, so choose which one you like best. I oiled, and from what I understand varnish is harder to redo when it needs to be. Although I did hear it lasts a long time. When I reoiled mine this year I was done in 15 minutes, and everyone always tells me how great it looks! Good luck in your decision.

---

Thanks to all.