Restoring 1999 Sunsetter Teak Platform

[cdub716]

Just bought a new to me 1999 Sunsetter LXI and my wife and I are pretty excited. It does need some TLC and we are taking care of that as much as we can. One of the items on my list is to restore the teak swim platform. It has definitely been neglected and has a bit of a bow in it. It also appears someone tried to repair it at one point using plastic anchors, so I can only imagine the upkeep was minimal. I thought I would just oil it, but it sure seems to want more than that, so now it is in individual pieces ready to be cleaned and reassembled.

I have been reading through all of the very helpful threads regarding teak repair and restoration. I wanted to post my plan and get some feedback on anyone who has first hand experience. I will also update this post with feedback throughout my process.

Issues:

-All hardware is rusted and some screws were replaced with 1-1/2" screws rather than 1-3/4"

-Appears to have had a repair where plastic anchors were added to hold the screws so now there are larger holes

-Decent bow in the middle towards the transom that goes down which makes me question integrity over time

-And of course discoloration and small cracks here and there and what appears to be some sort of varnish/stain or too much oil(?) used at one point

Plans to Resolve:

-Replace all hardware with stainless including latch and piano hinge

-Drill out holes to size of teak plug and glue teak plug in hole so screws can go back in flush

-It appears the support piece on the underneath was causing the bow more than the top deck piece so I am contemplating replacing that piece with an aluminum support (friend has all the metal tools) and we will try and steam bend the pieces that has minor bows in them

-This is the process I am debating the order of:

a. take apart and pressure wash individual pieces all sides

b. sand with 60 grit all sides to remove gunk and old varnish/oil that has gunked up

c. clean with Starbrite Teak Cleaner

d. sand with 120 grit all sides and blow out with compressed air

e. clean again with Starbrite Teak Cleaner using scrubber and/or stainless steel scrubbers

f. clean with Starbrite Teak Brightener (how long do I need to wait to go to step g living in Phoenix in the summer)

g. seal each piece with Starbrite Teak Sealer classic teak color

h. reassemble and enjoy

I am curious, to anyone who has done this or knows well, the order in which I plan to do this, does it make sense? What would you do differently?

Once I can figure out how to add photos to this post I will add some - sorry about that!

Thank you in advance for any help.

 

 

[Eagleboy99]

Ah, the joys of teak.

"-This is the process I am debating the order of:

a. take apart and pressure wash individual pieces all sides

>>  Forget it - plane them or sand

b. sand with 60 grit all sides to remove gunk and old varnish/oil that has gunked up

>> 80 grit is better

c. clean with Starbrite Teak Cleaner

>>  Not needed if you sand

d. sand with 120 grit all sides and blow out with compressed air

>>  Too fine - a worn 80 grit is good otherwise it will be slippery.  Maybe 100.

e. clean again with Starbrite Teak Cleaner using scrubber and/or stainless steel scrubbers

>>  Not if you plane/sand

f. clean with Starbrite Teak Brightener (how long do I need to wait to go to step g living in Phoenix in the summer)

>> Ibid.

g. seal each piece with Starbrite Teak Sealer classic teak color

There are options.

h. reassemble and enjoy

 

Not sure why you would have non-stainless fasteners.  My 99 platform is all stainless 1 1/4" x8.  And good luck gluing teak.  The plugs are a WOT/WOM.  Tommy at Teakworld can  sell you individual pieces.

[cdub716]

Thank you for the tips @Eagleboy99 I definitely recognize your screen name from reading through some of the posts. I tend to over think things and that what it appears is going on here. I am sure once I sand the pieces I will have a little more peace of mind because right now they are u-g-l-y.

Ya, I was completely blown away of the amount of rust of the fasteners. I would say 3-4 of the screws completely rusted and broke and had to be spun out with pliers. Most all of the hardware in mine is #8 x 1-3/4" with finish washers. I am not entirely too sure what you mean by WOT/WOM? Thank you for your input!

[Eagleboy99]

WOM - waste of money; WOT - waste of time.    If you redrill the holes (leave the existing) your platform will be fine.  A new one, BTW is about $600 USD.

[Eagleboy99]

I thinkI have a pic of my last refinsh.  Will post.  As you know, you need to do this once or twice a year (the oil part)

[cdub716]

Thanks a lot for the help. Thinking about it more, I am concerned to mess it up and that is probably why I over think it. I have built some furniture before, but finishing has never been my forte. Are there any tips you would have for the refinishing or any tips for 'definitely do not do...'?

[Eagleboy99]

You are overthinking this.  If you know how to use a belt sander, slop on n 80 grit belt abd have at it.  Don't try to glue teak (plugs).  Use SS fasteners.  My 99 platform still looks new.