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Between cleaning, protecting and respecting the wood, teak maintenance remains a technical subject on board, especially for the decks, which are exposed and subjected to a great deal of stress.
Teak cleaning, between efficiency and respect for fibers
Cleaning teak remains a routine operation for any yachtsman. But the difficulty lies in striking the right balance between efficiency and fiber preservation.
T20 comes in powder form, without water, to be diluted at 200 g for 10 liters. This dosage corresponds to routine maintenance, and can be increased to 400 g for more thorough cleaning. The cleaning method remains classic: water the deck, apply the cleaner with a soft brush, work in the direction of the fibers, then rinse thoroughly.
And that's where the difference lies: the absence of strong acids and solvents limits aggression to wood and joints. On a teak deck, black elastomer joints are often the first to suffer from overly aggressive products. Here, the product remains alkaline, with a pH of around 12.
In terms of yield, a 5 kg bucket makes around 25 buckets of solution. On a cruise ship, this covers several maintenance seasons.
T20 is priced at ?27.70 in 1 kg packaging (also available in 5 kg), a price to be set against the volume of solution actually obtained after dilution.
Protecting teak, limiting water and graying
Once the wood is clean, the question of protection always comes up. Teak greys under the effect of UV and humidity, a natural but often unappreciated phenomenon.
T22 acts as a waterproofing agent. Applied undiluted by brush or roller, it penetrates dry wood and forms a hydrophobic barrier. The aim is clear: to limit the penetration of water and oils, responsible for stains and accelerated ageing.
The advertised yield is around 10 m² per liter. On the cockpit or deck of a medium-sized sailboat, this is consistent with an annual application.
The product has a pH close to 7.5, i.e. neutral, and is water-based. This simplifies on-board application, particularly in port areas where environmental constraints are increasingly present.
T22 is priced at ?27.99 per liter (also available in 5 l).
Compatibility with bridge materials
A teak deck is more than just wood. It incorporates joints, fasteners and sometimes metal inserts.
Both T20 and T22 are claimed to be non-corrosive and non-flammable. On a boat, this is an important point, especially to avoid any interaction with fittings or stainless steel components.
