Making Peace With Teak

One of our bigger projects this summer is catching up with the never ending exterior brightwork on our 1966 Alberg 35, Mystic. We've been cruising for the last four years, slowly making our way around America's Great Loop. Teak time has been limited. Although we've tried to keep up, we've mostly failed at it. This year we are determined to get a nice 10 coat shine going.

There's a lot involved in bright work. It takes patience and determination, as well as lots of time for hours of sanding and prep work. We use the orbital sander when we can. It makes your hands go numb and fingers tingle, even after you stop sanding. Most of our exterior teak required detailed hand sanding which takes longer. It's overwhelming and tedious to make progress six inches at a time but there is no shortcut to brightwork. We start with 80 grit sandpaper then work through 120 and 220 grit, making three passes over all surfaces. Each day, our upper arms, wrists and hands ache and stiffen. Our arms are firming up our muscles and replacing the Covid flab that we brought with us on our upper bodies. The dust never quite comes out of our pores, even after a long hot shower. We just hate every moment of it; except the finished shine!

Bow sanded, ready for varnish

Stern sanded, ready for varnish

Dave taping before coating

We applied our first coat of varnish after sanding out every inch of the toe rail and cockpit combing. It took us four hours to soak the newly refreshed wood with spar varnish. Exhausted, we looked around us and slapped on the biggest grins we've worn in weeks. Mystic is looking beautiful again!

Bow with coat #1

Dave smiling at our progress

The results are more than worth the labor required to uncover the beauty of finished teak. If the past repeats itself I know it won't go unnoticed. When Mystic is dressed in her Sunday finest coat, we get a whole lot of attention. For an old girl, she sure cleans up nice!