Deck mounted teak, oil vs. varnish ?

[Sven]

Maybe I'm showing my age but I'm tempted to have the teak grab rails and companion way trim stripped of its varnish and just oiled.

The varnish is flaking off on its own so removing it should be fairly simple. Can anyone think of a reason _not_ to go that way ? For example, will the teak oil stain the gelcoat with time or anything like that ?

Thanks,



-Sven

 

[Martin King]

I feel that exterior oiled finishes are more maintenance
than varnish. Oil attracts dirt and grime like a magnet,
and requires constant attention to keep it looking good.
I prefer gloss varnish for exterior brightwork with a
good canvas cover to extend the life of the finish.

Martin

 

[JBlair]

FYI - I went with Ceatol and never looked back.

 

[Mark Hadrick]

Check out west system coated with a clear finish, I used a water based clear with UV protector. I have wood exposed for three years and look's as good as the day we put it on. West system has a section in there lit of why & how to do this.