Best boat deck cleaner and teak sealer

June 5, 9:34 AMCleveland Boating ExaminerSandy Woodthorpe

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  This product can help you spend
  more time sailing, less time cleaning!

A clean boat is a happy boat!

David Scarnatti is fond of this saying. David is one of the most meticulous boat owners on the Grand River.  He kept his 1986 Catalina 30 so clean and shiny, inside and out, people often mistook it for new.

“The deck cleaner I use is Starbrite Non-Skid Deck Cleaner," he says. "The key ingredient in the formulation is the PTEF (Polyethylene Terephthalate Film). I typically do spring cleaning with Soft Scrub with bleach to get to a clean surface. Then use the Non-Skid product every two weeks. It leaves a microscopic film on the deck that repels dirt. I also found a periodic spray down with clean water between washes helps a lot."

How about teak applications?

"I use Starbrite Teak Sealer. Its similar to Cetol Marine and other products but is very user friendly. You sand the teak with multiple grades of sand paper to achieve the best effect. Typically, the teak application lasts most of the season. If you wish to preserve it further, reapply in August. Then, you will only need touch up the following spring.”

Paul Canfield (see earlier article on cabin sole re-do) swears by the Te-Ka two-part system. Applying Formula A cleans the teak.  Paul says you can usually expect this to raise the grain somewhat, so be sure to sand lightly before applying Formula B, the sealer.

Do you favorite products that work season after season, or have found something new? Please send an email along with a picture of before and after results.

For more info: Go to the Starbrite website for info on products and boat care tips: www.starbrite.com. You can find more products and tips at: www.westmarine.com and www.boatersworld.com/. Locally in Lake County, be sure to visit Blystone's, marine retail and service center. If anybody has answers about anything having to do with boats, it's Dave Blystone. If what you want isn't on the shelf, he can get it for you fast.