Bottom Paint Cont'd.
8.1-1
wear a respirator when sanding bottom paint - it is toxic. After
several coats, it will be necess.ary to remove the accumulation of bottom
paint, preferably by sanding with a rotary sponge-backed pad, or with paint
remover designed for use with fiberglass.
Zincs
Every boat should have a shaft zinc installed as a sacrificial
anode to protect the propellor and shaft from electrolysis. These
zincs can deteriorate very quickly so frequent inspections should be
made.
Exterior Teak
If left untreated, exterior teak will discolor rapidly, turning
a dull grey color. Teak is relatively open grain wood, and eventually
mildew may form in the grain, resulting in a very dark color.
If you wish to maintain the warm brown color, the teak must be
kept clean and oiled. The grain of the teak will raise as the wood
is wetted. The job of keeping up the teak will be much easier if the
wood is sanded very smooth. Use sandpaper for this purpose, and be
careful not to scratch the gelcoat. The best routine for bringing
back discolored teak is to scrub thoroughly with a teak cleaner and
water, allow to dry , and sand. Then apply multiple coats of a high
grade teak oil. Some teak cleansers will stain the gelcoat, so be
sure to hose off the deck and topsides thoroughly.
A good applicator for teak oil is a small piece of a sponge,
perhaps 1" square by about 3" long, with one end tapered to allow
application close to the deck without touching the gelcoat. Most
teak oils will stain the gelcoat and are difficult to remove. There-
fore, be careful and clean up drips promptly.
CAUTION: Some teak oils are extremely flammable. Be sure that
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