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Catalina Sailboat Teak Brightwork — Finish Stripping

A Catalina in Richmond had sound teak cabinetry under a water-based topcoat that had been laid over original oil, so the film lifted and clouded instead of curing. A conservative pulsed pass stayed below the teak char threshold and lifted that film in one run, leaving open grain ready for oil rather than a second incompatible coating.

The Boat: Well-Built, Finish Compromised

Angela and her husband purchased this Catalina in excellent structural condition. The teak interior was sound, but the previous owner had applied a water-based finish over the original oil, a combination that lifts and clouds rather than curing properly. See the Preparation page for why this combination fails.

Before: Cabin Door, Failed Topcoat

The cabin door showed the water-based finish most clearly, milky patches where the film had lifted off the oily teak substrate. Sanding would remove wood material; chemical strippers risk grain staining. Laser cleaning ablates only the topcoat.

Detail: Finish Delamination at Door Edge

Edge grain is where water-based failure is most visible, the finish had separated cleanly from the wood surface, confirming the adhesion incompatibility. This edge required lower energy passes to avoid heating the thin cross-grain section.

Bulkhead Panels: Methodical Section Work

The cabin bulkhead panels were worked in sections to maintain consistent pass overlap across the grain. Each panel was inspected between passes, teak's natural silica content means finish lift-off is visible immediately as the surface shifts from milky to warm honey-brown.

After: Engine Cover, Clean Grain Restored

The engine cover teak came out with open grain and no residue, exactly the surface condition needed before applying a penetrating oil finish. No sanding required; the laser left the wood dimensionally unchanged.

Ready for Refinishing

With the failed water-based topcoat removed from all interior brightwork, Angela's Catalina is ready for a proper teak oil application. The wood surface is clean, dry, and open, conditions that allow the oil to penetrate rather than sit on top.

A Catalina in Richmond had sound teak cabinetry under a water-based topcoat that had been laid over original oil, so the film lifted and clouded instead of curing. A conservative pulsed pass stayed below the teak char threshold and lifted that film in one run, leaving open grain ready for oil rather than a second incompatible coating.

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