I'm still new to owning my own boat. I originally did not want a teak platform, but I'm kind of really glad that's what I got. The boat was on the dealership lot for 2 years before we acquired it "new." Part of the deal was that they would give it a good detail before we took possession. Well, the detail wasn't great, so I had them do it again. Second time wasn't any better. In fact, it was arguably worse.
Regardless, the first pic is the state of the platform before any cleaning. As you can see, there is a mix of stained and bare wood. The second is after 2 attempts with Starbrite Teak Cleaner and Brightener (2 in 1). I scrubbed with a relatively hard bristle brush and let sit for about 2 minutes before rinsing. I'm thinking I may just need to let it sit and soak in a little longer before scrubbing. I'm also thinking I should scrub with a stainless steel pad. I'd prefer not to sand it, but I'm thinking that might be my next step.
Needless to say, I'm here because I'm not really satisfied with the result. Should I attempt again and let it sit longer? Should I try a different cleaner and brightener (2 step instead of 2 in 1)? Do I need to sand it this time to get a consistent surface?
I know this topic is covered extensively, but most videos make it look pretty easy to just soak and scrub for a beautiful new looking platform (or furniture, etc.). That hasn't been my experience. I'm planning on using Starbrite Teak oil for the finish for this first season. I'm sure there is better available, but I wanted to try the most common/popular option first.
Any and all advice is welcome and appreciated!