The wood trim of your Hemlock Canoe was treated at our shop with three coats of Watco Marine/Exterior Teak Oil Finish. It protects and waterproofs the trim, extending it’s life and preserving it’s beauty. We chose this product not only because it works quite well but also because it’s widely available online and at most hardware stores. When purchasing, it’s important to look for the product labeled simply as “Teak Oil,” and not the variations that contain stain, colorations, or terms like “Danish” or “Walnut.” We suggest a few treatments per year, and think it’s good to do an application before and after any extended paddling trips or long term storage, especially when storing your canoe outdoors. Application instructions are right on the bottle. It’s of particular importance to really make sure your wood is nice and  clean before oiling it. Soap and water helps and can usually do the trick. A normal rag often works well, but you can use a scouring pad if you have to. Only use as much abrasion as needed to remove the dirt. If that still leaves behind some dirt, a small amount of sanding can help but only sand the wood if absolutely necessary because every bout of sanding permanently removes some of the wood. Use wet sandpaper with a fine grit. 

To apply the oil, saturate a rag with oil and wipe it onto the clean dry wood. You have added enough oil when the wood is saturated and the oil stops seeping into the wood pores and starts to bead on the surface.  We do not recommend the use of varnish on the woodwork of your canoe. Reapply oil to the wood as often as your usage and local conditions require. Do not let the wood dry out.