Epoxy vs Sikaflex: Rot in ply subdeck underneath teak deck. Teak Deck Company: Maintenance & Repair. Quality teak decking can serve decades when properly maintained or it can be ruined in one year.
Proper caring has been discussed on the Net many times, but as in other subjects there are opinions that may guide you into the wrong direction. First thing to remember is the fact that teak is actually very sensitive natural material. It is used on decks because of its excellent properties. But, natural growing generates softer and harder sections in trees (year rings, also called grain in lumber).
Softer section on teak deck planking of course wears away easier and faster than harder section. Techniques for Removing Teak Decks. We’ve covered this process as if you’re removing the entire deck at once.
Depending upon your time allowance and circumstances, you may want to section off your deck and do one part at a time to avoid problems when it starts raining. Here are the steps: Removing Deck Hardware Before you can remove your teak deck, you’re going to have to remove all the deck hardware that is installed on top of the teak planks. This is a slow and tedious process that really requires two people, one above decks and the other below holding the nut so the fastener can be released. Toss a coin to see who has to go below. It’s very likely you’ll have to remove the deck hardware for your roller-furler, any staysail deck hardware, and even your windlass to be able to get to all of the decking.
Make sure you have plenty of clear, plastic zip-lock bags and a permanent marker handy to package and label all hardware and fasteners. Restoring Teak Decks: The Pimping of Escondido « Pimp My Boat. The photo on the left was taken on our first visit to the broker. A survey revealed no serious damage though aging was evident. No flexing underfoot, no soft spots, and moisture meter readings were low and good for a boat of this age. Though it was a cosmetic nightmare, the decks were almost at their original thickness, less the ridges of wear. In her new home port (right photo), almost 2000 screws were removed, countersinks drilled, and new screws placed. Two thousand chamfered teak bungs cap the new countersinks. The teak was still over 1/2″ in most places and very near its original thickness, but deep ridges showed loss of the soft grain and loose or cracked seam caulking.
The only power tools used for refastening/restoring these decks were a Fein Multimaster , a drill, and a small rechargeable screwdriver. We also purchased: In the area we expected to complete within a given workday, we removed the old screws, drilled the new countersinks, then vacuumed the dust before proceeding. How to maintain and caulk teak decks on boats. There are two basic types of teak decks.
Modern ones are decorative teak laid over a sub deck of fiberglass or other construction which forms the structural support. The traditional decks are planks of teak laid over a frame where the teak itself forms the structure of the deck. Re-caulking of a decorative teak deck is only necessary when there is physical deterioration of the caulking to restore appearance and to stop water damage due to trapped moisture under the wood.
Re-caulking of structural teak decks is a continuous process which commences about 10 minutes after the deck was first laid and continues until the boat is abandoned. Teak should never be laid over steel plate decks. Traditional teak planks have cotton pounded into the seams when they are laid. A groove is cut out of the top of each of the cracks between the planks to provide a cavity for the caulking compound. Refitting an Older Boat. I am not going to sugar-coat it.
Doing a complete refit on an older boat is very much an all-consuming task. It will consume your time, it will consume your energy, and it will consume your pocketbook. And, if you’re able to deal successfully with all that consumption, it may just be the most rewarding thing you’ll ever do. Serengeti is a 1978 Formosa Peterson 46 that Larry and I purchased a year and a half ago to replace our previous cruising boat. We made the switch with the full intention of executing a complete refit addressing structural, mechanical, and cosmetic areas. Once a boat has 20 odd years of life and use behind it, unless it’s been meticulously maintained and updated along the way, it’s going to need some very serious attention in many areas to make it a safe and comfortable cruising vessel.
Things don’t just happen on boats. In deciding what work needed to be done on Serengeti, we had three separate goals to achieve. Suggested Reading List. Soft Spots on the Deck. Apogee- "Ok then what is a really good price?
" Sometimes, there is none. You can find the West Systems folks on the web and check out their online PDFs about deck repairs. West System Inc. ; 102 Patterson Ave. P.O. Box 665; Bay City, MI 48707-0665 Tel. 989-684-7286 Fax 989-684-1374 Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm ET.