canvas deck

[thenewboy]

being new to classic boat ownership i need loads of guidance,this is the first year i have had to do maintenance on my pride and joy. my decks were recanvassed probably about two years ago and are now showing signs of cracking along the edges where they meet the toerail, what should i do to make good and seal? apologies if this isn't up to the usual standard of question but i have to start somewhere, cheers for now

 

[Chrusty1]

"apologies if this isn't up to the usual standard of question but i have to start somewhere,"

Blimey mate!.....wait until you see some of the answers! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Sloping off quietly like......

 

[thenewboy]

thats positive nothing like light hearted banter!!

 

[Chrusty1]

Well re-canvassing decks is a little outside my experience, but there are plenty on this forum that will be able to help, they just need a nudge sometimmes to wake them up, being mostly a bit ancient, they have to have the odd power doze! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I expect they will be along shortly, when they can find their sticks and zimmer frames! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[absit_omen]

What is the boat? You say toerail, do you mean that or covering boards perhaps?

Photo would help a lot.

 

[Wansworth]

Best bet,rip it all off and put down Cascover.A canvas deck covering should last longer than two years maybe the paint was too hard a finish,should be oil based ans should last a while .

 

[Peterduck]

I would certainly not rip the whole lot off just because of a little cracking along one edge. I'm sure that that will be repairable. Studying the toerail, does the canvas go underneath it, or does it stop short at the inner edge of the toerail? Cracking suggests to me that there is a small amount of movement between the deck and the sheerstrake. I would consider masking alongside the crack on both the canvas and toerail, and brushing into the crack some liquid epoxy. If the epoxy soaks down into the crack, that is good, as it is getting to places that would otherwise require extensive dismantling of the boat. It may need several applications of epoxy before the crack is filled, but do persevere with it. Check inside the boat to see if epoxy is dribbling through from the deck. If so, you may need to put gaffa tape over the joint to stop it running out.
Peter.

 

[Gordonmc]

Peterduck is on the button. The toerails on Flap sit on top of the canvas which folds over the edge of the deck and down the hull by 5 cm or so where it goes under the rubbing strake.
Movement of the toerail in relation to the deck will show as a separation. If the deck was properly re-canvassed with the toerails and other fitting removed the deck seal should be ok.
To protect the toerail mahogany, rather than the canvas, I put a thin bead of Lifecaulk round the bottom edge of the toerail to seal the gap.
Lifecaulk is a brown (or white) polysulphide mastic which is flexible and can be sanded.
There is very little to go wrong with decking in canvas which would still be popular if there was availability of copious amounts of old paint, preferably lead based, for bedding - and plenty of time for it to go off.

 

[thenewboy]

your idea sounds good, it looks as if my re-decking wasn't carried out as it should have been as the canvas isn't tucked under but is butted up against the toe rail, it had been suggested to use sikaflex but i don't like the sound of that, epoxy sounds a whole lot better.

 

[prettyjazs]

i think you should consult it to some people who expertise in that field, sorry can't give you more idea about it you should have posted some photos for us to see what kind of crackings are that