Dealing with a badly worn teak deck

[superheat6k]

Hmm, do you know what has caused the depression and is the deck spongy when you step on the depressed area? Can you access the area from underneath?

Not at all spongy, The deck head below is the ceiling of the aft cabin, and is covered with trim carpet. Its just a slight low point I guess.

I have been looking at Point North website for marine acrylic canvas. I estimate I can make a cover for the whole poop for ~ £150

 

[MapisM]

Just need to coordinate things with my guy and see what is the best way forward.

K, I thought to suggest this before, but I forgot. In your boots, I'd give a serious thought to flexiteek.
The one and only reason why builders stick teak layers on grp decks is that some folks think that teak is better than synthetic stuff, but the truth is that it isn't - show-off effect aside!
Among many other reasons, the job you are doing goes to prove that.
Here, I said that.
Now all I need is some popcorn, before reading posts from teak fans flaming my suggestion!

 

[scubaman]

K, I thought to suggest this before, but I forgot. In your boots, I'd give a serious thought to flexiteek.
The one and only reason why builders stick teak layers on grp decks is that some folks think that teak is better than synthetic stuff, but the truth is that it isn't - show-off effect aside!
Among many other reasons, the job you are doing goes to prove that.
Here, I said that.
Now all I need is some popcorn, before reading posts from teak fans flaming my suggestion!

P, we had that discussion whilst on my boat. I would have had no problems with synthetic teak as such but imho you'd have to go all flexiteek as having both synthetic and real wouldn't look nice (although you could say that i've given up perfection by going half new-half old in the cockpit and you'd be right ). Also the teak flybridge steps would stick out.

And the third thing is that I couldn't find anyone who works with flexiteek and could have taken care of making the panels and installing them on my boat.

 

[scubaman]

Wattsons are good. As well as the decks I've bought from them indirectly thru Fairline I have also ordered plenty of custom items directly, and in my experience they keep to their delivery promises and are a good team. You get good email communication with folks who know their onions

They could likely make your aft deck in say 4 parts rather than 2, or whatever, to make shipping easier. You cant see the joins when it is installed of course

Yes, I got a quote from them in two hours! They also sent the drawings, which showed the largest panel being split into three parts.

I just heard back from the guy I'm using and he has already started the work on the cockpit so I'm going to have to stick with him and see how it works out.

The Finnish boat show starts next weekend and I'm going to have a word with the local importer of Fairline and Sunseeker about Wattsons as they appeared to have been completely unaware of their offering.

 

[MapisM]

I couldn't find anyone who works with flexiteek and could have taken care of making the panels and installing them on my boat.

As I was told, they are capable and willing to make pre-built sheets (that can be shipped rolled!), ready to be glued wherever you want, based on templates - that shouldn't be too difficult to make, for relatively simple shapes as a cockpit or a swim platform.

I understand your other points, though.

All the best for the job, and keep us posted with updated pics! :encouragement:

 

[scubaman]

As I was told, they are capable and willing to make pre-built sheets (that can be shipped rolled!), ready to be glued wherever you want, based on templates - that shouldn't be too difficult to make, for relatively simple shapes as a cockpit or a swim platform.

You are right, I was offered the choice of sheets being prepared according to self made templates. My thinking was that I'd like the same person to do the templates, who will be making the sheets and installation. But that is definitely an option for those more confident with preparing the template themselves.

 

[MapisM]

My thinking was that I'd like the same person to do the templates, who will be making the sheets and installation.

Understood & agreed.
It's along that type of thinking that I'm letting my yard do the recaulking with Sika again (touch wood! ).

 

[scubaman]

A little update.

I bought a router to help with removing the rest of the teak. It did help but the problem was that the old teak was of slightly different thickness in different areas and thus I couldn't adjust the router to take out all the teak but had to leave a little safe margin in order not to cut into the gelcoat. This and the inevitable ridges that were left from the router still meant quite a bit of manual work with a chisel. Another issue was the dust which despite using a vacuum cleaner attached to the router, was everywhere.

But nevertheless, old teak is now removed and the deck is ready for installation as per the original plan.

I had another word with the teak guys about doing the whole cockpit on one go but their schedule doesn't allow for this at this time so we agreed to get back on that over the next winter...

Installation is due to take place next week, I'll post pics afterwards.

 

[scubaman]

Another update. The teak guys sent me these pics after doing the first part of the installation (bathing platform and the cockpit). Haven’t seen it in person yet, but from pics I’m delighted with their work.

As discussed earlier, I made the rather hasty decision to renew only the badly worn part of the cockpit teak from transom gate to fly steps. The old part is dirty from last year and hasn’t been sanded at all. I’m sure we’ll be ok with it, for the coming summer at least, after it has received some attention. Besides we keep loose carpets on the area anyway for protection.

They will be back for installing the side decks in a couple of weeks. Happy with the results so far so looking forward to the rest.

 

[MapisM]

Wow, that looks a quality job indeed. Not one single knot in sight, and nicely finished all around.
I don't think the boat was any better when she came out of the factory! :encouragement:

 

[jfm]

+1 = that looks excellent. Looks nice quality teak, nicely installed
The distinction between old and new is almost non existent - you were right K! - I am just going to lunch and will eat some humble pie

 

[Pinnacle]

Looks good K - you must be delighted!

 

[scubaman]

Thank you for the complimentary comments, gentlemen!

J, in case you haven't gotten to the dessert yet, by all means, please have a tiramisu instead .

Let's see how it turns out once everything is ready, but yes, it looks nice so far.

 

[rafiki_]

This looks a real top job Scubaman!

 

[superheat6k]

Excellent job. If it were mine I would be applying two coats of Semco as a matter of priority.

 

[henryf]

Very nice !

Makes the boat look brand new.

Henry

 

[John100156]

I used Semco on my old Targa 34 (2006) and now use it on my F43 (2001), the teak is 15 years old, I touched it up a few weeks ago and it still pretty good. Its so easy and quick to apply, so we do it twice a year in the Med:

 

[benjenbav]

Wow, that looks a quality job indeed. Not one single knot in sight, and nicely finished all around.
I don't think the boat was any better when she came out of the factory! :encouragement:

+1

 

[scubaman]

Another update on the teak. The teak team were at the boat last week to finish installing the side decks and to do a very slight sanding of the old part in the cockpit. I'm very happy with the work they have done. They have kept every promise made, been very prompt in their communication and the end result itself leaves little to desire. To name names, they are www.vikholmi.ee in case someone more local to these water comes a cross this thread with a need for teak.

With the old part sanded, the cockpit looks ok imho. After a season of use I doubt there is a significant difference between the old and the new.

There are two minor issues, however. First being the deck fittings which are now recessed into the teak meaning that water will gather on top of the caps. I need to make sure that the o-ring is sound on the cap but what worries more is how the water will affect the teak. I see two alternatives; 1) seal the exposed vertical edges of the teak with a layer of sikaflex or 2) take out the fitting and fill the recess with something, maybe sika. I'm probably just going to see how it works out for the first season but any thoughts on the matter would be welcome.

The second issue is that I can already see the annoyment caused by the worn teak being replaced by fretting on keeping the new teak clean . This brings me to the subject of teak oils (Semco in particular). My initial plan was to leave it as it is and only two part it once a year. I realise people are firmly on two camps on this and it's a bit of 'which anchor is the best' -type of discussion but John's post got me reviewing my stance. Any thoughts on the matter would again be appreciated.

Sanded steps match the new teak nicely.

So overall, very happy with the result and now looking forward to finishing the polishing of the boat and getting her ready for relaunch.

 

[andy59]

Looks great Scubaman , personaly I would treat with semco outside of the cockpit covers as the teak exposed to rain & sun seems to go downhill quite quickly but inside the covers seems to get an easy life . Re the deckfiller if you can access underneath easily I would have some 6mm packing rings made to lift them up level ( imho) . Looks fab whatever you do :encouragement: