Grey caulking on teak decking

[Magnum]

Does anyone have grey caulking on their teak decking? Interested to know whether it makes hot teak more bearable in the baking sun? Also is it a total pain to keep clean?

Ta

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

Does anyone have grey caulking on their teak decking? Interested to know whether it makes hot teak more bearable in the baking sun? Also is it a total pain to keep clean?

Ta

It does, but teak thickness is also an important factor. You need 10 mm or more to start feeling improvements.

 

[vas]

I do have grey caulking but in the heads
Will put 10mm thick teak again with grey caulking in the aft deck which is usually shaded, so wont be able to help on that.

I'd agree with PYB, thickness is more important than colour especially if it's wider pieces as it may be in your 75.
Grey looks cooler than white IMHO (JFM is going to flame me now ) and I wouldn't go to black anyway

cheers

V.

 

[Pinnacle]

Awaits input from jfm.......

 

[MapisM]

Interested to know whether it makes hot teak more bearable in the baking sun?

There's one and only thing that makes a boat deck more bearable in the baking sun, and that's getting rid of teak altogether (or much better yet, since I guess you can, have the boat built without it).

I have only two words for teak decks:
never
again

Signed: someone who had structural teak (15mm thick) on main deck and f/b for the last 16 years, and just bought a plastic boat originally built with 8mm teak on main deck, but got rid of it and replaced it with Kiwigrip instead.

 

[Nick_H]

M, forum member EME had it on his Targa 50. You may have met him during your time in Antibes? I think he still looks in here occasionally, but it may be worth a pm.

Not sure if you're having any dealings with BCU on the new boat, but they also had an involvement, so may be able to give a view.

 

[Nigelpickin]

There's one and only thing that makes a boat deck more bearable in the baking sun, and that's getting rid of teak altogether (or much better yet, since I guess you can, have the boat built without it).

I have only two words for teak decks:
never
again

Signed: someone who had structural teak (15mm thick) on main deck and f/b for the last 16 years, and just bought a plastic boat originally built with 8mm teak on main deck, but got rid of it and replaced it with Kiwigrip instead.

+1
Yay, finally we can agree to agree!


I've deleted the teak on my next boat and spent the money on fridge upgrades...but of course, I've not got anything like the OP's boat...

 

[Magnum]

It does, but teak thickness is also an important factor. You need 10 mm or more to start feeling improvements.

Interesting. Why is thickness important?

 

[jfm]

As can be seen from the above,this is clearly an each to their own topic!
My $0.02:
1. Colour of caulk makes no difference to temperature;
2. I'm 100% opposite to MapisM - I love teak decks and would never not have them
3. I love white rather than grey. It makes no difference cleaning wise (except use clear Semco not tinted brown) and just looks awesome, but very much imho. All cool boats have white nowadays. At least one of the 40m princess has it. Go on, be the only 75 with it and you'll be way cooler than all the other boring black caulked 75s. I'm definitely ordering white on next boat and have never regretted speccing it on current boat
4. Get TDS 440 caulk, whether you have black, grey or white. Don't let Princess choose some gloopy sticky cheap stuff.

Here are some random pics as food for thought (scuse bottom in first; she was a model on the Caspar/Joe movie shoot):

 

[Magnum]

That looks lovely jfm. Really fresh and cool. As you know quite a few of the uber-cool sailing yachts have white/grey caulking and it looks amazing.

No need to apologise for the bottom pic (have you got any more ?)

Are you referring to Semco teak sealer? Never used it but imagine it would change the natural appearance of the teak somewhat.

 

[Elessar]

White is for inside, black is for outside. JFM persuaded me I was wrong and I got white. And I love the look of white now, so glad I listened.

However I got permateek. I don't have the help with cleaning that you lot can afford, and I have far more concentrated use of far less "teak". The only thing I miss is the smell of wet teak and I wouldn't go back. Instead of 2 part cleaners I can use a petrol jetwash.

My real teak only looked good until the first crisp was dropped on it. So a day usually.

 

[rafiki_]

That looks lovely jfm. Really fresh and cool. As you know quite a few of the uber-cool sailing yachts have white/grey caulking and it looks amazing.

No need to apologise for the bottom pic (have you got any more ?)

Are you referring to Semco teak sealer? Never used it but imagine it would change the natural appearance of the teak somewhat.

Nope, Clear Semco just enhances the natural look of the teak. I apply twice per season, and think it looks terrific. Easy to apply too. You might have to apply more often in the Med? As ever, JFM is the guru. He knows nearly as much about this as Heads :encouragement:

 

[jrudge]

I am slightly between JFM and Mapism.

Have teak where it matters ( flybridge / cockpit), but not where it doesn't - side decks.

Look nice but more to clean!

 

[jfm]

Nope, Clear Semco just enhances the natural look of the teak. I apply twice per season, and think it looks terrific. Easy to apply too. You might have to apply more often in the Med? As ever, JFM is the guru. He knows nearly as much about this as Heads :encouragement:

Semco clear is awesome - I'm a late convert. It holds the straw brown "new" look for a couple of months in the med sun and is incredibly easy to apply. this reduces the number of 2-part scrubs, so is nice on the teak. When you apply it the teak totally does not look like its had some treatment or varnish stuff; it just looks like un-faded bare new teak. I cant recommend it highly enough. With a brand new boat I'd have it put on (2 coats) immediately on delivery

By the way, all the pics I've put above are without Semco. They're last year's pics and I am a late discover of Semco (last winter). So now my decks are slightly newer looking that in the pics above, which show a bit of sun fade where the teak is dry. Reason I was late to convert was same concerns that you mention Magnum - I was worried it would change the look and not look natural. The brown/gold tinted semcos do indeed do that, and you see boats with the goldy colour that (imho) isn't the look I'd want. But the clear "Semco Teak Sealer" is perfect and I'm a complete convert. Punchy price, btw.

For crisps, just spray K2R. Job done. We have several little aerosols around in deck lockers.

Yes, plenty of uber sailing yachts have white Magnum. Chrisco, Twizzle and several Wallys, just for starters. Lots of cool mobos have it too. I hesitated before confirming the order (back in 2013/4) but I am so glad I did and I will most definitely order white again. Black feels so yesteryear to me now.

Further polka-dotted bottomage at 2:16 of this :encouragement:...

 

[MapisM]

I am slightly between JFM and Mapism.
Have teak where it matters ( flybridge / cockpit), but not where it doesn't - side decks.
Look nice but more to clean!

Just curious J, why do you thing it matters in f/b?
In my view, the cockpit is the only area where teak really makes sense (and arguably, for aesthetic reasons, also in the swim platform, which is a sort of cockpit extension).

Regardless, I'm well aware that teak is uber-cool for many, and I fully agree that aesthetic is firmly in the each to their own camp - as well as the caulking color, which I don't dare debating!
But there are other ways to look at the teak/grp choice - functionality and practicality, for instance.
My previous post addressed the deck temperature under hot sun, which can make walking barefoot a painful experience with teak, but that's not the only teak functional/practical drawback (maintenance, cleaning, poor grip when wet, durability, higher cost and weight are others).
Actually, I struggle to think of one single aspect where teak is superior to non-skid GRP, with the only possible exception of the "feeling" under bare feet, which I agree is better with teak (not always though - surely not when very hot or wet).
Then again, whether to place more value on feeling and aesthetic factors or on the others I mentioned, this is yet again an each to their own choice - no doubt about it! :encouragement:

 

[Portofino]

How about the zero caulking look ? --- or caulk the same colour as the teak to give a more solid feel .

like this I saw @ Genoa-- need PYB to name it please ,looked expensive , there's only one step down to the bathing platform and it's a huge one level area with the patio doors folded away ,

You can,t see it but that floor runs all the way inside to the screen same teak as out side .
I like the FB overhang for shade and more acreage up there too .

It's makes our " plastic fantastic " Uk Priny and SS FB ,s look like something that's dropped out of a Netto xmas cracker .

Tap to enlarge

View attachment 66449

 

[Portofino]

View attachment 66450

White caulking --- rather a lot of acreage to show it off :encouragement:

 

[Portofino]

Very faint almost colour matched caulking to give a more solid feel -- I like this effect tbh SL SX 88
View attachment 66451

 

[Magnum]

Very faint almost colour matched caulking to give a more solid feel -- I like this effect tbh SL SX 88
View attachment 66451

I do like that

I wonder who makes the caulking? I believe TDS is the best stuff but unless I am mistaken they only make it in black, grey or white.

 

[BartW]

Very faint almost colour matched caulking to give a more solid feel -- I like this effect tbh SL SX 88
View attachment 66451

indeed very nice ! I like it.
how does it look late season, or in winter, when the teak becomes grey.
with this finish, I think one has to keep the teak straw brown all year long.