How easy is it to lay Tek-Deck yourself

[sealegsjim]

I am thinking of laying Tek-deck type finish to my cockpit seats and stern step. Have any of you forumites done this yourself and how easy/difficult is it? Any pitfalls or tips would be appreciated. Also how do you finish exposed ends when you don't have a border for instance on the stern step which is too narrow to have a border?

 

[vyv_cox]

This is Marinedeck 2000, strips of cork based material stuck down with a grade of Sikaflex, then caulked with another. Relatively easy to do, time consuming. This was some date around 1999 and it still looks almost the same, never lost adhesion and darkened only slightly. Warm to sit on, dries quickly when wet. It comes in various widths to enable making up ends, edges, etc.

 

[nimbusgb]

It's a time consuming task. Watch the videos that they have. Use good tools.

I did my cockpit and transom steps. Took a few sessions over several trips to the boat. 'Grouting' takes time.

View attachment 36566

 

[PCUK]

Get the PBO step by step guide.

 

[sealegsjim]

Get the PBO step by step guide.

£6.95 for a pdf download seems like daylight robbery. If these articles/reviews were a reasonable price I am sure more people would use the service

 

[nimbusgb]

Btw i have the gun that takes their supplied caulking 'sausages' if you are interested.

 

[sealegsjim]

Btw i have the gun that takes their supplied caulking 'sausages' if you are interested.

The stuff I am thinking of using is actually dek-king and it has the caulking 'built in'

 

[PCUK]

That's right but you still need to stick it down with the Saba sealant which is also used for caulking areas that do not have the built in caulk.
I agree on the price of reprints. I didn't know they were that expensive! I've got a Pdf copy that I made myself. If anyone wants it PM me your email address.

 

[nimbusgb]

All of them have the caulking 'built-in' but you'll be surprised at how much caulking you need to do.

If you have a section with a frame around it the built in caulk only covers 1 side and any angled cuts traditionally have caulked joints. Where a 'plank' is cut around a fitting or if it is not full width ........ Get out the caulking gun.

Right PIA.

 

[sealegsjim]

Thanks everyone and particularly to forumite who sent me pdf of PBO article

 

[Marsupial]

I am thinking of laying Tek-deck type finish to my cockpit seats and stern step. Have any of you forumites done this yourself and how easy/difficult is it? Any pitfalls or tips would be appreciated. Also how do you finish exposed ends when you don't have a border for instance on the stern step which is too narrow to have a border?

seen two people do this (one in Greece the other in Turkey) and their approach was "different" they purchased a teak log and took to to a sawmill and had it made into 2" x 1/2" strips and planed. They then cut it to size and laid the deck fixing it with sika, in both cases the finish was amazing and the cost very low. (in relative terms - cheaper than the made up "ply" version) - just a thought

 

[PCUK]

A good idea but not really Tek-Dek though!

 

[pvb]

I am thinking of laying Tek-deck type finish to my cockpit seats and stern step. Have any of you forumites done this yourself and how easy/difficult is it? Any pitfalls or tips would be appreciated.

I reckon the secret must be to plan very carefully how you want it to look, so that it looks "right" when it's finished. The eye quickly detects anything which doesn't look "right". You need to map out the way the separate elements will fit together, ideally creating paper patterns for each section, so you can be sure they look right and align properly with adjacent sections.

 

[dylanwinter]

I started reading this thread with such optimism

I have the stuff on Katie L and it is wonderful - it looks good, is warm to sit on, realy rather forgiving of abuse

and I thought that some of it would be rather nice on Old Yeller in the cockpit

but then I realised that doing it was well above my grade

I know I would make a mess

D

 

[capetown]

Did my Pageant earlier this year.
Try to do it when it's warm or you will need to keep using a hair dryer.
Use ridged templating so when you get it home it's still true.
A large flat work surface, in my case 2 fire doors on the dining room table.
Mark the margins/border positions on the boat, then you know they'll fit.
Long and short straight edge, hooked and normal Stanley knife blades, two big handle type Stanley knives, as mentioned above the large sausage gun with spare nozzles, a large roller. I'm glad I bought this as it really amalgamated the adhesive into the grooves. And those long snips, yes they're worth it, you'll find other uses for them.
We applied mastic in the gap between the Dek-King and the cockpit wall so that water didn't pool, so no wet bums.
As others have said, it's time consuming but rewarding.

Good luck if you DIY.

I am thinking of laying Tek-deck type finish to my cockpit seats and stern step. Have any of you forumites done this yourself and how easy/difficult is it? Any pitfalls or tips would be appreciated. Also how do you finish exposed ends when you don't have a border for instance on the stern step which is too narrow to have a border?