Lifespan of teak decks

B

biscuit

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 Aug 2007
Messages
399
Visit site
How long do they last before needing expert replacement? I have read various estimates, usually 10-15 years. As the cost of replacement can be as much as one third to half the value of a boat of this age, it is a real worry when buying in the second hand market. Can the buyer or a surveyor really tell what state the deck is in ? Is there any reliable test ? I quite fancy a used swedish type cruiser, 34-36 ft range, but the expanse of teak is putting me off: rightly or wrongly? Views needed please....
 
The answer to your question is - it depends upon a number of factors. Principally two factors - the quality of the original installation and the consistency of maintenance. I've come across two examples of Bavarias where the deck has started to lift after eight years. On the other hand I've seen well laid decks that are still OK after twenty years. However it is likely that a deck aged around 15-20 years will require some attention - specifically the caulking will be starting to fail in localised areas and this will require immediate attention. This is not a difficult job but it is fiddly and time-consuming and, if left, the deck will start to lift and go quickly beyond repair.

My advice is to pay careful attention to the deck, if necessary get in an expert, and, if it looks like there are problems, walk away or get a substantial reduction to fund replacement.
 
There are broadly two kinds of teak deck on GRP boats. The most common is planks laid on an adhesive and attached to the deck with SS screws. The gaps between the planks are payed with a flexible caulking. On this type failure occurs through the planks wearing away due to excessive scrubbing and or poor quality wood. This shows up as ridges, plugs popping out and seams opening up. Water can get in and penetrate to the interior of the boat. A variation on this method is that on Guapas boat where there is a ply substrate - even worse consequences as you will see. Boats built this way before builders realised it was not brilliant are coming up for deck replacement and high labour and escalating teak costs give you the figures you have seen. In my view, avoid buying a boat that needs the work as you will never recover the cost. Its a rock and a hard spot. You can't sell that class of boat without a teak deck (easily) and you can't sell it with a knackered deck without taking a big hit.

The second, and more recent method is the one most volume producers use such as Bavaria. The teak is thinner, almost veneers and is pre-formed then vacuum bag bonded onto the deack. These may wear out more quickly, but at least failure does not result in water getting into the deck through screw holes.

As it happens I decided not to have teak decks on my Bavaria, only teak cockpit because of the horror stories. In the event, after 9 years hard use the teak is fine apart from a couple of pieces of caulking lifting. Other similar age boats still look good.

However, I definitely would not have "traditional" teak decks screwed onto a GRP substrate, and would probably still spend the extra on things other than a glued on teak deck.

So my advice is buy an older teak deck boat if it is less than 5 years old and sell it before 10, or buy one that has just had the full job done and keep it no more than 10 years. That way somebody else picks up the cost and you get the benefit.

This advice of course ignores all the damage you do to the tropical rain forest environment!
 
biscuit said:
How long do they last before needing expert replacement? I have read various estimates, usually 10-15 years. As the cost of replacement can be as much as one third to half the value of a boat of this age, it is a real worry when buying in the second hand market. Can the buyer or a surveyor really tell what state the deck is in ? Is there any reliable test ? I quite fancy a used swedish type cruiser, 34-36 ft range, but the expanse of teak is putting me off: rightly or wrongly? Views needed please....
Click to expand...

I have a 23-year old Finnish-built Nauticat 35 which has the original teak deck, still in good condition - although with initial indications that restoration lies ahead. As others have pointed out, much depends on initial build quality (Nauticats have an excellent reputation), and subsequent maintenance.

As Tranona says, things to watch out for include excessive ridging, signs of screw heads emerging or plugs popping, and caulking which is standing proud of the planking. That said, my experience is at odds with his (pessimistic?) view of avoiding teak deck boats older than 10 years. However, teak deck replacement is an expensive business and you should be cautious.
 
Another aspect is that as teak has become rarer it has become a) more expensive and b) is harvested earlier. This has two effects. Firstly, teak used for decking has become thinner to save cost, especially on less expensive boats, which reduces its life before re-decking. Secondly, the teak, being younger, tends to be softer and thus wears more quickly. Neither is good news for buyers of recent boats with teak decks.

BTW, my original teak deck lasted 22 years. When replacing it, I removed over 300 screws. Seems daft to build a watertight deck, then drill over 300 holes in it. Replacement deck has been laid without screws.
 
Last edited:
had the same idea as you Biscuit, but in the end I bought a Starlight 35 and one of the 2 reasons for doing so was that it didnt have teak decks. The other was that is was a similar quality boat to the Swedes at half the price because it didnt have the Brand.

To my mind, a teak deck on a second hand boat makes it worth less money not more.
 
A friend asked me to help him sort out his Teak decked Cheoy Lee some time back, after looking for all of 5 minutes I walked away, what a mess and what a lot of work for a 'look'.

No, any boat with a teak deck has zero going for it in my book, it only ads cost and weight.

We have enough work to do to keep sailing and don't need this sort of very expensive and labour intensive finish.

Just my opinion, but I do feel sorry for anyone who has it. FWIW I make it a rile that any timber on the exterior is replaced with other, more durable materials, right down to grab rails.

The same inside, modern surface treatments last longer, need little or no maintenance and no varnish or paint, ever.:eek:

I'd rather be sailing.

Avagoodweekend......;)
 
There are Teak Decks and then there are Teak Decks......

Modern day boats may have a decorative teak deck that will probably be about 1/2" thick, this type of decking is as stated decorative and for looking at, it wont under any circumstance provide what teak decks were originally designed for, thats durability.

If you look at older boats, when teak was plentiful and cheap to buy, you will find that the decks were well over 1" thick (The Royal Yacht had decks 2" thick) and may in many circumstances still be serviceable after many years of hard work.

My decks are now 36 years old and in reasonable condition, they were over an inch thick when built and are still well over 3/4" overall, so with some care and good luck I should get another few years out of them. I will say I'm not looking forward to the day I need to remove the decking but that's many years away! I hope.

The biggest problem with a teak deck is owners try to keep them that lovely golden colour by using chemicals......... salt water only is the answer. Teak should be grey not honey coloured and any aggressive cleaning will wear the new thin decks making them unserviceable in short time.

I enjoy having my teak deck and when and if I need to replace it I will probably bite the bullet.

So in answer to your question..........it depends?
 
>the quality of the original installation and the consistency of maintenance.

I agree with that and there is another consideration, where you sail. The tropics eat teak decks. We took ours off.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

B
teak laid decks?
Replies
17
Views
550
Bajansailor
Bajansailor

Share this page

Top