ianc1200
Well-Known Member
My 1951 estuary cruiser has foredeck problems. I laid the deck in (about) 1987, 1" T & G "V" jointed BC pine, soaked in Cuprinol over several weeks, and canvas covered. By 2006 I got fed up recanvasing every so often, and laid Robbins Super Elite ply (I think 3/16") bonded with epoxy, grip fast nails etc. But there must of been gaps in between and two years ago some softness appeared, and last year it was apparent I needed to repair at least part of the deck.
Moving on to current, I just got the guard rails, tabernacle, windlass off, & I'm thinking re do the whole lot, so once the hatches are off I'm going to take the whole lot up. I expect there may be issues with deck beams/lodging knees & the beamshelf similar as I had in the 80's.
I intend to lay two layers of 1/2" Super Elite, with the underside having fake "V" joints routed. I have some heavy ballast to ensure the top layer is firmly laid on the bottom layer (both pre epoxied, sanded and epoxied between). I'm assuming trying to bend 1" ply over a deck camber of perhaps 6" in a width of 9' would be too difficult, although if i did it would remove all concerns about gaps between two layers (any thoughts?).
To avoid painting every year, after epoxy/woven rovings, I'm thinking of using a white pigment.
And to give the deck some grip, the anti slip grit sold in packets for use with deck paint, although one of the local motor cruisers here, on the upper Thames, owned by the late Rodney Bewes, has a stippled diamond effect when done by Colin Henwood, so considering that.
Would be glad of any thoughts.
Moving on to current, I just got the guard rails, tabernacle, windlass off, & I'm thinking re do the whole lot, so once the hatches are off I'm going to take the whole lot up. I expect there may be issues with deck beams/lodging knees & the beamshelf similar as I had in the 80's.
I intend to lay two layers of 1/2" Super Elite, with the underside having fake "V" joints routed. I have some heavy ballast to ensure the top layer is firmly laid on the bottom layer (both pre epoxied, sanded and epoxied between). I'm assuming trying to bend 1" ply over a deck camber of perhaps 6" in a width of 9' would be too difficult, although if i did it would remove all concerns about gaps between two layers (any thoughts?).
To avoid painting every year, after epoxy/woven rovings, I'm thinking of using a white pigment.
And to give the deck some grip, the anti slip grit sold in packets for use with deck paint, although one of the local motor cruisers here, on the upper Thames, owned by the late Rodney Bewes, has a stippled diamond effect when done by Colin Henwood, so considering that.
Would be glad of any thoughts.
