New Teak Decks -???

[dallasg]

I'm sure this is a regular question, sorry if I bore you. I want to replace leaking laid decks on a 34' yacht. I like the idea of a ply subdeck (say 12mm marine ply) with cosmetic teak laid on top. I will have a professional yard do the work.

The question is how should the teak be fixed down? I have different opinions from different yards:
1.Screwed down, and epoxied to the ply, with the screws countersunk and bunged.
2 Screwed down and bedded in Sikaflex with the screws countersunk and bunged.
3.Bedded in Sikaflex with temporary fastenings through the rebate which will be withdrawn once the Sika has gone off.

I'm sure all 3 will work at least initially, the question is which will last longest? Does anyone have any experience (and/or recommended yards for the job)

Thanks
Graham


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[mikesharp]

It seems that the right answer is all to do with the likely future flexing of the deck.
The first solution will give a very strong and rigid deck because the epoxy will bond the two layers together into one. This may not be a good thing if your boat is used to an amount of flexing (possible cause of the laid deck leaking ?). It could be a good thing if your deck is an integral part of the boat structural strength.
The second will allow some different movement between the two layers because the Sikaflex will keep some flexibility. The fastenings through teak and plywood will be challenged if the two layers flex differently and either fail or break the waterproof sikaflex membrane (which gives you the leak proof deck).
The third suggestion allows both layers to move independently and providing the plywood is providing enough strength on its own a floating teak deck should give you a waterproof solution.
This is of course over-simplifies the problem because you have to take into account deck gear fixings and whether you wish to retain cover boards.

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[roly_voya]

Personnally I have never found sikaflex gives a good bond to teak and I have seen loads of rotting ply sub decks dues to minor leaks allowing damp to penitrate. Usually this goes onoticed untill the damage is done. But a though occured to me, since you are looking at a 'cosmetic surface' of teak on ply why not get the ply ready faced. I believe ther are some stock 'plank finish' boards available or Robbins in Bristol will do custom sheats. That way the teak is pressure bonded under factory conditions and the joint should be as reliable as it can be (they claim at least 20years I think) You then simply fit the deck sheets together with halved joints. Its also easier to repair (keep at leat a half sheet of the origional batch if you can). I have a painted ply deck and it is the most reliable and leakproof deck I have ever known - just make sure water cant 'pond' on it. Never know anyone do this but then all good ideas have to start somewhere and reliably made teak faced ply is quite new as old glues could not do it.

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[Blue_Blazes]

Nice idea, but the problem with teak faced ply is the thickness of the facing veneer. This would be insufficient given the amount of wear that decks get. You'd be lucky if it lasted more than a couple of years.

Bill.

<hr width=100% size=1>One of these days I'll have a boat that WORKS