Rebuilding 1929 Fastnet winner Tally Ho

[Bru]

Teak isn’t environmentally friendly. Indeed it is illegal to import teak into the U.K. (I don’t know about the USA but I will find out).

Odd then that genuine teak is available in the UK!

One source is a sustainable plantation in Ghana (a former colleague of mine owns a small area of it) which is FSC certified

It is however horribly expensive

Tally Ho of course never had teak decking and to fit a planked teak deck (as opposed to thin teak decking on a substrate such as plywood) would likely be beyond Leo's means

 

[R.Ems]

Surely it's not a choice between either endangered teak, or softwood?
Eve of St Mawes, Luke Powell's first pilot cutter, has decks of Ekki (spelling?) which is very hard wearing.

 

[Stemar]

Perhaps not, but how long will a properly maintained quality softwood deck last, and how many times could you replace it for the cost of hardwood, especially in the US, where good, slow-grown softwoods are easily available?

 

[R.Ems]

Perhaps not, but how long will a properly maintained quality softwood deck last, and how many times could you replace it for the cost of hardwood, especially in the US, where good, slow-grown softwoods are easily available?

I don't know; how do you maintain a softwood deck? Keeping it caulked and painted is all that springs to mind.

 

[john_morris_uk]

I don't know; how do you maintain a softwood deck? Keeping it caulked and painted is all that springs to mind.

I think Leo said he wasn’t planning on painting the deck but perhaps I misheard him?

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Teak isn’t environmentally friendly. Indeed it is illegal to import teak into the U.K. (I don’t know about the USA but I will find out).

Plantation grown teak is allowed; it's wild, slow grown teak that is banned. But Leo would certainly want the latter if he wanted to use teak, and that he can't do. Plantation grown teak is much less hard wearing; that's what all the garden furniture is made from.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I think Leo said he wasn’t planning on painting the deck but perhaps I misheard him?

The decks of 18th/19th century warships weren't painted; they were washed with salt water on a daily basis and scrubbed clean with abrasives (sand and/or holystones). I think a painted deck using traditional paints would be very slippery and downright dangerous. Also, I suspect that paint would trap moisture and lead to rapid deterioration.

 

[Kukri]

I don't know; how do you maintain a softwood deck? Keeping it caulked and painted is all that springs to mind.

There is an entire forgotten technology here: softwood decks were standard on yachts and indeed RN warships throughout the 19th century.

You varnished them with “deck varnish” after September and sanded them back to bare wood in May. And renewed them every ten years or so.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

There is an entire forgotten technology here: softwood decks were standard on yachts and indeed RN warships throughout the 19th century.

You varnished them with “deck varnish” after September and sanded them back to bare wood in May. And renewed them every ten years or so.

Interestingly, most people reckon that the proper treatment for a teak deck is washing with salt water, and brushing gently along the grain (I think it's along the grain). Also, we're a bit misled by the term "softwood", which only means "wood from a coniferous (gymnosperm) tree". The AVERAGE softwood is softer than the AVERAGE hardwood, but there are softwoods that are harder than many hardwoods, e.g. Douglas Fir, Longleaf Pine and Yew. And, of course, there are hardwoods that are notoriously soft - e.g. Balsa!

 

[Stemar]

Am I right in thinking he's using Alaskan yellow cedar? If so, it isn't particularly hard, but is described as "durable to very durable regarding decay resistance, and also resistant to most insect attacks", which strikes me as very suitable for decks. It might get dinged, but at least the rain won't rot it.

 

[Kukri]

Am I right in thinking he's using Alaskan yellow cedar? If so, it isn't particularly hard, but is described as "durable to very durable regarding decay resistance, and also resistant to most insect attacks", which strikes me as very suitable for decks. It might get dinged, but at least the rain won't rot it.

Just so. It was much used for decks around the time that “Tally Ho!” was built. Excellent choice.

 

[WoodyP]

It's probably just me but he does go on a bit.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

It's probably just me but he does go on a bit.

That's what fast forward is for

 

[WoodyP]

That's what fast forward is for

Or just stop looking, as I have.

 

[luke1000123]

Me too; but I have to watch the Sailing Brothers too. Complete opposite end of the scale but just their sheer delight of discovery ?

Thank you so much, glad you like the videos, we just love making the videos and experiencing the world

 

[Kukri]

It's probably just me but he does go on a bit.

I must say I don’t find this but I have a game that I play, cross referring to Watts and Jurd and waiting to see if Leo takes a short cut. To date he has only done it once, with his attempt to add to the original ballast keel, which turned into a suitably televisual fiasco, causing a prompt reversion to Watts and Jurd!

 

[Charlie Boy]

It's probably just me but he does go on a bit.

Hmm, try watching Acorn to Arabella. Then you might think differently, Leo’s positively abrupt by comparison!

 

[mrming]

Hmm, try watching Acorn to Arabella. Then you might think differently, Leo’s positively abrupt by comparison!

Yep I stuck with that for a while but couldn’t take it in the end. ?

 

[Wansworth]

Probably a cross between shphappens and Leo’s endevour would have more interest to the layman Certainly Leo’s text book restoration is pleasing but it lacks the more unexpected of amateur bodging?

 

[benjenbav]

I’d like to thank the OP for introducing me to this fascinating project.