Teak cockpit slat surface preparation

[catlotion]

We're going to strip off all the old teak slats from our cockpit this weekend to take home and restore prior to re-fitting. However, I'd also like to prepare the underlying surface.

I'm pessimistic about getting bits of the old glue off the gelcoat and it'll be pretty lumpy I imagine. How about some sort of self-levelling compound (domestic floor compound for example) - would need to be flexible though... A very thin layer of this perhaps? http://www.wickes.co.uk/latex-floor-levelling-compound-25kg/invt/224669/

If not, I'd like to paint it to cover the mess temporarily. Do you think a coat of danboline paint would do it? Not sure about future glue adhesion though when we come to re-fit the decking. I've checked the International Paint datasheet and nothing on it...

 

[Tranona]

You need to grind it back to plain GRP as far as possible, although if you are using Sika or Saba they will cope with imperfections. I have just laid teak onto a rough, patched, painted deck and just made sure I scraped or sanded off all the loose stuff and what was left was well stuck. The Saba recommendation for the adhesive is to achieve an overall thickness of 2-5mm, but up to 10mm locally to fill imperfections. Clean the whole area with acetone before spreading the adhesive.

 

[catlotion]

yeah, but it's not going to happen for a while so we'll be left with horrid lumpy, slippery stuff in the meantime so need a temporary fix. I know from experience that these projects drag on (it's a shared boat) and we want to do a nice job on the slats at home cleaning them up and caulking them as single panels. But we want to keep using the boat...

Had a second thought:

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/rubber-matting-ribbed-3mm-915mm-x-

...temporarily bonded down?

 

[jwilson]

Whatever you do don't use the "latex self-levelling" stuff from Wickes or any other builders merchant product. It's mostly cement, will crack under the slightest movement, and won't stick well to the surface. It's fine for on top of a cement floor in a house to level before tiling but just not any use for your job.

 

[catlotion]

It's mostly cement, will crack under the slightest movement, and won't stick well to the surface. .

yeah, was worried that it not have enough latex in it. Presumably there is a suitable labour-saving product somewhere...