Teak Deck Renovation

Hi - Do you really want teak decks? eventually they will need replacing. I bought an Oceanlord with new teak tecks - they are only 6 mm think, and I live in fear of even brushing them! They do look wonderful - but not worth 25K!

some positive points - As I dont brish them, I just use a mould cleaner once a year, and throw buckets of seawater over them occaisionally, there are very easy to keep clean, and probably less cleaning work thana conventional deck.
 
Yes, "Teak Decks" covers a whole range of techniques from traditional laid decks with no substrates where leaks go straight through. Then (thinner) teak laid on ply where the leaks can go into the ply and cause rot. Then, to my mind the least satisfactory which is narrow strips (to take the edge set) screwed to an otherwise perfectly good GRP deck. Potentially unstable, prone to water getting in between and under the teak.

Finally, and now common practice is pre-formed panels glued to the deck. Usually much thinner and no mechanical fastenings. Too early to say if they do last, but potentially easier to remove if they don't.

By the way had a conversation yesterday with a one-time owner of a 1997 built Scandinavian boat which has just come on the market again. Went to have a look, but it is just coming up for its "deck refurbishment" ie £10 -12k job. Bungs are starting to pop, caulking breaking away. Just been pressure washed (?) and sanded to make it look good! Great boat underneath, but can see the price having to drop significantly once the first survey report comes in.
 
In our last boatsearch the Oceanlord was a favourite on our list but having seen one where the owner had just paid £25,000 for replacement teak decks the alarm bells were ringing loudly. We looked at two more after that where the broker said the decks just needed a bit of TLC -yeah right, about £25,000's worth! We decided that Treadmaster or plain Westerly deck paint was a much better option but in the event bought our Sun Legende instead. We have teak in the cockpit but none on deck and the cockpit stuff is solid, not laminated ply, is still sound and has no screws just sealant holding it in place.

We also looked at a Sadler Starlight 39 that was close to needing new decks, again the broker thought it was just a minor TLC job but we walked away.

Our neighbour has just had his teak decks refurbished on a HR382. The decks were leaking through the screw holes and water was even finding it's way into the cabin, the plugs were falling out and there wasn't enough meat left to replace them. HR supplied special low profile screws to replace all the existing ones which would leave enough space to fit new plugs. It apparently took 3 men 8 weeks to complete the job and recaulk and sand the decks so I daren't think what the labour cost alone was and this was a refurbishment not a replacement job!

I'm afraid that IMO teak decks are a downside rather than a desirable feature, no matter how nice they look. As a potential buyer I would RUN not walk from a boat that was on sale with a problem starting to show. As others have said, it depends if you want to spend your time sailing or boatbuilding.
 
I have teak decks on my 50' er and at some point in the not to distant future they are going to have to be re-caulked. I have bought a Ryobi 18v caulking gun from B&Q that takes the std cartridges for when I do.
As for teak decks I like them, they suit us and suit the yacht. They are about 12mm thick and nothing has been done to them from new (97) so plenty to go at. Not sure how they are attached to the pre-deck but they are not screwed and plugged from the top. I do not mind them been a bit ridgy in the grain.If it was detriment to the deck thickness I would maybe just sand to flush to the caulking rather than strip the deck and renew. Depends on how much of a pure'ist ( and wealthy )you are I suppose.
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Now then, didnt know they did a rechargeable caulking gun, didnt know they did leccy ones atall, thats maybe a better bet then air and compressor, will have to have a look at those, thanks!
 
Where did you look at the Oceanlord with new decks costsing £25,000, Shotley?

If so - I bought her........ I agree with you on all your comments. SMBO fell inlove with her, and she was by far the best we had seen. Also he had bills for work inthe last 3 years for £65,000, (inc 25k for deck!). Hense I will never scrub the deck! So far it remains clean just using MMC once a year.
 
This is the right time to buy - just after the money has been spent by somebody else. Trick then is to sell it on before it needs attention again, probably between 5 and 10 years while it still looks good and before the cracks start to show! In the meantime, enjoy the boat!
 
I am planning to restore the teak deck 21x6mts tug conversion. The old caulking, though watertight is frayed. the putty has flaked and come out in some places and there is fibre looking frayed. It looks like she had oakum and white putty...not sure if cotton was used. she is a 1947 icebreaker built in sweden.
I plan to redo her with the same materials but not sure if I should remove all the old caulking or just remove the flaking putty. when i asked for a quote, I got a 7000 quid for recaulking and another rand for materials. need advice about recaulking.
I think i have time to do it but as an amateur want to make sure i am doing the right thing...
need some advice...
 
Argust,

You might get an answer here, but the question would probably be leapt upon by the guys who visit the classic forum elsewhere on this site. Any mention of caulking and oakum will get their juices flowing!

21 x 6 meters eh - that sounds like hundreds of meters of seams to redo.
 
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