nickfabbri
Well-Known Member
can anyone tell me the advantages of having teak decking on a boat ( aside from looking nice)? Also how much maintenance is required?
Cheers
Cheers
teak decks
- Thread starter nickfabbri
- Start date
Chris_Robb
Well-Known Member
Teak decks - apart from looking lovely, are probably the most expensive bit of deck covering going. If you have the choice, buy the boat without teak decks.
I have teak decks - the boat is 1991, and they were replaced by the last owner in 2003 at the cost of £25,000.
Maintenance: If you want to be the owner holding the baby for another bill like above, then scrub the decks to keep that lovely teak colour. If you want them to last, and still look fine - but a sort of grey colour, then DO NOT SCRUB THEM. Twice a year - at launching and late season, I spray the deck down with a green mold killer called MMC, other used Ploycell mold cleaner. Then just leave it - dont wash ot down. All the green dirt from winter will just disappear in a day or so. Then just wash the decks down in SALT water regularly.
Keep all grit off the boat, as this wears the wood quickly.
So if you look after your decks perhaps you may get away without having to replace them.
Covereings - there are surface finishes that you can apply - something like Coelan - which leaves the decks looking OK, but a rather artificial yello huw. I would rather put up with the grey finish.
So if you buy an AWB, and have the choice - choose the one without!
But they dooo look nice! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
I have teak decks - the boat is 1991, and they were replaced by the last owner in 2003 at the cost of £25,000.
Maintenance: If you want to be the owner holding the baby for another bill like above, then scrub the decks to keep that lovely teak colour. If you want them to last, and still look fine - but a sort of grey colour, then DO NOT SCRUB THEM. Twice a year - at launching and late season, I spray the deck down with a green mold killer called MMC, other used Ploycell mold cleaner. Then just leave it - dont wash ot down. All the green dirt from winter will just disappear in a day or so. Then just wash the decks down in SALT water regularly.
Keep all grit off the boat, as this wears the wood quickly.
So if you look after your decks perhaps you may get away without having to replace them.
Covereings - there are surface finishes that you can apply - something like Coelan - which leaves the decks looking OK, but a rather artificial yello huw. I would rather put up with the grey finish.
So if you buy an AWB, and have the choice - choose the one without!
But they dooo look nice! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
damo
Well-Known Member
Search the forums for regular queries and rants /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
You can have my teak decks, it's a PITA. They look nice when well cared for, otherwise I can't think of a single advantage.
You can have my teak decks, it's a PITA. They look nice when well cared for, otherwise I can't think of a single advantage.
pyrojames
Well-Known Member
Mine were 40 years old before they were replaced, great feel, good non-slip, reasonable insulation, great looks. My new (to me) boat also has them, but then it's all teak.
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The decks on my plastic boat had worn out - Replaced with Teak 6 years ago.
Yes, expensive but they do look good and the grip is superb.
Maintenance is low - salt water wash with sponge.
Certainly in 6 years there seems to be little wear so hopefully they'll last a good 25 years.
Yes, expensive but they do look good and the grip is superb.
Maintenance is low - salt water wash with sponge.
Certainly in 6 years there seems to be little wear so hopefully they'll last a good 25 years.
pcatterall
Well-Known Member
Just beware if the boat is old enough to have a plywood sub deck beneath the teak. Any leaky seams/screw holes will allow water into the sub deck an eventually rot it, you will then have no strength in your deck. Replaced the foredeck on my 30 year old boat 3 years ago and just doing the afterdeck this winter, the old ply just crumbles in your hand!!
LittleShip
Well-Known Member
can anyone tell me the advantages of having teak decking on a boat
Superior grip when wet.
Teak is the best material underfoot and has been used for many years for just this reason, only in recent terms has it been used for its "good looks" Many think that a teak deck should be that golden honey colour, mine are grey and that is the way they will be staying.
Simple cleaning and seam maintenance is all that should be required.
Tom
Superior grip when wet.
Teak is the best material underfoot and has been used for many years for just this reason, only in recent terms has it been used for its "good looks" Many think that a teak deck should be that golden honey colour, mine are grey and that is the way they will be staying.
Simple cleaning and seam maintenance is all that should be required.
Tom
Chris_Robb
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Mine were 40 years old before they were replaced, great feel, good non-slip, reasonable insulation, great looks. My new (to me) boat also has them, but then it's all teak.
[/ QUOTE ]
They don't make teak like it used to be, and its only 6 to 9 mm thick! So 40 years - some hope!!!!
Mine were 40 years old before they were replaced, great feel, good non-slip, reasonable insulation, great looks. My new (to me) boat also has them, but then it's all teak.
[/ QUOTE ]
They don't make teak like it used to be, and its only 6 to 9 mm thick! So 40 years - some hope!!!!
pyrojames
Well-Known Member
The new boat has solid teak decks, 40 mm odd thick, and I think original. Worn down a bit round the cockpit, and in the process of being recaulked, but no need to replace for sometime to come. I replaced the old boat's deck with 12 mm, so it should go for 25+ years.
I like teak, I like timber boats, and to my mind a teak deck is less maintenance than a painted one.
I like teak, I like timber boats, and to my mind a teak deck is less maintenance than a painted one.
Chris_Robb
Well-Known Member
Having had a teak deck for a year - I wholly agree with you that they are less work than plastic.
pcatterall
Well-Known Member
The teak on my boat was 9mm when new in 1974 it is now around 6mm in the thinner places. My problem as stated above has been the rot in the sub deck. Harsh cleaning will cause far more wear than normal walking/working (IMHO of course!!)
madridpunch
New Member
Having had a couple of boats with teak decks and one without, I would definitely go for the teak, as long as it is good condition, it is very expensive to replace!
I hear a lot about how much maintenance there is with teak decks, the fact is that the less you do to teak, the longer it lasts, and in my view, the better it looks. That slightly silvery grey is a lovely finish to most boats. It is good for grip, it insulates the cabin below, and doesn't mark if people come aboard with the wrong sort of shoes.
Yes there are problems with poor installation, water penetration via the screw holes etc. This can be cured and it takes a lot of work to do so. Just make sure these problems aren't present when you buy the boat, or, if you are installing teak, go for a glued installation rather than screwed.
As I said before, the less you do to teak the better, but it is a wearing surface (as is any non-slip surface to an extent - the question being whether the deck or you feet are the wearing parts) because of this I would be very careful about the thickness of the teak fitted. On most quality boats (Hallbergs, Malos, Najads etc.) the teak is 12mm, on a lot of the less expensive boats, the teak is 9mm or less.
As for it looking good, well yes it does, but only on the right sort of boat. A lot of the modern European boats simply look better without it, if only because they were never really designed for it in the first place.
I hear a lot about how much maintenance there is with teak decks, the fact is that the less you do to teak, the longer it lasts, and in my view, the better it looks. That slightly silvery grey is a lovely finish to most boats. It is good for grip, it insulates the cabin below, and doesn't mark if people come aboard with the wrong sort of shoes.
Yes there are problems with poor installation, water penetration via the screw holes etc. This can be cured and it takes a lot of work to do so. Just make sure these problems aren't present when you buy the boat, or, if you are installing teak, go for a glued installation rather than screwed.
As I said before, the less you do to teak the better, but it is a wearing surface (as is any non-slip surface to an extent - the question being whether the deck or you feet are the wearing parts) because of this I would be very careful about the thickness of the teak fitted. On most quality boats (Hallbergs, Malos, Najads etc.) the teak is 12mm, on a lot of the less expensive boats, the teak is 9mm or less.
As for it looking good, well yes it does, but only on the right sort of boat. A lot of the modern European boats simply look better without it, if only because they were never really designed for it in the first place.