Tek-dek

[Praxinoscope]

Hi

Just changed boats and my new (used) boat has had Tek-deck fitted in the cockpit, it looks great, is non-slip, seems to be impervious to scuffing and easy to clean
Only two little problems.

1. In hot weather like we are having at the moment absorbs heat to such an extent that I’m sure if I tried I could cook an egg on it. Those of you who have seen the film ‘The Muppets Christmas Carol’ will I’m sure remember the scene where Rizzo lands on the cooking goose and does a sort of jig shout Hot, Hot, Hot, well I did a good impression of that when I landed barefoot in my cockpit. Normally not a problem as I would just throw a bucket of water over it to cool it down, but, it was low tide so no water, also I rarely sail in bare feet as I find it hurts when you bang your toes on the numerous toe catching bits on a sailing boat so usually wear boots or shoes, but this time I left my boots in the mud and climbed on board in bare feet.
So any good ideas on how to avoid third degree burns on my feet from what is otherwise a fantastic product? Apart of course from the obvious: always wear shoes, rely on standard UK weather never getting hot or fitting duckboards or cushions which rather negate the concept of Tek-deck.
2. One part of the Tek-deck has been laid over a metal hatch which I want to gain access to and am wondering the best way to lift part of the Tek-deck so that I can access the screws that fix the hatch.
Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[matthewriches]

It is unfortunately a hot product. Water is the best way to keep it cool but doesn’t last long.

Regards lifting the stuff. If it has been fitted professionally then good luck! Scraper and do it in this heat will be the best option. If the joins were thermo wrlded then you might get it up ok, if it was DIY install then you’ll probably rip the seams.

Benefit of this decking as you can easily get a new section made up without too much (if any) of a colour variation.

 

[Praxinoscope]

Hi Mathewriches
Thanks for your comments, they rather echo what I thought was the case. I really like the Tek-dek and agree sloshing a bucket of water over it is probably the most practical solution, it’s just that this time it was low water (drying harbour) so couldn’t sling a bucket over the side. Re lifting, I guess it was fitted by the yard that the boat used to be kept in, I have a few ideas but just wondered if anyone else had tried this.

 

[NOHOH]

Sorting the hatch question will be a matter of cutting the hatch out of the deck (once the screws/bolts have been released).....and then inserting an `edge section` all the way around both sets of edges (google Tek Dek edge sections)....With patience it is possible to do a fairly neat job, though don`t forget each screw/bolt will need to have a well shaped hole of its own.

Good luck

 

[ashtead]

For hot weather we have a thin strip say less than half inch about 1 foot wide which we role out and is blue on on side and white on other so can protect our flexi teak if needed but also can stand on in cockpit. While more pricey a stern shower enables the cockpit sole to be washed down even when the tide is out and can also fill a small paddling pool to serve as a foot spar if required plus great for washing dogs etc after walks .

 

[chrishscorp]

We were rafted up to a very nice boat 2 weeks ago in this heat and they had the much admired tek-dek in the cockpit which they did complain was too hot to walk or sit on, a drawback i had not once considered unsurprisingly . Rain on Friday so back to normal soon

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Flip-flops in your pocket when boarding from the mud?