What should I pay psm Sikaflex? ?

[Dughardman]

I am currently planning work to my Harrison Bulter Z4, which has the traditional painted canvas deck that is looking rather tired and leaky.

But just choking on the Quote for a teak, Sikaflex system that includes 270 hours of labour for the job. The total cost works out to be about Euro 550 per sqm all in, does this sound right?

I want my little ship top look good, the current stained white decks do not!

I have read about Flexiteak on one of the threads, but that sounds like a plastic boat job and not for a small classic like my HButler?

What are my options ?

 

[DownWest]

Bite the bullet
Redo in canvas or Dynal
Source all the stuff for teak + epoxy and DIY

I did the latter on a 24ft and it was very messy but looked great. Bought a teak plank, a nieghbour with a woodwork shop stripped it down. Passed it over the planer, bandsaw a strip at 6mm, pass it over the planer...etc. Gives one smooth and one sawn surface. SP resins with graphite to simulate payed seams. Part of the luck was getting the teak at a low price, had to dig deep at the woodyard for the only one they had as it had been there forever. I suspect the price had not been brought up to date.

Cheapest option would be the second.
A

SP and WEST both do leaflets on the system.

 

[Dughardman]

Thanks, the one factor that I do not have much or any to spare is time!

At this stage of my life I am forced to pay to have work done so that I can maximize my time sailing.

I suppose the labour rate of Eur 10 hr is not crazy. It's jsut that decking a small 21’ Harrison Butler Z4 for more than half of what I paid for the whole boat stings a bit.

I suppose I should ’bite the bullet’ as you say and think of how great she will look and the years of service I will get out of it.

 

[DownWest]

€10 an hour? pretty cheap.
There is quite a lot to recomende Dynal set in epoxy. It is very hardwearing and the weave is not filled too much, looks like the cloth you are replacing and is apparently not very slippery. Got to overpaint of course, because of U-V.
A
Is your sub deck ply or planks? For thin teak it needs to be ply.

 

[Roach1948]

decks

Does it have to be teak? On such a small boat like a Z4 I really dont think there will be much teak showing. A ply deck covered in epoxy-cloth is going to much cheaper, much more durable and more non-slip. Spend the saving on sails - that is where the real enjoyment is!

 

[DoubleEnder]

Don't use teak

The labour rate sounds really low. Where are you? But it is still not worth it. On a small boat a high percentage of the planks will need to be fitted, whether to covering boards, coamings, kingplanks...Not much of it will be seen, just because it is a small area. I assume you would lay reasonably thick planks on to the beams (please, not over a ply sub deck tut tut tut very wrong) so you will need to look at and possibly repair/replace every beam.........

All in all not worth it,and for what it is worth, not authentic. Original would have been canvas. I'd say go for canvas or similar again - possibly Dynel though I have no experience of it. This will be quicker, cheaper, lighter and possibly less prone to leaks, easier to repair blah blah. It will be great, and you will be pleased

Graham

 

[Dughardman]

Thanks for helping me over the line on this, which I suppose I knew all along.

My little HButler Z4, Jacaranda has a bit of an interesting story, which I am still trying to piece together :

• Rebuilt by a shipwright in London in 80s
• Purchased by two Dutch ladies, who the previous owner tells me
sailed her down into the Med.
• They spent 12 years living on and off her around the Med, ending
up on the east cost of Italy.
• Purchased by a wealthy business man from Milan who kept her for
about 8 yrs in very good condition on Lake Maggiore. Swinging
mooring in front of lakeside home, very nice.

I am living in Budapest at the moment and bought her, hauled her up to Lake Balaton in Hungary to take advantage of cheap labour cost + excellent workmanship. Will totally refurbishing her and getting her set up right. Though the language barrier is enough to give you a nervous break down….

Next adventure is to keep her afloat in Croatia, which is only 4hrs drive away and should keep me knocking about on my own for some time to come when I can find time.

Apart from considering straying from the original on the teak decking, everything is on her is original - paraffin lamps and old optimus stove etc.

 

[oldsaltoz]

Thanks for helping me over the line on this, which I suppose I knew all along.

If your priority is make her watertight at a reasonable cost, then go with the epoxy sytem and cloth.

It will look tidy be so much better than the canvas and a lot easier to maintain, meaning more time time for sailing and less maintenance.

Avagoodweekend......