Teak decks what do you think?

[NRbar]

Rob
I have an older boat with teak decks that need redo; bungs and caulk. Original teak was 11/16” with about 1/2” left. About the Fein tool. My grooves need to be cut deeper, does the tool do that as well as remove caulk?

I already have a multi tool and love it. It does to remodeling what the Sawzall did to demolition in the 60’s and 70’s.
Rob

[ArmyDaveNY]

It's amazing how much one can get done doing a little at a time but doing it constantly. Congratulations. It looks great.

[kapnkarl]

Zee... where can I find info on proper care of teak decks?
Thx

[kapnkarl]

RT,

What product/process did you use to brighten the teak... it's gorgeous!

[Nightcrawler]

Rob, you used epoxy. Which brand? I've been tinkering with mine a few at a time, using the original material, SikaFlex. Which is what a mess wants to be when it grows up.

[sailcrazy]

Your deck looks fantastic. Our Taswell 43 had a teak deck, we removed it when it got thin(read old-20 yrs) and put a sanded painted deck on, and then removed it and put a teak deck back on......and VERY glad we did! But I like my method better-we went to Phuket, and had them do it! Their cost for a teak deck was less than to redo the sanded painted deck! I was able to pick my teak thickness, its all glues-no bungs-and has been perfect now for 7 years. Curious...How do you plan to finish/maintain it?

[RobTryon]

Yes was great at making the grooves deeper that was most of my problem.

[Polux]

Nice work!!!

I have done that but only on the cockpit and that machine to take the silicone away is wonderful.

Yes they look great but apart maintaining them I would not repeat the experience (I had a new boat with teak deck).

Two big things against: on the med the teak become so hot with the soon that is impossible to go over it on barefoot and that heat is stored on the wood and later enter the boat making a lot hotter.

Maybe with the cork based deck that problem is eliminated? Some top brands like Allures and Garcia are using it. I have already seen it and it looks good. The cork has natural properties as an insulator but I don't know if they are maintained on the elaborated cork based product.

Has anyone tried? What about the temperature?

[Cheechako]

Lookin good! Epoxying in the plugs may be a mistake. Did you not have enough depth?

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

You get a big gold star from me, that's a heck of a lot of work.

A.

Ditto on the gold star. It looks great.

[ArmyDaveNY]

Originally Posted by kapnkarl

RT,

What product/process did you use to brighten the teak... it's gorgeous!

I am not sure what he used but I have used Te-Ka by Travaco. Depending upon where you buy it it will be around $50 or $55 for the one quart Part A and 1 quart Part B kit. Sometimes they list it as a half gallon, but the reality is each part is a quart. You need both parts to do an area so it's not like epoxy where you take the resin and add it to the hardener for the total. I cleaned the teak trim, hand holds, and teak bowsprit with 1 quart of Part A and 1 quart of Part B and I had more than half of each left over.

The results are spectacular. You will need a lot of water to rinse but it is well worth it.

Some places list it as a hazardous material and will add $40 for hazardous shipping. Amazon does not charge for hazardous shipping but West Marine does. I am not sure what Defender and Jamestown Supply classify it as.

[Browning]

I think I am missing some pieces of info:
1. did you put in screws or just bungs?
2. how did you treat the teak battens? Or did you exchange them?

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by kapnkarl

RT,

What product/process did you use to brighten the teak... it's gorgeous!

Usually you sand after all the bungs are in to smooth things out etc. And the fresh teak surface looks like that! well, for a week or two anyway... :>)

[sailor_ed]

I don't usually make strong declarative statements but here goes: two part teak cleaners RUIN teak. They eat out the soft grain and leave hard grain ridges which quickly wear down. The process eats an enormous amount of wood and is the main reason older boats have thinning teak problems. The only thing worse is cleaning with a high pressure washer.

(Climbs down from soapbox)

[S/V Illusion]

Having just finished cleaning, bleaching and finishing our teak deck, my suggestion is simple - rip it up and enjoy the ease of gelcoat...except on someone else's boat.