Teak decks

[Old Sea Dog]

Has anyone removed them? According to the web...... GB did not start gluing them til early '90s. '81 going to survey and I would take them off (as they are passed due) and apply nonskid.

[Comodave]

Lots of people have removed them. There are many threads here about it. Even if they are not “glued” down they are glued down. The newer models just didn’t have mechanical fasteners like nail or screws. If you remove them I would lay down some new fiberglass and then paint with a nonskid like Kiwigrip.

[jimL]

Our 2001 Europa 52-23 has the teak deck screwed down. Don't know about adhesive under it, but plenty of screws are showing their faces!

[bogranjac1]

I would hazard a guess that threads on T.F. regarding teak decks almost rival the never ending threads on anchors 😂

[Comodave]

And there are 2 or 3 on anchors…

[BruceK]

I removed teak on an IG 36 Europa of similar age. Sides and cockpit were partly protected so fresh teak there, but exposed bow section was done in painted non skid over 2 layers of f/g, just one layer elsewhere.
An important issue at pre purchase survey is potential leakage consequences below the failing teak, incl the actual deck, tanks, etc.
Surprising GB was screwing down teak in 2001. I was saved considerable repair expense by my 1981 build teak being laid over a foam core sandwich, instead of the more usual then,ply or teak offcuts.

[Old Sea Dog]

Maybe I am confusing the search function with too much detail as I am looking to remove and glass and nonskid. Search came back nothing found. So most likely oprrator error. Boat is in Chesapeake VA. Survey on the 28th. Engine and genset on the 29th. I will attempt myself but stuff happens. Next spring we are off to loop.

[Steve1.0]

Originally Posted by Old Sea Dog

I will attempt myself but stuff happens. Next spring we are off to loop.

I took about 2' of my decks off and "stuff happened" My checkbook mysteriously flew open.

[Comodave]

Originally Posted by Old Sea Dog

Maybe I am confusing the search function with too much detail as I am looking to remove and glass and nonskid. Search came back nothing found. So most likely oprrator error. Boat is in Chesapeake VA. Survey on the 28th. Engine and genset on the 29th. I will attempt myself but stuff happens. Next spring we are off to loop.

It isn’t too hard technically, just hard physically. Basically rip the teak off the best way you can figure out. Then cut the glass deck in the areas that have bad core. Dig out the bad core and replace the core with something like Coosa board setting it in with thickened epoxy, I wouldn’t do plywood because it can rot again. Then lay the old fiberglass deck back on with thickened epoxy and weight it down until the epoxy sets up. Then I would grind a shallow trough along the cuts in the fiberglass and lay in a layer or two of 1708 glass to reinforce the cut. Then lay a layer or two of 1708 over the whole deck, depending on how much strength you lost by removing the teak decking. Do a rough fairing and paint with Kiwigrip. Kiwigrip will hide small imperfections in the finish so it is great for this application. You won’t have to spend nearly as much time fairing the fiberglass compared to painting with other paints. After it is all done and the Kiwigrip is good and dry, wax it with Woody Wax. Kiwigrip can be aggressive if you want it to be and it will trap dirt so the Woody Wax makes it much easier to keep clean and it isn’t slippery after it dries. It is very slippery when you first apply it so be careful walking on it when it is still wet.

[Old Sea Dog]

Kiwigrip is what I would go with. I have an email in to James Taylor at Atlantic Yacht in Chesapeake so we will see. I would like to think I could tackle removing the teak. I did not feel any soft spots. The teak is down to about 1/4" with some places thinner. Hoping to cut into the labor bill.

[Comodave]

Removing the old teak is just grunt work, figuring out the easiest method for your particular boat. If the core isn’t soft then it is pretty easy to finish it up. Patch any holes and maybe lay some 1708 if needed then fair and paint. Well within most DIYers capabilities.

[markpierce]

Fortunately, I instructed the builder to not install teak decks. Used the savings to purchase loud air horns.

[Old Sea Dog]

Had the privilege of maintaining teak decks on an 81' Trumpy for several years. Came with the mates job. Along with varnish and paint. And then there were the 12/71s and 2 gen sets. Had a great time. 'Course I was a little younger then.
The Cal 2-27 was my first liveaboard in Annapolis MD. Chilly during the winter.

[Mako]

My teak decks were left on because they were structural, but the entire thing was coated with elastomeric. Then painted with sand mixed in. It was perfect!

[jimL]

Mako, Do you hav pictures of what it looks like painted?

JimL

[Mako]

Jim I’d have to dig through photo albums. Basically though, the elastomeric coating was thick and strong and rubberized (flexes) and 100% effective. The grey color was ugly. So I painted a tan enamel paint on it with sand mixed in. Held up for years.

[Comodave]

Years ago there was a guy that sprayed truck bed liner on his teak decks. He wrote an article in PMM about it. I talked to him years later and he said that the bed liner was holding up very well.

[jimL]

Thanks - now you both have me thinking about other options!

JimL

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by Comodave

Years ago there was a guy that sprayed truck bed liner on his teak decks. He wrote an article in PMM about it. I talked to him years later and he said that the bed liner was holding up very well.

Resulting in hot decks?

[Comodave]

Originally Posted by markpierce

Resulting in hot decks?

I didn’t do it so I don’t know, look up the article and read it.