Teak deck help!!

[AnneP]

I have a 32' Choy Lee that has original teak deck from 1978.
My problem is that the decks haven't been properly cared for and the teak is very badly weathered, with very deep groves and cracks.
Most of what I have found is that when the teak gets this bad most if not all have taken it up and replaced it with no skid fiberglass. I do Not want to do that. I love the look of the wood. (when properly cared for)
I am really at my wits end trying to figure out what to do here.
I even have a few teak planks that have popped up through the screw.
I have tried to remove the screws on these planks and they all break off.
I have also tried to clean and sand the teak on a seat in the cockpit and varnish over it, however that didn't work very well because I had to take off so much wood just to get it at a decent smoothness.
Now I am thinking of replacing it all together with the synthetic teak decking, but even that I am hesitant to give up on my real teak so quickly.
Any advice at all would be welcome

Thank you
Anne

 

[Spinnaker]

Re: Teak deck help!!

The artificial stuff is very nice but I believe it to be more expensive. If you do decide to replace the deck the new does not need to be screwed down. It will be quite a process to replace as the finished deck would have to be fared perfect for bonding new teak. Even if you decide to do away with the teak you have a lot of faring work to do as there will be a million holes from (let me guess) brass screws. You can finish with an epoxy based paint with walnut shell for nonskid. Some photos would help so we can see the shape the deck is in.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Teak deck help!!

The "right" way to do this is to pull it all off, discard completely destroyed wood, refinish the rest (probably with a power planer to make it level and save a ton of sanding), re-install, and make up the missing wood with new teak.

Save any pieces of wood you don't put back on, because lots of woodworkers would like to get their hands on "weathered teak" in just about any size.

If you want to save as much old wood as possible, you can consider using pieces that are too thin (sanded too far or planed too far) as veneer over new wood (which may not be teak) via lamination.

Depending on the original source you might have a hard time finding matching wood, and it'll be expensive, but there are alternatives, such as "brazilian teak" which isn't teak at all but is something like it.

Alternatively you could make the whole thing match by replacing all the teak with a replacement wood, and selling whatever is left of the old teak to make up some of the cost.

Definitely post some pics so we can see what you're dealing with.

Erik

 

[surferguy001]

Re: Teak deck help!!

Im pretty much going through the same thing right now with my teak. I posted this last week, maybe it has some useful information for you too

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=374231

 

[AnneP]

Re: Teak deck help!!

Here is one picture of the bow decking.
Thank you all for your information, it was really helpful.
Anne