Teak Decking Over Steel - Bad Idea??

[the1much]

Originally Posted by Tygafan

I would like to thank everyone for their wise words of advice and wisdom. It has sure been helpful. However, the last thing I meant to do was to create a cyber argument. I didn't realize that "to teak or not to teak" would bring out such hostilities in some. Can't we all just get along........

its not a "cyber argument",,,,its someone that cant tell the difference between a difference of opinion,and statement to support their opinion.,,,it happens alot,,people ask,, or enter a conversation on a subject,,,and then gets their panties in a bunch because people dont agree with them.,,,,,,,,if you think about it,,,,,,this WHOLE thread is FULL of info,,,,MORE info then if everyone just agrees with the first post.
all of us here,,Par, Lazeyz,Landerz,,and more,,disagree ALL the time,,but WE ALL learn from each other,,,and are REAL boaters,,,,who understand the simplest rule of life,,,,,,EVERYONE WILL NOT AGREE ALL THE TIME.
and there WASNT no hostilities from that "group",,,trust me,,they were VERY nice ,,hehe

[PAR]

I beg to differ, jim . . .

[the1much]

well you.......

[Brent Swain]

Very bad idea. Why would you bother. Paint lets you see when there is a problem. Teak hides it until it is well advanced. Some get lucky and have no problems, but why rely on luck , given the predominance of Murphy's law?

[riggertroy]

A sailing ship that I have crewed on since I was 16 has teak decks, they now need a little attention, simply due to the wear and tear of over 22 years constant use, she often has 100+people onboard on day sails and 40 teenage trainees on for longer periods, so 22 years with regular maintenance she still looks good. She operates everyday of the year apart from an annual maintenance period, 2-3weeks. So she gets heavy use all the time.

So in that time how many times would a painted deck in that situation need to have been repainted - the answer - many times - I know this as there are a few pieces of deck that have been painted and repainted again and again, top notch preparation originally, but simply abraded away, broken down by sunlight...

On another vessel it was decided to lift sections of deck to see what the condition was like as there was rust bleeds on the edge - the rust went in about 20mm and was just surface, after that the condition was perfect, that ship was 21 years old then and that was in the mid '90s, so deck was laid in the early / mid 70's.

I would say that if the deck is laid correctly and maintenance around the edges is kept up you should have no majors. I have had huge problems with topcoat paint finishes breaking down and having to renew them, maybe the breakdown is related to the higher UV level here in NZ.

Personally timber decking is more comfortable, a fall on a timber deck is not as painful as one on steel, on a cold day your butt gets frozen on a steel deck but timber is warmer.

[lazeyjack]

that the Spiret Of Adventure? amazing if so cos she was painted with sponsorship from Epiglass, and it was a poor job, free paint,
Brent Swain, you really show your lack of years

[welder/fitter]

Bonding agents have come a long way since the 1970s. Whether, or not, one sees an intrinsic value in wood decking & exterior trim should be the consideration in proceeding. The downside is, of course the extra maintenance.

Perhaps, consideration of the boat's future would help one to make such a decision. Such decking could be added at a later date - prior to sale? - if one planned to sail the boat for a while and didn't want the added maintenance. If it is a boat being built to sell, however, the esthetics of wood trim & decking seem to appeal to many.
Mike

[Crag Cay]

Spirit Of Adventure? amazing if so cos she was painted with sponsorship from Epiglass, and it was a poor job, free paint,

When we came to build a sister ship to the Spirit of Adventure in 1980, the only advise we got from the Kiwis was not to build in steel as they were already having no end of problems with corrosion and the sprayed internal foam insulation.

[riggertroy]

Originally Posted by lazeyjack

that the Spiret Of Adventure? amazing if so cos she was painted with sponsorship from Epiglass, and it was a poor job, free paint,

Yeap, when they did the decking repairs inthe mid '90s.

Originally Posted by Crag Cay

When we came to build a sister ship to the Spirit of Adventure in 1980, the only advise we got from the Kiwis was not to build in steel as they were already having no end of problems with corrosion and the sprayed internal foam insulation.

There were problems with corrosion, but around the deck area no, mostly in the bilges and a few areas that were just plan rust traps, I spent a lot of time on her during one refit so got to know parts of her rather well....

Did you ever build a sister ship?

[Crag Cay]

Yes, her sistership (a little bigger I think) was built in Hong Kong at Kong & Halveston in 80/81. She was triple diagonal teak and yaccal.

She was recently sold out of HK to the mddle east somewhere.

[Brent Swain]

Originally Posted by lazeyjack

that the Spiret Of Adventure? amazing if so cos she was painted with sponsorship from Epiglass, and it was a poor job, free paint,
Brent Swain, you really show your lack of years

Flattery will get you everywhere. Been cruising for 35 years and 11 months a year for the last 32, including 9 singlehanded Pacific crossings.
You have no idea what is happening beneath that teak until one day it surprises you. With paint you know exactly what is happening under it, because if it blisters, there is a problem , if it doesn't , there is no problem.
Teak coverings to avoid maintenace is an ostrich strategy. Out of sight , out of mind.One day your head gets forced out of the sand.
Brent

[lazeyjack]

not talking that; talking about you CONTINUALLY forcing or trying to force your ideals and will upon others,, relax, who gives a damn I would never build another steel unless was corten , but I dont continually bleat the virtues of alloy I dont care who builds what
Actually I do have a sneaking admiration for your tenacity, youa re like a terrier

[lazeyjack]

Originally Posted by riggertroy

Yeap, when they did the decking repairs inthe mid '90s.



There were problems with corrosion, but around the deck area no, mostly in the bilges and a few areas that were just plan rust traps, I spent a lot of time on her during one refit so got to know parts of her rather well....

Did you ever build a sister ship?

there was bigger version, same thing, cheap paint deal
In those days KIWIS NEW NOTHING OF HULL PROTECTION,Because epiglass sponsered all many of cup racers, one tonners, admirals cups, then the Name was out there
Then Altex Devoe came along with real steel protection, the Spirit Trust was going to use the product then along came epiglass with their crap and thats the story
this was buoilt by Thackwray ♠yachts previously Kumeu Eng went tits up Nobody knew what they were doing, I was not involved personally was in the next bay doing the Eng on another steel cock up These project supervisers, they came down from USA, SEE, THEY DESIGNED THESE MUFFLERS FOR THE 8V 92, two huge pots they stuck aft ,filled with guess what Scoria!! which is volcanic stones, Geezers that was in about 83 from guess------------------------------------------------------------the list goes on kumeu eng even built a yacht with fuel tanks INSIDE the water tanks, that is a tank then a big pipe welded inside to take the fuel A real example of eng co,s thinking they are boatbuilders

[M&M Ovenden]

Nobody has mentioned the added weight up high by adding teak decks on steel, shouldn't that be taken in consideration? It must affect the center of gravity somewhat considerably on smaller boats.

[Brent Swain]

And you never express an opinion? Yah right!
A friend with a lot of cruising experience bought a steel boat with a teak deck. As soon as he paid for her ,he took a crowbar to the teak. By nightfall the coast was covered in teak bits( I used some for firewood) and the deck was back to steel , exposing many holes where it had rusted thru. The teak and bedding kept these a secret. He hired a welder to fill them, and had her weld solid lifelines and a proper steel bulwark cap on to replace the teak ( vegitation ) one, and the flimsey , yachtie type , "Style over substance" lifelines..
You can buy a lot of paint at $20 per gallon for the price of the teak and the labour it takes to put a teak deck on. I only have to paint it every few years, but I do so more often for cosmetic reasons. It takes about half an hour .
Dead vegitation, for decorative purposes only, anywhere on the outside of a steel boat is a bad idea.
Brent