Teak Cockpit Deck Repair Help Needed

[1trout]

I have a teak deck in my cockpit that has a few boards that are loosening up slightly around the edges of the deck hatches. I think I need to remove them, clean the underlying deck (fiberglass I think), glue and clamp them back down tightly, and then caulk the seams. I'm looking for some help going over exactly what I need to do as a DIY project, or maybe I'll just need to get a pro to do it. Does anyone have a contact recommendation in the Morehead City/ Beaufort NC area (or elsewhere) from whom I can get some help?

 

[divert00]

Lots of coverage of this in trawlerforum or MTOA, as lots of membership has teak decked boats.

John McCarley

 

[1trout]

Thanks, John.

 

[jmooney]

Teak decking systems has the adhesive to fasten the teak down and also the caulk.

 

[Cricket]

If your deck was installed without screws (glued down only) there's a good chance the teak was glued to a plywood subfloor that was installed over the fiberglass deck.
I'm assuming the hatches are framed out with teak instead of just cutting the hatch opening out?
My worry is there's something going on that "loosened" the teak, ect.
Anyway, would play with 1 piece to see what's up before getting into an out of control project.
Multitool could be a big help.

 

[1trout]

Thanks, JMooney -- I've seen and will probably be using their products.

 

[1trout]

Thanks, Cricket.

My deck was "glued" with epoxy or something else straight onto the fiberglass. I can see the edges of just teak and caulk around the hatches (which were separately done, not by cutting the hatch opening out). As to why a few boards have loosened, I'm thinking it was a combination of time, UV deterioration, water penetration, and me stupidly using something too harsh to clean the teak about a year ago. I do plan to experiment with two fairly short boards in the upper left circle on the attached picture. Thanks again.

 

[1trout]

 

[JuiceClark]

Thanks, Cricket.

My deck was "glued" with epoxy or something else straight onto the fiberglass. I can see the edges of just teak and caulk around the hatches (which were separately done, not by cutting the hatch opening out). As to why a few boards have loosened, I'm thinking it was a combination of time, UV deterioration, water penetration, and me stupidly using something too harsh to clean the teak about a year ago. I do plan to experiment with two fairly short boards in the upper left circle on the attached picture. Thanks again.

Because framing was not used, you could try to add framing around the edges as an easier fix. If just the board ends are in bad shape, this allows the removal of the lose and soft wood while leaving the rest.

I did a repair like this to a small downeast style boat I had. Cutting out the old was the worst. Glueing and screwing in the new stuff and putting that black caulk in there was a mess but pretty easy. It looked great after sanding it down.

Like this:

 

[jap201]

JuiceClark

That cockpit looks beautiful. How do you maintain teak to look like that?

thanks
Joe

 

[JuiceClark]

JuiceClark

That cockpit looks beautiful. How do you maintain teak to look like that?

thanks
Joe

Hey Joe,

Well, that's not my cockpit! I just grabbed that pic off the internet to explain what "framing" the hatches means.

I've had two boats with teak cockpit areas, one a 36' sportfish and the other the 26' downeast boat I meantioned. It was impossible to make them really nice in the FL summer. They'd turn grey in just weeks after sanding. I'd brush a mild acid on them to reveal fresh wood, but it just doesn't last. The rainy season made them just feel soaked and not great.
So, never again for me. I'd consider a teak gunwale around the cockpit...and that's about it.