Deck Repair?

[Ed Stevens]

After sailing my Columbia for several years the deck began to separate! I realized some guy before me painted over a rubber tread on the foward deck! I am considering putting a gel-coat over the whole deck vs. painting! I am almost done with the sanding process. Do any of you have any experience with how that works out over a few years? Ed

 

[duke2003]

Deck repair

Hey Ed, I'm in the middle of fixing up my deck on a C-34 as well. I'm not really sure what all you have going on there from what you said, but I'll tell you what I'm doing. Instead of re-gelcoating I'm painting with Interlux Epoxy Barrier-Cote ($84.99 at West Marine) This is the above-the-waterline stuff in the yellow cans. It's also a good primer and will get rid of my spidercracks. I'm doing the same with the freeboards. I just had to shoot the deck up with epoxy due to moisture in there which you may be facing too. After going through all that, I don't want to do it again so I'm confident this stuff will seal the deck well.

 

[pat boots]

stop now

you should check out the article on blisters and such at mustangislandyachts.com. The fellow who wrote it really knows his stuff about repairs on gelcoat and such. You might even want to call him and pick his brain.

 

[Rick Senft]

deck work

If you use waxed gel coat your deck will be like a skating ring. I have seen guys use a two part epoxy with a grit added to the mixture with good results. West Marine carries such products.