Reinstalling teak back on the boat

[ArkadiyS]

I have just removed most of the external teak off of Cat 30 for restoration, and now ready to put it back. I was wondering if i need to use some kind of caulk, putty, or nothing at all between boat's fiberglass and the restored teak? I have cleaned the area under the teak when i took it off, so the surface is already clean and dry. Teak is restored on both sides (front and back). Any recommendations? Thanks!

 

[woodster]

I have just removed most of the external teak off of Cat 30 for restoration, and now ready to put it back. I was wondering if i need to use some kind of caulk, putty, or nothing at all between boat's fiberglass and the restored teak? I have cleaned the area under the teak when i took it off, so the surface is already clean and dry. Teak is restored on both sides (front and back). Any recommendations? Thanks!

if you would like to have a dry and not leaky boat i would say use a sealer on the replacement....especially around all the penetrations and fastening that go through or in to the fiberglass...mainesail has some good info on his site about bedding with butyl tape and is very good info ...

regards

woody

 

[DougM]

I reattached some teak seating surfaces last year using a very high quality Loctite exterior construction adhesive. I concentrated on making the attaching surfaces absolutely clean, I roughed up the smooth surfaces with coarse sandpaper to insure a good bite. In applying, i stayed close to the perimeter with a continuous bead, and applied several parallel stripes of adhesive to the seating area. To insure good contact, I weighted down the surface with a couple of bags of water softener salt that I happened to have. After the adhesive cured, I re caulked the perimeter. It has worked well so far.

The surfaces were originally held by adhesive only, and had lasted nine years, so I saw no need to use mechanical fasteners simply because I don't like unnecessary holes in the Fiberglas.

 

[ArkadiyS]

since all of the original teak was held with screws, i will have to use those same screws when replacing the teak. On some parts it looked like there was some adhesive combined with screws holding the pieces, while others seemed to just be screwed into the fiberglass. Should i just seal all of these restored pieces with both sealant and screws, specifically sealing the screw holes, or just worry about the screw holes? Thanks!

 

[Joe]

I wouldn't put any screw in any outside hole with out some sealant...

 

[NYSail]

Butyl tape is great stuff. Make little "donuts" of the stuff to surround the screw / bolt holes and you will be leak free. Read mainsails information on this

 

[capta]

There is this handy dandy product designed specifically for bedding things on boats. It is cheap, easy to use and cleans up in a snap with turps. It is called bedding compound and Dolphinite is one manufacturer.

 

[ArkadiyS]

OK, last one on this topic... do i need to put teak plugs on top of screws, is it really necessary? If not, what do you suggest for tops of screws once the teak is back on the boat? Thanks!

 

[woodster]

OK, last one on this topic... do i need to put teak plugs on top of screws, is it really necessary? If not, what do you suggest for tops of screws once the teak is back on the boat? Thanks!

cosmeticly/asteicly....yes... although you could leave them bare and it would look like Fido's bohonkus and they would build up with all sorts of unwanted debre...not to mention water collecting in them and swelling the wood and causing uneven surfaces as one fella on here says "its your boat your choice" (i really like that comment lol).....structually not so much but in the long run it would cause premature replacement so why not plug them now and be done with it ....you can get plug cutters at Lowe's for about $20......

regards

woody

 

[Ron20324]

You can buy plugs by the bag in various sizes.