I am looking for a book that describes and teaches the varying techniques for laying teak decking. Can you help me?
Sue & Larry respond:
We checked with the folks at Wooden Boat Magazine in Rockport, ME, and at Bluewater Books in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and came up empty handed. Evidently there aren't any books on this topic, although that seems hard to believe. We did, however, uncover several other sources of information regarding the installation of teak decks.
Archived in the past issues of Wooden Boat Magazine are numerous articles where this topic is covered: Issue No. 165 Jan./Feb. 2002, Issue No. 163 Nov./Dec. 2001, Issue No. 147 Mar. /Apr. 1999, Issue No. 127 Nov./Dec. 1995, Issue No. 72 Sept./Oct. 1986, and Issue No. 46 May/June 1982. If you steer your browser to the magazine's website (www.woodenboat.com) you will find these back issues offered for $5.50 each or five for $25.00.
For a method to lay teak decks that eliminates the use of mechanical fasteners, which is often the source for leaking problems years down the road, check out Section Six of the Gougeon Brothers West Epoxy booklet entitled, "Fiberglass Boat Repair and Maintenance." You can also contact the folks at Gougeon via their website: www.westsystem.com.
Best of luck with your decking project.