jeanneau teak deck leaks

[westerly84]

noticed leaks in teak covered deck on jeanneau voyage 37'. removing several planks i found several small holes about 1/8" diameter randomly scattered. mostly in area between teak planks where polysufide caulk was laid. deck teak was held in place with polysufide only so not screwed anywhere. cannot understand the cause of the random holes in upper deck fiberglass. of course the balda core was wet where water had made it's way past the 20 year old somewhat dryed out polysulfide caulk & found a hole. like the proverbial can of worms the further i went the more damage i discovered necessitating removal of the entire deck teak. i have painstakingly removed the water impregnated balsa & injected epoxy in the voids. soon i will haul out & reglass the deck surface & coat with durabak or another deck coating material. lol

[Rockter]

Behold, the Great Leaking Teak Deck Dilemma.

Those holes are where the builder tacked wee wood blocks to bend the teak planking as it was bonded, and did not do you the courtesy of filling them again.

In Tiawan, they tack all the planks right through the glass and they leak like a sieve, given time.

Mine have leaked for at least 16 years.

Yes, life would not be the same without leaking teak decks.

[donradclife]

In Thailand, they use a complex system of wedges and weights to hold the teak planks in place while the glue sets up--no holes in the deck.

[sailingdog]

Westerly-

If the leaks are as extensive as your post leads me to believe, you really need to re-core the deck. Epoxy injection really doesn't return the deck to the same strength as a proper re-coring would and adds significant weight—since thickened epoxy saturated balsa is considerably heavier than plain balsa.

Originally Posted by westerly84

noticed leaks in teak covered deck on jeanneau voyage 37'. removing several planks i found several small holes about 1/8" diameter randomly scattered. mostly in area between teak planks where polysufide caulk was laid. deck teak was held in place with polysufide only so not screwed anywhere. cannot understand the cause of the random holes in upper deck fiberglass. of course the balda core was wet where water had made it's way past the 20 year old somewhat dryed out polysulfide caulk & found a hole. like the proverbial can of worms the further i went the more damage i discovered necessitating removal of the entire deck teak. i have painstakingly removed the water impregnated balsa & injected epoxy in the voids. soon i will haul out & reglass the deck surface & coat with durabak or another deck coating material. lol

[Rockter]

Don...

DON'T YOU BELIEVE IT.

Come and see my boat. Plenty of holes in that deck... like about 1000, and it's Tiawanese, and the decks are teak, and they leak.

[sailingdog]

Rockter-

You are aware that Taiwan and Thailand are two different countries??

[Rockter]

Missed that one... they sound similar... Taiwan and Thailand?

I stand horribly corrected.

[Rockter]

I would not tell the poor guy to tear out the core of his deck until it is soft underfoot. Balsa adds nothing to the strength, dry or wet. It is only used as a stand-off between the decks. When the deck is crunching as you walk, then tear it out, and not before. Mine's been soaked for at least 16 years.

Damn balsa cores.

[sailingdog]

I'd have to disagree. The core material's soundness has a definite effect on the strength of the laminate.

[Rockter]

Yes, a little, but balsa is awfully weak, and the stand-off is where it's at. My own is probably sodden, but it would need a very big sea indeed for it to make a difference.

Most of owners are going to get it tight financially as the great depression looms, so I do what I have to, and live with what I don't.

Sometimes it's better that way, with a 31 year-old ship.

There is hardly a cored deck on the planet that has not got water in it, mine probably more than most.