TECHNICAL CARING FOR A TEAK DECK

Dennis O'Neill outlines the best ways to protect and prolong the life of a modern teak deck - with a note or two of caution...

- Dennis O'Neill

Teak decks certainly look, and feel, wonderful, but they need to be looked after properly. Care for them with a regular regime and they will last a good 20 years or more. Neglect them at your peril and they’ll become unsightly and derelict after just five. Solid teak decks were used for hundreds of years on shipping, earning an excellent reputation for longevity. Modern teak decks found on production cruising yachts, however, aren’t quite as stout and sturdy. In many cases, they’re little more than a quick way for the boatbuilder to up the ‘class’ of their product. Some can be poorly fitted, with the wood too thin and the caulking gaps too narrow. The best plug on the deck might be no more than 3mm deep, and the caulking, unless it’s of adequate depth and width, might not remain glued as the wood moves. Thankfully, such deficiencies can be easily overcome if you follow some very simple