Deck repair

[Jbeals]

Well I have replaced the support for the deck.
I was hoping that I would not have to ..... but it was too far gone.
Not sure what the original wood was, but I replaced with oak.
Oak will be the trim for the rest of the boat.
So the deck strips decayed due to a blue heron that enjoyed sitting on the branch that crashed on the boat. Insult to injury.
I used "Smith's cold formula" CPE on the deck to get some integrity back into the cedar. And was impressed with the absorbing qualities of this old wood.

My question is how to repair the deck cedar strips that are missing?

http://tinyurl.com/4z5nzko

Some ideas are.
Splice in new wood extending the cedar strip.
Make a piece that fills the hole and use a back plate.
Replace the whole strip if it is damaged.

There is another arch support a few inches forward of the hole.

Any suggestions are welcome.
Thanks\James

 

[ppride]

Hi James, Do you have any pictures? Pete

 

[Jbeals]

Yes Pete.
the TinyURL is a link to Photobucket.
I'll try to upload some to the list.
James

 

[ppride]

Ignore my previous thread I just saw the pictures. What a cool boat. My recommendation would be replace the whole strips that are damaged. Pete

 

[Jbeals]

Thanks Pete,
That seems to be the best solution.
Now to buy some Cedar.
I don't know what to call the arch support.
Tabernacle is the first word that comes to mind, but not sure.
James

 

[Todd Bradshaw]

If they run cross-wise, they're usually just called deck beams. Framing members running fore and aft to support a deck are called carlins.

Be awfully careful with the CPES (clear penetrating epoxy sealer - essentially very-solvent-diluted epoxy resin) approach to "restoring" wood. Though it will make the rotten spots hard if you apply enough of it, that does not even come close to restoring it to its original strength. The technique was developed for non-structural architectural details, not load-bearing boat parts. The reason that the wood soaked it up so well is that it's rotten wood, and the best bet for fixing rotten wood on boats is always replacing it with new wood. Anything else is pretty much frowned upon, and for good reason.

I know some people who are huge fans of CPES as a sealer and paint base, but I don't know anybody who believes that it will restore rotten wood to the point that they want it in their boats.

 

[Jbeals]

Todd, Thanks for the lexicon help.

Well I sure found out how volatile CEPS is.
Even with the right mask and filter, my beard let enough by that I had to open the garage all the way and leave.
And I know about fumes, I have printing press, and built in ventilation.
But CEPS is way more volatile.

I have had that feeling about the bad/dark wood.
Although I had hoped that the natural colored wood was going to be fine.
There are not many deck strips that are good then. One or two.
So I think I will be replacing more than I had anticipated.
Better to do it right this time, I may not have another chance.
But there is no way I am going to re strip the whole boat.

What is the determining factor when trying to save old dry wood?
All the oak ribs and transom are still very hard.
But most all of the cedar is dry, very dry.

James