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Bertram31.com General Bulletin Board
Epoxy Undercoat Question *PIC*
Posted By: JohnV8r
Date: Tuesday, 19 April 2005, at 8:14 p.m.
Some of you may remember that I have become a huge proponent of Capt Patrick's epoxy undercoat method for sealing teak prior to varnish. I have a somewhat unique area of my B31 that I need some advice on.
My cockpit still has the stock deck in it. At the rear of the deck where the Nautolex ends is a strip of teak trim on the cockpit deck. This piece keeps the deck attached to the scuppers and also has a vertical piece attached to it. If you look at the old photo below, you can make out the area I am speaking of.
This area is a huge problem for me. It is the only teak on the boat that is not epoxy undercoated. I am constantly having varnish peel up on me from the exposure to the sun and the amount of water this area is exposed to. Six coats of Epiphanes did not last one calendar year before it started peeling up. I have not done an epoxy undercoat in this area because I could not get to the back and bottom of this teak.
I now have all the side panels off the boat and the transom panels off as well, which provides me great access. I was hoping to get access to do an epoxy undercoat, but I still can't get to certain parts. So here is my question:
Is it feasible to do an expoxy undercoat on the surface areas of this teak trim where I intend to varnish? This would mean the teak would not be completely sealed as the backside and bottom of the teak would not have an epoxy coat applied to it. My concern is that by not completely sealing the teak, water will cause the wood to expand and split the epoxy area. On the other hand, would having the back and bottom of the teak unsealed simply allow moisture to wick out that direction...away from the more rigid area where the epoxy is?
I am hell bent to get this area looking like the rest of the teak.
Thanks in advance.
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