My boat is leaking like mad and I had an electrical fire on the way to Tahiti so I am removing my teak decks! I made this decision after calling the boat designer Bob Perry. His apprentice, Gary Grant, designed my particular boat. The conversation went like this:
Ring. Ring. Ring.
Mr. Perry, “Hello,” in a sleepy voice.
Me, “Hello, My name is Olivia Wyatt. I own a 34 ft. Ta Shing Panda and I need some advice.”
Mr. Perry, “I didn’t design that boat, people often abuse my name to sell boats. You have woken me up from nap for this?”
Me, “I’m sorry I thought you and Gary Grant worked on it together.”
Him, “No.”
Me, “But wasn’t he your apprentice?”
Him, “Yes, but I haven’t seen him since the 70s. What‘s your question?”
Me, “The boat leaks everywhere. I have recaulked everything, but nothing works. I can see that the balsa core is so wet that it has turned to mud. Some people say just glass over the wood. Others say remove the teak and bad balsa then glass. What do I do?”
Him, “You should have bought a Bob Perry boat, then you wouldn’t be having this problem. I have never heard of this issue with my boats.”
Me, “I understand sir, my next boat will be a boat designed by you.
Him, “You have to get rid of the teak, you will be better off without it. You can not glass over it. Remove it, then glass and put a non-skid on top. This is all assuming that your hull to deck joint is fine, but don’t worry about that yet.”
Me, “But what about the wet balsa?”
Him, “Just leave it.”
I thank him for his time and we hang up.
After the call I feel like teak decks on boats like mine are just smoke and mirrors. They give one the illusion of a classical stout boat, but they are weak. They leak water through every screw hole and compromise structural integrity over time.
BECOME A PATREON & HELP ME CONTINUE CREATING:
www.patreon.co...
Music: Epidemic Sounds
#sailboat #sailingpassion #frenchpolynesia #boatrepairs #boatrepair #refit