New Life for a Beloved Boat
Alex Nikolajevich and Jennifer Smith consider their Vancouver 42' sailboat, Green Ghost, their home. After selling their house and moving onto Green Ghost full time it took them another four and a half years of scrimping and saving to achieve their dream of quitting their jobs to sail around the globe.
As they were searching for the sailboat that would allow them to achieve this dream, they initially would have preferred a boat without teak decks because, like many small boat owners, they were concerned that the teak deck would be a liability. On many older fiberglass boats the teak decks are screwed directly into the underlying fiberglass deck. Over time the wood plugs covering the screw heads are worn thin and the screws become exposed. This potentially allows water to enter the deck. Despite this concern, they determined that Green Ghost had nearly everything else they were looking for in an offshore cruising sailboat, so they decided to go forward with the purchase.
After sixteen years of ownership, the majority of which the boat served as their home, the decks, then 30 years old, had worn and repair was necessary. Thankfully circumstances and newly developed restoration techniques allowed them to replace the decks with beautiful new teak without harming the boat. New adhesive technologies now allow teak decks to be installed screw-free, a far better installation as the integrity of the deck is not compromised by countless screw holes.
The project took ten weeks and was performed by a team of carpenters from Yachts Repair Co., Ltd. while the boat was in the water at the work dock and the couple lived aboard. The old deck was removed by hammer and chisel one small chip at a time. The old teak was chiseled off
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Frequently asked questions
Can teak decks be installed without screws on older fiberglass sailboats?+
Yes. New adhesive technologies now allow teak decks to be installed screw-free, which is a better installation because the integrity of the deck is not compromised by countless screw holes.
Why are teak decks considered a liability on older fiberglass boats?+
On many older fiberglass boats the teak decks are screwed directly into the underlying fiberglass deck. Over time the wood plugs covering the screw heads wear thin and the screws become exposed, potentially allowing water to enter the deck.
How long did the teak deck replacement on Green Ghost take?+
The project took ten weeks and was performed by a team of carpenters from Yachts Repair Co., Ltd. while the boat was in the water at the work dock and the owners lived aboard.
How was the old teak deck removed from Green Ghost?+
The old deck was removed by hammer and chisel, one small chip at a time.
What type of sailboat is Green Ghost and who owns it?+
Green Ghost is a Vancouver 42' sailboat owned by Alex Nikolajevich and Jennifer Smith, who live aboard full time after selling their house to pursue sailing around the globe.
How old were the original teak decks on Green Ghost when they were replaced?+
The original decks were 30 years old and had worn to the point that repair was necessary, after sixteen years of ownership by Nikolajevich and Smith.