sealing teak and holly interior floor perimeter

T

trailertrawlerkismet

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 23, 2011
Messages
2,519
Fluid Motion Model
C-24 C
Vessel Name
(2022) Kismet
The teak and holly wood floor paneling has a gap around the perimeter in our R29S much like other Ranger Tugs and maybe Cutwaters. This gap has a proclivity for filling up with dust, dirt, whatever is dropped onto the floor and I'm wondering if anyone has sealed the gap with a bead of silicone or caulk to prevent debris and moisture from getting into the gap and under the flooring? Any and all suggestions are welcome.

Jim F
 
Hi Jim,

What a great idea! I know at least one owner who has had to replace the flooring because of water intrusion into the cabin floor and have been concerned about this myself. I have done quite a bit of custom woodwork (and caulking!) including some flooring work. However, I have not attempted to seal a floor edge in this way and have not done it in our boat yet,(though I may consider it this winter now that you suggest it!). I do, however, think it is possible if you (or someone you can hire) have adequate skills with a caulk gun. If you look in the "head" in your boat at the walls I think you will find the veneer is caulked around the edges with a matching color to the liner. The key would be to acquire a matching color of caulk to the liner color, with the appropriate flexibility and adhesion, and someone with the skill to lay it down. Maybe Richard Becker at RT can point you to the appropriate caulk.

If you do take this on yourself, I recommend you practice with some similar scrap material, the caulk product, and tools. Also, prior to laying the practice bead down make sure you have the appropriate solvent for the caulk. If you cannot lay it down directly with the gun satisfactorily you may be able to get good results by using a tool (an appropriate rounded edge like a spoon or even a finger!) dipped in solvent to form a consistent bead profile. After you can consistently create suitable results on the practice materials you should be good to go to apply your new skill to your new boat!
 
Curt:

Thanks for your input and I agree with you that any attempt should be practiced in order to obtain a suitable looking finish. Does anyone know of any reason not to seal the gap?

Jim F
 
This is just a FYI..... On the new 2018 R-27/OB the Teak/Holly floor is not a wood base flooring material. It's instead a fake sort of Vinyl material that imitates the Teak/Holly traditional wood-based flooring. This Vinyl material is obviously glued down and there's no edge to speak of. The edge is seamless/level with the glass fiber liner and therefore cannot capture or hold dirt/crumbs/crud etc at its edge.
 
Jim:
I have contemplated doing the same thing with our floor. I have not done the task because I fear that without a perfect seal all around, any water that does seep in would have a much more difficult time evaporating and could potentially be a worse problem than cleaning the crumbs, and in our case dog hair. If you learn that is a unfounded fear, please let us know.
Todd
 
Jim,
Although your flooring is no longer wood, as you said that gap does collect dust. Try this product http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|10918|2303278|2303279&id=1683723

Here is what I have always done when I wanted a nice looking caulk joint. Get some painters blue tape and carefully tape on either side of the gap. Once you have both sides taped put on a latex glove, caulk the joint as nicely as you can, wet the index finger on the glove you are wearing ( left or right depending on your dexterity) and then run it over the joint in a continuous motion. When you are satisfied with the outcome remove the tape by pulling it away on either side of the joint. This product has limited color selection, white black or mahogany. It is not unusual for teak and holly floors to have a black caulk edge, so you may want to use that color.

I used silicone on my vinyl replacement floor because my joints were so tight there was no overlay with the joint. In your case I would not recommend silicone. It won't stick well to the gelcoat floor and will start to peel in spots. Sika may make another product that has a better selection of colors, but I am not aware of that. Perhaps a call to Sika will provide more information.

I have used their products extensively in my career and never had an issue.
 
Hi, just read this and I sealed the gaps over 3 years ago. I spoke to Ronnie G and I asked what they used to seal the wood joints in my Cutwater. It was the DAP caulking in cedar tan. I felt it was a food and liquid magnet in those gaps. I used both the blue tape and sometimes the damp sponge to clean the joints. The small piece of flooring was loose in the helm so I pulled it out and glued it down under weight with plumbers or shoe goop. Then sealed the gap with the DAP. I have not seen any issues with the caulking or the floor lifting. It looks a lot nicer with the gaps filled.

Stuart
 
Thanks for all the advice, now I've got enough info to start a plan.

Jim F
 
trailertrawlerkismet":1v271kxh said:
The teak and holly wood floor paneling has a gap around the perimeter in our R29S much like other Ranger Tugs and maybe Cutwaters. This gap has a proclivity for filling up with dust, dirt, whatever is dropped onto the floor and I'm wondering if anyone has sealed the gap with a bead of silicone or caulk to prevent debris and moisture from getting into the gap and under the flooring? Any and all suggestions are welcome.

Jim F
Click to expand...

Jim: Can you possibly take a photo of this "gap", as I'm a bit confused about where these gaps are. All my floor pieces are one big piece and their edges do not expose gaps anywhere on my R-27.
 
Mine had the gap at the edge too to a point where one could hurt ones foot if going bare foot. Solved the problem with a carpet from the factory
 
Barry:

Its more like 1/8th to 1/16th space then a gap and its not a big deal other then I thought (apparently others as well) that the void being sealed with a proper caulk would keep moisture and debris out. If I'm correct I'm thinking the flooring on the R29S is still a wood product vs a vinyl look alike, at least it feels and looks that way.

Jim F
 
Jim:

I really wouldn't know my flooring is the new Teak/Holly look-alike vinyl material had it not been for Andrew telling when I asked for some additional flooring in places on my boat. 🙂 😱

I do agree that dirt/crud/crumbs etc do collect alongside the cabin alley/isle edges. I actually vacuumed it all up today. 😀

I hope you and Lisa are enjoying your new R-29S.... such a nice boat. Will you be adding a 2nd Chartplotter in the empty space you have to left of the stock Chartplotter ? That space beckons for something. 😉
 
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