Need help re coring hatches

[alex n]

Just finished having a teak deck installed, immediately following the installation everything was perfect, but a few days later I noticed the fish box lids developed a crown to them, they are now bowed up 1/4 inch in the center and only the ends touch . I am thinking of turning the hatches over and routing out much of the backside of the lid and going down to 1/4 from the teak deck, my question is what is the best material to use to fill the area , I was thinking balsa core and pouring epoxy around and over it ,all the while being clamped to a flat table, no cloth needed , right?

[Mackey]

Alex, sounds like the teak decking is drawing up and has bowed the hatch. I would look to the teak and see what is causing it to bow. The hatch was flat before the teak was installed.
But I would not use the wood for coring, but one of the foam coring materials.

[alex n]

I cant figure it out, as I discuss the issue, people were saying maybe there was water in the core of the hatch and it freezing caused the bow, but those things were water tight no cracks etc.. and have never given me a problem, I am thinking that maybe the teak was very dry when installed, and after installation might have absorbed some moisture and expanded,causing the crown. The hatch by the way is crowned lengthwise not side to side . If I use foam I'm afraid it might not be strong enough to keep the teak from keeping it's bow. Quite honestly , now that I think about it ,if that's the case nothing will be strong enough without relieving the stress.

[Mackey]

My point exactly. I am no expert on wood decking, but I recall you have to be careful to alternate the crowns of each board else they can work in unison to warp the surface.

[Bligh]

I dont think the teak caused the bow. I am doing this diagnose over the internet with out knowing all variables? Teak is one of the most stable non changing woods.Here goes. The hatch was good before the teak deck was installed right? Now if the installer epoxied the teak to the hatch on horses or even a flat table when the gutters of the original hatch kept it in a specific crown than that might be your problem?Where is your boat and if in NJ I might atleast beable to diagnose a fix if not do repair. Especially if its a 36 Jersey cape than you wont believe how intimate I am with your beautiful fishing machine.

[alex n]

It is a Jersey Cape, How do you know the boat

[nautiduck]

Because it says 36 Jersey Cape in your signature.

[plyand glass]

hi alex n,
i have had the same problem befofe with a teak deck install, part of the problem is the teak and epoxy shrinkage as the epoxy cures even though teak is a "stable" wood it still has shrinkage along the grain. a cure that has worked for me in the past is to make atwartship passes on the underside of the hatch with a skilsaw 1-3'' apart cutting a kerf into the sub-strait but not al the way thru!!!!! and filling kerfs with thickened epoxy and clamping the hatch with the "reverse" amount of for and aft crown you had causeing the problem to begin with. after it cures sand,trial fit and then glass the underside with a couple layers 1208 and fair and re-fit then paint it out. its a pain in the _ _ _ but its a lot easier than recore with balsa! pm me and i can talk u thru it, good luck!

[Mackey]

Just finished having a teak deck installed, immediately following the installation everything was perfect, but a few days later I noticed the fish box lids developed a crown to them, they are now bowed up 1/4 inch in the center and only the ends touch . I am thinking of turning the hatches over and routing out much of the backside of the lid and going down to 1/4 from the teak deck, my question is what is the best material to use to fill the area , I was thinking balsa core and pouring epoxy around and over it ,all the while being clamped to a flat table, no cloth needed , right?

Hey Alex,
Do not really understand why you are doing anything at all about this defect in the teak decking. Seems to me the guys that lay that deck should make it right, not you.