348 Flexiteek and Anchor question

terryd · **Posted:** Tue Jun 07, 2011 12:49 pm

Hi
My Flexiteek on my swim platform is starting to look dull, is there anything that can be put on this to make it look bright again? Also our boat only came with about 3' of anchor chain, the boat is 100 miles away, does anyone know what size of chain is on my Maxwell 500? I believe it is 1/4 and is it galvanised. I would like to add about 40' of chain, for where we are it is highly recommended. Is there anything special about the chain, my plan is after this coming weekend to bring my line home and try and match some chain locally then have a welding shop add the extra length.
Please let me know if someone knows if this is not possible.
Thanks in advance.

Paul I. · **Posted:** Tue Jun 07, 2011 12:57 pm

1/4" chain is common. With that size boat, I would think you have a windlass. The line needs to be spliced on to the chain. Shackles will not go though a windlass. So the 3' chain needs to be removed & the 40' one add to the rode.

As to the deck, I would call them.

terryd · **Posted:** Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:58 pm

Thanks for reply.
I was thinking more alone the line of welding the new chain to the existing chain, that way we don't have to mess with the splice. Spoke to a welding shop and he said they can weld the new chain to the old and it will go through the windlass no problem.

jnizi · **Posted:** Tue Jun 07, 2011 2:21 pm

I used Simple Green Marine to wash my Flexiteek with a scrub brush. That brought it back mostly. I do have a few stains that I have not been able to get rid of but I have not aggressively worked on it.

Do you find it too hot to step on?

Cap'n Morgan · **Posted:** Tue Jun 07, 2011 2:25 pm

Stubborn stains need to be HAND sanded. It will be lighter after you sand it, but it will blend in after a short time.

Bob2135 · **Posted:** Tue Jun 07, 2011 2:45 pm

I WISH I could remove our FLEXTEEK layer on the swim platform! First weekend, we were impressed with the look and feel. Liked the non-skid properities, but it got EXTREMELY hot, even our dog was hopping around on it! :shock:

Transom shower helped, but the water evaporated so quickly, that you almost need to keep a running hose on it. When we covered it with wet towels, then the FLEXTEEK turned grey temporarily! :roll:

so...we will see what the summer brings, if no better we may end up removing it this fall, and re-doing the non-skid white surface on the swim platform.

Cap'n Morgan · **Posted:** Tue Jun 07, 2011 2:55 pm

They even warn you about the heat....

Quote:

One of the negatives of composite marine decking is the surface temperature. Being a plastic compound the synthetic teak alternatives absorb heat and darker colors absorb more. The resulting temperatures can be similar to a little warmer than teak, so in very high temps they can be hot to walk on in bare feet. Picking a lighter color helps this.

Bob2135 · **Posted:** Tue Jun 07, 2011 2:58 pm

Yes the do! I actually laughed with my wife when we sea trialed the boat, because neither of us wanted it, would FLEXTEEK be a deal breaker? She said no, so all things being good, and this 378V being the cleanest that we found, we took it, and will have to deal with the FLEXTEEK in time! Not looking forward to it though. :roll:

Actually I wish they made a product that would bleach the hell out of it and make it white or at least the color of birch wood! :lol:

jsimon · **Posted:** Tue Jun 07, 2011 3:11 pm

Well if it makes any of you composite teak owners feel any better, I stepped on our boat neighbors real teak wood platform last Saturday...... I had to hop right off it. It too was very warm.

My wife is a fanatic about having the swim platform clean, the white anti skid gets dirty fast, but I guess that's the lesser of the 2.

Paul I. · **Posted:** Tue Jun 07, 2011 3:54 pm

terryd wrote:

Thanks for reply.
I was thinking more alone the line of welding the new chain to the existing chain, that way we don't have to mess with the splice. Spoke to a welding shop and he said they can weld the new chain to the old and it will go through the windlass no problem.

For 3' of chain I would just cut it off & re-splice the new chain on. It is simple to do, basically you are braiding. It take only a few minuets to do. I would not weld it, I do not see it flexing as it is going though the windlass.

http://www.lewmar.com/assets/img/datase ... 22iss2.pdf Page 9 show how it is done.

jnizi · **Posted:** Tue Jun 07, 2011 4:20 pm

We are actually looking at a SeaDek swim platform. We do the wet towel thing as well. Talked to FW and removing the Flexiteek is not an option without putting something else back on.

firecadet613 · **Posted:** Tue Jun 07, 2011 4:37 pm

I've heard good things about the SeaDek platform...waiting until I can see one installed to see how clean it stays and how it deals with the heat.

I hate how quickly the non skid swim platform gets dirty...

terryd · **Posted:** Tue Jun 07, 2011 8:25 pm

Paul |Thanks
I will look at doing that first. My manual is in the boat, the dealer claims it's 1/4" chain and my buddy finds that small. Can anyone confirm the 348 with a Maxwell 500 uses 1/4" chain. I have a friend down south and he will get me 100 ft of 1/4 chain from west marine on the way home.
I would hate to buy the wrong size.
Thanks again to all.

Paul I. wrote:

terryd wrote:

Thanks for reply.
I was thinking more alone the line of welding the new chain to the existing chain, that way we don't have to mess with the splice. Spoke to a welding shop and he said they can weld the new chain to the old and it will go through the windlass no problem.

For 3' of chain I would just cut it off & re-splice the new chain on. It is simple to do, basically you are braiding. It take only a few minuets to do. I would not weld it, I do not see it flexing as it is going though the windlass.

http://www.lewmar.com/assets/img/datase ... 22iss2.pdf Page 9 show how it is done.

Sierra · **Posted:** Tue Jun 07, 2011 9:59 pm

terryd wrote:

Hi
My Flexiteek on my swim platform is starting to look dull, is there anything that can be put on this to make it look bright again? .

Well, you could always cover it

Judging by the comments here, you'll all think I'm crazy or incredibly stupid, but after a great deal of research and listening to all of the good and the bad about Flexiteek for years now, here and elsewhere, I did go ahead with it on my new boat. I don't know if it's the white caulking rather than the black, but I've seen some 90 degree days and have not found the swim platform unbearably hot. It's hot, to be sure, but I haven't experienced the "foot scalding, got-to-get-off-now hot" that a lot of people describe. Perhaps I will. Fortunately, the rest of the covered surfaces do not sustain direct sunlight. And I so prefer it to the constant dirtiness of the non-skid. But that's me

WarEagle17 · **Joined:** Sat May 07, 2011 5:42 pm **Posts:** 15

I have a 2001 298 Vista. I have sent my template to Seadek and today approved the design to go to production. The entire process (this obviously being their busy time) is around 6 weeks. I have ordered the teak/holly.

I will post pictures in a couple of weeks once installed. The total cost was around $550. It is not supposed to get hot at all.

www.iFourWinns.com

348 Flexiteek and Anchor question

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