Broken Teak Swim Platform -- repair or replace?

Our teak swim platform broke when some girls jumped off of it. The wood is cracked, and I'm wondering if it's worth exploring fixing it rather than replacing the whole board. A new teak swim platform will cost upwards of $1000, so does anyone know about repairing teak marine items, and whether they will be durable enough after repair?

Mind you, this is for a 1990 Ski Brendalla -- not a new ski boat. Any advice would be helpful.

Here are pictures of the platform flipped over. I have circled the cracks.

Re: Broken Teak Swim Platform -- repair or replace?

From the pictures the joints used to construct the platform are simple rabbit joints, held together with screws. If this is the case, and if you have a source to acquire the replacement teak, and if you have modest woodworking skills/tools, and if the rest of the platform is solid and w/o rot, and if you are willing to refinish the entire platform so it looks good, then yes, it is worth the repair.

Teak can get rot in it, caused by fungus, especially the lesser grades. I would do the repair if it was mine. But I would totally disassemble the platform, sand and refinish each piece, then reassemble the platform using bronze screws, then put a number of finish coats of a sealer. I would also research the proper technique for the process since I don't have any teak on my own boat. (I think SS crews will
develop black streaks in the wood, but could be mistaken).

Re: Broken Teak Swim Platform -- repair or replace?

Thank you, Bob's Garage, for your reply to my question. It was very helpful, and inspired me to go ahead and get the swim step fixed instead of replacing it. I found a teak specialist to do the work, and this was definitely the way to go (I'm not much of a woodworker). He did a wonderful job replacing the broken pieces and then refinishing the entire piece. He also reinforced the weaker areas so that breakage wouldn't happen again. I highly recommend this gentleman to anyone who is in the SF Bay Area, and if it's OK to do so, I'd like to post his contact information: The Teak Man, Scott Wilkinson, Owner, (EDIT: Do not post email addresses per forum rules, he may not like the spam he receives or ends up unknowingly sending).

Here are a few pictures of the fine work he has done (of course my photography does not do it justice). If you look at the befores and then these afters, it's really quite amazing. Remember, this is a 20+ year old swim step.











Note that pictures of platform that appear grey are color pics! What a difference.

Re: Broken Teak Swim Platform -- repair or replace?

your pics were no goo. Glad to hear it worked out.. It would have been tough to get teak the exact same color and DIY if you've never worked with teak. its a tough wood to work with (i've found)

Re: Broken Teak Swim Platform -- repair or replace?

ps to take good care of it make sure you apply teak oil every once and a while from here on out
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=355691

Re: Broken Teak Swim Platform -- repair or replace?

Thanks, we will. My husband used to refinish the step every year for many years, and then we stopped using the boat when our kids were little. Now that we're using it again, and it looks so beautiful, he will resume refinishing it on a yearly basis.

Here are my pics again... at least I shall attempt to repost...

Re: Broken Teak Swim Platform -- repair or replace?

Looks shiny and great!

Re: Broken Teak Swim Platform -- repair or replace?

I have almost an identical one on my Wellcraft, I did the two part cleaning thing (West Marine stuff) and put oil on it, actually oiled it about four times. It was grey like yours originally, although yours was much worse looking than mine. But I can get a nice looking shine like that. I have put a pint+ on the dang thing and let it sit to soak, brushed it in well all over, and it still acts like it wants more......any idea how much oil was used on that one you have?? Maybe I need to go with another pint or more.....