Hi Steve,

The repair didn´t really work out as expected, unfortunately. I must
admit that I ignored several of your suggestions, but maybe you still
can/want to help me.

What I did:
- I did not preform the plate but forced it in place by small tacks,
because it was not possible to find a good support underneath for the
jack with all the nailed and glued interior. After the tacking I made
sure there was space around the plate (some places there was no space -
used to cutting wheel to correct).
- in this stage the plate still looked fine as did the deck around.
- I made a V groove from the top and only welded from there. I´m very
inexperienced with welding and overhead welding is too much for me.
Welded using 2.5 rods, 85 amps and filled the groove flush with the
deck. making runs of 3-8 cm at a time, starting on different locations
all the time and only starting after the starting point was cold
enough to touch.
- And then... a serious low spot formed in the deck between the two
frames next to where the new piece is, because of the weld which was
pulling obviously very strong

I also did a larger piece of about 1 x 1 metre, which spanned three
frames. But also there a low spot formed along the whole length of the
piece. It even seems to push the frames down.

Now I´m quite desperate. I tried to bend the deck back with some
constructions on top of the deck. It is possible to reach the desired
position, but it doesn´t stay there after releasing the bolts. Maybe
using heat? Maybe it makes it worse?

Last option seems to be cutting the plate in offending direction and
reweld, but I´m not completely sure about this. What is the best place
to cut? In the middle of the new piece or on the old deck? It is qutie
drastical. I was also thinking about grinding out the welds halfway or
so to maybe relax the construction and then reweld.

What do you think?

greets, Joost.

We can have another discussion on the problems and solutions of teak over
steel, because the teak application has caused your problem. Also if you
have created a severe low spot making this repair, which if done correctly,
should not happen, but if you did, take a grinder with a cut-off disk and
split the plate in the offending direction(s),jackfrom underneath and weld
up the slots as before.
Steve