Bavaria VIRTESS 420 - Care and Maintenance of Decks; Maintenance of Stainless Steel Parts

BAVARIA Owner’s manual
80
10.3. Care and maintenance of decks
Untreatedwoodweatherstoanaturalsilver-greycolour,withnolossofthetimber’sstrengthorothermechanical/
physical properties. Because of its inherent durability and weather-resistant properties, the use of protective paints
or coatings is sometimes necessary.
Care products:
Protective wood oilspenetratedeepintothetimber,andundertheinuenceofheatandmoisturecanadversely
affecttheadhesionofthecaulkingmaterialtothesidesofthewoodenjoint.
Paintsaredecorativecoatingswhich,whenappliedtoawoodendeck,drytoformacontinuouslmoverthecaulking
material as well. Some paints may not harden properly on caulking material, leaving the surface tacky. In time most
paintswillakeawayalongthelineofthejoint.Thisspoilstheappearanceofthewoodendeckandcausescracksto
openupalongthejoints.
Teak cleaners should be used only if they contain no other active ingredients than normal soap. Additives such as
phosphoric or oxalic acid, which are often incorporated as brighteners, are corrosive substances which attack both
the caulking material and the timber, causing them to age rapidly.We therefore recommend that wooden decks be
washed down with a mop and clean fresh water, to which a small quantity of normal soap may be added if desired.
Thehigh-pressurewaterjetwillremoveareasofsapwoodandbreakthesealbetweenthecaulkingmaterialand
thesidesofthejoint.Inextendedperiodsofhot,dryweatherwoodendecksshouldbewateredatregularintervals
to prevent the timber from drying out completely. Excessive loss of moisture will cause the timber to shrink, placing
thejointsunderstress.Underunfavourableconditionsthiscanleadtoprematureageingorfailureofthejointseal.
Stick to these simple rules and you will lengthen the life of your deck considerably.
10.4. Maintenance of stainless steel parts
Thecorrosionresistanceofstainlesssteelttingsisbasedontheirabilitytoconstituteathinskintogetherwiththe
air,whichconstitutesapositiveelectricalpotential.SpecialistscallitCR-passivated(CRstandsforchrome).But
chrome is negative and a bit less noble than iron in the electrochemical series. If this thin protection skin is damaged
the stainless CR gets reactive and less noble than pure chrome. The corrosion then starts.
Wereyoueverannoyedbytheselittlebrownspotsonthettings?Theyarecausedbyyingrustorparticlesofiron
scale,whicharecontainedintheairandnearbigtowns.Assoonastheyingrustsettlesontotheprotectivelayerof
the stainless steel, it destroys the CR-passivity very aggressively and fast.
Stainless steel only stays shiny, if you care about it. Rinse the rail stanchions, pulpits and push pits and all stainless
ttingsthoroughlytoo,ifyouarerinsingandcleaningyourboatwithfreshwater.Freshwaterwillrinseawaythesalt,
rustandyingrust,theprotectivecoatwillbe„ventilated“andmayplayitsroleinprotectingthematerial.
Ifyourttingsalreadydisplaythebrownspots,youmayusemostofallthemetalcleanersavailableonthemarket,to
takecareofthestainlesssteelttings.Youmayalsousethesamepolishyouuseforthehull.