The synthetic teak decking systems weve seentwo PVC-based and one cork-basedare, once installed, quite similar in appearance and texture. At the extreme Ive seen a deck lose 1mm of thickness each year through scrubbing. This time, no sample passed the test: all of them let themselves be pierced ( the Permateek with a little bit of difficulty). Further, many treatments sharply reduce the teaks anti-skid properties, and others can give your deck a painty look. The company has been working on projects with major boat manufacturers the panels will be used, for instance, on the locker hatches of the aft deck of the Spirit 44E thats currently in build. This is also true for motorboats that, as you know, have wider decks and therefore need more square meters of synthetic teak. The Permateek was the hottest one, with a temperature of 60.8 degrees, followed by the Flexiteek with a temperature of 57.3 degres and the Plasdeck with 53.5 degrees. Anyone who saw the Spirit 50CR at last years Southampton Boat Show can attest that a quality yacht with Lignia decks will look stunning. Real teak decking: 500-600. In recent years, PVC has also shown up in the form of synthetic teak decking. Yes, its true, the Permateek is also the darkest one but, at the end of the day and even after having remained in the shadow for more than one hour, it was still the hottest one (36.8), which suggests a longer heat retaining effect. This gives Lignia performance and durability that can surpass tropical hardwoods. THEINTERNATIONALYACHTINGMEDIA.COM| SUPERYACHTS.NEWS | YACHT DIGEST, VIRTUAL BOAT SHOW |TUTTTOBARCHE |TOUSLESBATEAUX |TODOSLOSBARCOS. So far, Tek-Dek and MarineDeck 2000 have exhibited the best resistance to staining and the easiest clean-up. In order to test grip, we decided to carry out a very simple test: to create an inclined plane where to put our teak samples with a sailing shoe containing a weight on it. We take our responsibility to the environment very seriously and we are not prepared to risk using unsustainable wood.. Natural teak decking isnt without its downsides, though. remains lower, which contributes to reduce heeling when sailing while improving performance. Soot, air and water pollutants, and spills can stainand discolor the deck in short order. This factor, re gardless of how you feel about environmental issues, makes teak an expensive material. As my Company handles the Importing for the Americas, lets remember that DRB chose not to go with an existing factory that had worked well for the last three years, and continues to increase the quality control levels in order to maintain the #1 status. Bleaches and chemical cleaners workat least to some extentbut tend to remove the oils that made teak the choice in the first place. Teak alternatives have been available for many years and are gaining wide acceptance. Teak decks, while providing excellent skid resistance when dry, arent quite as good when wet. Of course, its a subjective yet important choice since, once chosen, the synthetic teak has the implicit characteristic of maintening the same appearance over years. Given its one of the lightest decking materials available, at only 2.4kg/m2, for cruisers the thinner option appears to offer little benefit. ), MarineDeck 2000 consists of highly compressed natural cork particles in a polyurethane binder. I am in search for a synthetic deck manufacturer who already has templates for the Leopard 50 Please email me at kevindeanferreira@gmail.com if you happen to know one. The price has gone up dramatically, supply is dwindling, and, Every sailor is familiar with the wet cough of the diesel engine, and the acrid smell of its exhaust. Lets take into consideration a sailboat, especially a performing one. Tye Conway of UK-based decking specialist Elite-Teak says that typical installed prices in the UK are often lower than elsewhere in northern Europe, with many jobs falling into the following price ranges (ex. Flexiteek decking on the SW105 Kiboko III. Your email address will not be published. Over time, if not exposed to pollutants, teak gradually ages to an attractive silver-gray color. However, it is also true that boat owners, or better their personal tastes, have the final say. The teak option reduces output by only 6-8% compared to an equivalent standard panel, while custom sizes and shapes can be created without increasing prices. The use of synthetic teak in marine decking is quickly and successfully replacing that of the natural wood. We thank all three manufacturers that, as proof of their good faith, accepted the test without hesitation. SeaDeks Jason Gardner says the large range of colour, thickness, density and design options means the price range can be very wide. Permateek is made of harder and rougher plastic, Flexiteek is softer while Plasdeck is somewhere in between. We tested this aspect in a July sunny day (with external temperature of about 30 degrees) where we left the three teak panels exposed to the sun for some hours. And teak isnt particularly flexible, so dealing with curves and/or arched decks can be tricky. ConclusionsIts a bit premature for us to make any firm recommendations at this pointwell know a lot more after our extended exposure tests are completed. Ranking: 1 Permateek pari merito Flexiteek e Plasdeck. You then glue down these pieces, using a two-part epoxy, and hold them in place with weights. Fungus inhibitors throughout the material hold back the formation of the green mould that can all too easily grows on real teak decks, especially during persistently damp winters. The International Yachting Mediais the worlds most widely readboating magazines network. Below you will find their contact details. removed everything with what is the most used method on each boat, ie water. When the sections are joined, the resulting deck appears to consist of 1-7/8 planks separated by 3/16 wide black caulking strips. Gisatex offers a more economic PVC product, at 69 per square metre, but in a thinner textured, non-slip material that makes no attempt to match the grain of teak. Also With This ArticleValue Guide: Synthetic Teak, Contacts Flexiteek Americas, Inc., 954/973-4335, www.flexiteekusa.com PlasTEAK, 800/320-1841, www.plasteak.com Tek-Dek International, 604/880-3737, www.tek-dek-international.com MarineDeck 2000 (STAZO Marine Equipment), 207/354-0914, www.stazo.nl, www.marquipt.com. When the entire deck is laid out,fits,joints together with a one-part cement. Life expectancy for expanded foam materials is around five to seven years for harsh use, and longer for less-heavily used boats. We tried many times and we reached a 36-degree inclination: an excellent goal, beyond which no material produced enough friction for the shoe to remain glued to the surface. A company representative says that untreated MarineDeck 2000 will tend to darken and gray, within a few months in the sun, much like regular teak will, but then a few months later it seems to come back to a natural teak color. Especially if these boats are equipped with a flybridge: a lower weight on this means lower rolling for the yacht itself. The maximum inclination reached by the shoe without slipping was very similar for all materials. Teak doesnt look good from a sustainability perspective either. Flexiteek is available in a standard 5mm thickness and 11 colours, with plank widths from 45mm-200mm to replicate everything from planking to covering boards and cappings. All the materials passed our crash tests (we dropped anything on our samples, even very heavy items) and no damage was registered. A UV inhibitor in the coating would obviously be of benefit, but coating the deck would bring you back into the endless cycle of periodic refinishingwhich teak decking is supposed to eliminate. The Flexiteek approach is clearly best suited for applications where straight, parallel planking is required. This suggests that the material composition (Flexiteek G2 patent) ensures greater heat dispersion. They look great at boat shows and at chic Mediterranean quays, as well as providing excellent non-slip properties in the most demanding of conditions. After more than one hour of sun exposure, our teak synthetic panels reached the maximum temperature peak. This option has historically offered some of the most convincing alternative teak products, with the grain, texture, impact resistance and non-slip properties of the real thing. Learn how your comment data is processed. Made by Stazo Marine Equipment in the Netherlands (the U.S. representatives operate out of the Stazo office in Thomaston, ME, and Marquipt in Pompano Beach, FL. The Permateek was the hottest and the contact with the sole of our foot confirmed that. Teak oils and various protective treatments can help preserve the appearance of a teak deck, but tend to commit boat owners to continuing periodic treatments This defeats much of the purpose of using teak in the first place. Flexiteek says PVC experts suggest the surface may start to crack after 25-30 years, but no problems have been observed on 20-year-old decks so far and the life span may be considerably longer. On the downside these materials are susceptible to damage from impact or pets claws. The material is guaranteed for five years. Thank you! For applications where wide sections of straight planking are required, Tek-Dek also supplies a wider, four-plank section, which cuts down on installation time and effort. Many can be factory-made to match a template or CAD file, which significantly reduces labour and installation costs, while customisation can extend to logos and boat names. As part of this ongoing test, well put each panel out in the sun in an area where it will be subjected to weather, pedestrian traffic, and general wear and tear. It looks and feels amazingly like natural teak, and has some distinct advantages over natural teak in terms of installation, cost, and maintenance. I am in search for a synthetic deck manufacturer who has already templates for FP Lavezzi 40 Please email me at ron.gritz@gmail.com if you happen to know one. Permateek has a micro-perforated bottom while Plasdeck is the smoothest one. In addition to thermometric measurements, we also tested the sensation of warmth transmitted by the materials, walking barefoot on the different teak panels. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have entered an incorrect email address! Teak is classified as a heavy hardwood with a density of approx 930kg/m3. After harvesting, the timber is impregnated with resin, before being dried in a curing process to ensure the resin is locked in at a molecular level. As a result many of the new yachts seen at boat shows actually have simulated teak decks made of PVC. PlasDeck is less well known in the UK but has been established for 15 years, offering a range of PVC products in 28 shades that look and feel like wood. Colour shades can also be matched to products of companies such as Flexiteek. It also has the benefit in being faster to dry than teak, which is handy in areas used for seating. While we were at it, we checked to see how the heated deck felt to bare skin. Pressure washing is feasible. Many manufacturers offer a range of colours, with the most popular being shades close to freshly-scrubbed teak, or silvered, weathered teak. It has shown up in such diverse applications as inflatable boats, phonograph records, shower curtains, computer cases, pipes, and house siding. We lust after a bright-finished classic wooden yachtone by Herreschoff, say, or Aldenbut yield to the practicalities and buy a fiberglass sloop. For applications where wide sections of straight planking are required, Tek-Dek also supplies a wider, 4-plank section. USA. Another difference between the three products concerns the width of slats and seams. One considerable advantage of laying a synthetic deck as compared to a natural wood deck is that you dont have to drill any holes for screws, thus you dont compromise the structural integrity of the underlying deck. Now, its time consider another important aspect, that is the temperature that synthetic teak reaches when it is exposed to the sun. Once this was done, we set out to subject each deck to a program of systematic abuse. As a result, the only way to be absolutely certain a source of teak is sustainable is to use salvaged material (or to ensure that the teak can be GPS-traced back to stump). All three have non-skid properties comparable to teak, both wet and dry. SeaDek is popular with ocean racers. How We TestedWe started out by making a small (roughly 2 x 2) deck section with each of the three products, using a sheet of rigid fiberglass as a sub-deck. A key problem is illegal logging of rainforest in Myanmar, one of the only four countries in which the species grows. As for the tactile sensation, we noticed that theres a big difference between the three products. All are 74 long, and vary in width and thickness. Cer-Deck, sold by Italian company Ceredi, also has a soft, slightly cushioned feel, very high resistance to degradation in sunlight and is colour stable. This time, Flexiteek proved to be the best product. And while it will last for a long, long time without maintenance, it wont necessarily look good that long. Available products can be split into four broad categories: Many of these dont absorb liquids and are therefore easy to keep clean as any dirt stays on the surface. Cork, in this application, has superior thermal and sound insulation properties, as well as being highly resistant to damage from UV light, salt water, and even chemicals. I also like the technical side of Esthec, he adds. A lower weight on the deck not only contributes to reduce the overall weight but also and above all reduces the weight positioned above the waterline. The upcoming Spirit 44E will be fitted with teak-effect solar panels. According to the manufacturer, the exterior decking material can be sealed, if desired, with a polyurethane coating, but its not necessary. One of the major claims made for these synthetic teak decks is stain resistance. That, too, cuts down on installation time and effort. FlexiteekFlexiteek is made by a company based in Nelson, New Zealand, with distributors around the world, including Florida, California, Georgia, Illinois, and Massachusetts. In recent years, synthetic options have made it possible to enjoy the look, durability, and feel of natural teak decking without many of the problems. At regular intervals, we measured the temperature with an infrared thermometer. We went out of our way to stain them, using gasoline, dirty oil, antifreeze, coffee, and whiskey. Either way, to apply Flexiteek, the patterns you use must be submitted to a distributor for manufacture. The sales and marketing focus is on larger yachts and production boatbuilders, different approach toward installation, effectively removing the Y from D-I-Y. Belvoir Media Group, LLC. Theres also a good deal of caulking to doeach joint where planks meet must be caulked to keep water from getting under the decking and lifting it. Its a natural product harvested from FSC certified forests, largely in Portugal. We do have some fairly clear initial findings, though. 2021 - THE INTERNATIONAL YACHTING MEDIA Designed by BLive Communication. Flexiteek is challenging to keep the lines straight upon installation. The cost of Tek-Dek is $24-$25 per square foot, including adhesives for the bedding and tongue-and-groove joints. We wont be evaluating long-term UV resistance in this case, other than to report on the condition of our samples in a years time. However, Lignia decks are just as labour intensive to lay as real teak. They look and feel like rough-sanded teak planking (sans splinters), with caulked strips between the planks. For obvious reasons of simplicity and installation quality, this chapter concludes with this final ranking: 1 Flexiteek 2 Permateek 3 Plasdeck. Hi. Solbian is also developing a version of the teak-effect panel with a non-slip finish. As a guide, in the UK Permateek costs 150-350/m2 depending on the complexity of the design. This is maybe inevitable with a plastic material that, after all, is not so different from natural wood that, unlike synthetic teak, cannot be repaired if not with a long work. The time-honored practice of sanding the teaks surface (holystoning) was a much more practical approach when decks were solid teak and crews had lots of time on their hands. We found all three are appealing alternatives to traditional teak decking, but wed put Tek-Dek ahead of the others due to its more DIY-friendly nature. Your test only showed the appearance and This is a material with a soft cushioned feel, excellent grip underfoot and good shock-absorbing properties. This product is also marketed as PlasDECK by a company called PlasTEAK. Italian solar panel manufacturer Solbian has a range of panels with a pigmented layer that creates different colour schemes. This step resulted in a further confirmation and a surprise. The total cost for boats of similar sizes can therefore vary dramatically depending on the complexity of each of the panel shapes. VAT). The planks come in four sizesnormal, narrow, margin, and king plank. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In many cases they also offer multiple advantages over real teak, including better longevity. These sections feature tongue-and-groove joints, with molded-in caulking strips. Well, there arent many alternatives we could suggest to supplant a classic yacht, but there are some viable alternatives to natural teak decking. Margin boards come with either a radiused edge or a square one. All three teak replacementsTek-Dek, Flexiteek, and MarineDeck 2000can provide a good-looking, stain-resistant, low-maintenance deck at a lower cost than natural teak.