Hennevanger says it is not necessarily a cheaper option to teak, but thinks it should last forever. As a result many of the new yachts seen at boat shows actually have simulated teak decks made of PVC. But there are alternatives, and they come, like so many other things in boating, in the form of acronyms: PVC and EVA. EVA stands for ethylene vinyl acetate, closed-cell foam commonly found in flip-flops. Our product is custom formulated to perform when you need it and deliver comfort where you want it. Prices start at 349 (inc. VAT) for 1m2 DIY kit (including glue and caulking) and approx 400/m2 (inc. VAT) for larger custom made panels. Saffiers SE37 daysailer is fitted with PVC decks from Esthec. Lignia, shown to great effect here on the decks of the Spirit 50CR, is a real softwood product treated to give it the appearance and longevity of teak. One of the best-known brand names, Flexiteek, is celebrating its 20th anniversary and is expanding rapidly, with demand consistently growing at 20% annually. Diamond-cut-patterned, nonskid, and textured deck paint tend to capture dirt and grime and can be difficult to keep looking clean. Available in multiple color combinations with a variety of finishes as well as the potential for custom logos and patterns. PlasDECK is specially formulated with ingredients that will prevent the material from drying out or cracking over time. Although many boaters might not think of it this way, a boat's deck is a critical piece of safety gear. SeaDek is applied with a pressure-sensitive adhesive from 3M that never dries completely, so it's always tacky. Some installers warrant their work for longer than the PVC teak materials. SeaDek is popular with ocean racers. Teak, the best looking and most traditional of the three, requires maintenance, especially as it ages. With an industry leading 3 year warrantywe stand behind these claims and our product. There are great tutorials available online, but SeaDek's method, which uses clear Mylar and a black permanent marker, seems the simplest. Cork is also is a good insulator, so decks remain comfortable to walk on even in strong sun. Shop both installers and price for faux teak. At DEKit, we offer anti-slip boat flooring that provides you with the solid grip you need to ensure confident footing, no matter how rough the seas may get. DEKit was built to go beyond the standard. Everyone loves an immaculate teak deck. SeaDek, which is made from EVA foam, adheres to just about any fiberglass surface with a pressure-sensitive adhesive. Unlike real teak, which has a mix of hard and very soft fibres, PVC decks can also be pressure-washed. Most manufacturers have designed a "tongue-and-groove" system to make interlocking the strips easy. Color combinations and styles vary by brand, which includes PlasDECK, Flexiteek, NuTeak, and Dek-King, among others. Over a three to five year period it will slowly take a light grey hue, but this can be sanded back to reveal the original colour. Lignia is the latest product to be launched on the market, based on pine grown in FSC certified forests. 3489 Sawmill Road
EVA comes in a large variety of colors and combinations and can also do custom inlays of names or logos. When you choose our nautical decking materials, you can rest assured we can customize the flooring to fit perfectly in your boat, no matter its size or style. Material costs are a little less than for teak, with typical savings around 5-20%. Its produced under high pressure, which gives the feel of high-density material, but is still flexible and absorbs knocks well. The former can look amazing at boat shows, though in the real world it can maybe look incongruous to those who understand the damage regular scrubbing does to real teak. To offset this Flexiteek plants one tree for every 10m2 of product sold. Thats why you need to make sure you use the right boat decking. We work closely with you to ensure you have quality flooring that lasts and wont leave you slipping and sliding as your boat rocks with the motion of the water. It can be made in custom panels and in different thicknesses and is manufactured with an effective acrylic-based pressure sensitive adhesive for quick peel-and-stick application. High traffic areas can become glossy, but these can be gently coarse sanded back by hand to the original matt finish. PlasDECK is committed to bringing you quality boat and yacht decking that looks like real teak but without the maintenance! Teak doesnt look good from a sustainability perspective either. Theres an increasing trend towards cork decking, according to Piet van der Staay of Marinedeck 2000, especially among younger boat owners. Another supplier, Ocean Cork, produces 8mm planks as standard, but 4mm is available if weight is critical. The 2G version, launched six years ago, is fully recyclable, while microballoons are used in place of chalk filler, which reduces heat absorption (certain PVC deck types and colours have been known to get very hot in direct sun). 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. Dutch yard Saffier has been fitting Esthec to its range of daysailers since 2008. We made one deck with Esthec and set this right next to a real teak deck, managing director Dennis Hennevanger remembers, having been immediately taken by the product. By continuing to use our website, youre agreeing to our cookie policy. To keep your feet, and therefore you, firmly planted onboard. Another bonus is that damaged areas can be sanded back to reveal fresh material that looks new. Subscription to the print version of BoatUS Magazine, 4% back on purchases from West Marine stores or online at WestMarine.com, Discounts on fuel, transient slips, repairs and more at over 1,200 businesses, Deals on cruises, charters, car rentals, hotel stays and more. 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. The product is therefore very UV resistant and remains elastic as the oils dont evaporate over time. However, teak also has drawbacks. They also have a teak-like line, but unlike the PVC versions, it's not going to be mistaken for the real thing given the thickness and texture of the foam. Its a natural product harvested from FSC certified forests, largely in Portugal. Italian solar panel manufacturer Solbian has a range of panels with a pigmented layer that creates different colour schemes. PLASDECK ECO SERIES: A Revolutionary New Boat Decking Product. 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. If you choose to make your own template, don't panic if you can't get every line straight and perfect. Real teak decking: 500-600. 1. Photo: Ainhoa Sanchez/VOR. Its job? Esthec, meanwhile is formed from natural components, without the harmful ingredients commonly found in PVCs. Unlike carpeted decks, once common on ski boats and runabouts, you can hose the EVA surface off or scrub it with soap and water to keep it looking new. Different products may need vastly different amounts of labour, which obviously affects cost, while detailing and edging is a major factor in the price of factory-made panels. He has a Pursuit center console, which he uses in the Chesapeake Bay. Fax: 330.666.0844, PlasDECK Performance3.5 Synthetic Teak Decking, 3. Many manufacturers offer a range of colours, with the most popular being shades close to freshly-scrubbed teak, or silvered, weathered teak. However, Lignia decks are just as labour intensive to lay as real teak. Gisatex sits at the lower end of the PVC price bracket. In any case the material is inherently resilient and is significantly better than teak at resisting wear and abrasion. All you need to provide is a template. Bill Gribble, president of PlasTEAK, the makers of PlasDECK, says it's easier to buy a new boat than to remove PVC decking. Teak alternatives have been available for many years and are gaining wide acceptance. Ocean Cork is one of many firms to offer eco-friendly teak alternatives. Despite their slightly textured surface, which replicates the grain of real wood, dirt and stains stay on the surface of PVC decking, so it can be cleaned relatively easily with a wet cloth and maybe soapy water. The designers will clean it up digitally after scanning it. Copley, Ohio 44321-0290, Phone: 330.668.2587 This is a material with a soft cushioned feel, excellent grip underfoot and good shock-absorbing properties. With an industry-leading four-year warranty, you can rest assured your boat is as reliable as possible for years before you need to replace your marine non-skid flooring. It has a similar appearance to teak and can be worked in the same way, but has an expected lifespan of 50 years. A key problem is illegal logging of rainforest in Myanmar, one of the only four countries in which the species grows. SeaDeks Jason Gardner says the large range of colour, thickness, density and design options means the price range can be very wide. 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 life expectancy is between five and seven years, though well-maintained EVA can last longer. Its supplied as individual planks, or as preformed finished pieces with a standard thickness of 9mm. We understand how important it is to have solid footing whenever youre on your boat and make sure you have it. As a result van der Staay quotes a 40-year expected lifespan. Made out of flexible PVC, this material is easy to work with and maintain. Cork decking: 200-300 We use cookies to enhance your visit to our website and to improve your experience. Life expectancy for expanded foam materials is around five to seven years for harsh use, and longer for less-heavily used boats. Do this for each section you want to cover, take a few digital pictures of the templates in place along the way, and you're all set. In addition to selecting a color and style, you should look for material that is color consistent all the way through with the caulk lines included so that any damage can be sanded out. We take our responsibility to the environment very seriously and we are not prepared to risk using unsustainable wood.. 2022 Boat Owners Association of The United States. At the extreme Ive seen a deck lose 1mm of thickness each year through scrubbing. This compares to a material cost of around 285/m2 for 6mm teak but dont forget theres far more labour involved in laying a real teak deck. PlasDECK will hold up to the sun and marine environment for years while you enjoy more of your free time. Weve tried to give indicative prices for different options, but these are exceptionally difficult to pin down. Michael Vatalaro is the former executive editor of BoatUS Magazine. Rupert Holmes explains whats wrong with the marine industrys obsession with hardwood and looks at real world teak alternatives. I also like the technical side of Esthec, he adds. VAT). 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. Soap + water, abrasive cleaner if necessary. Esthec is a part of composite floor specialist Bolidt, which makes flooring in any shape for industrial applications through to decking for ships. The company now produces 80,000m2 of its decking product each year. More and more boatbuilders are turning to PVC "teak" in place of the real thing, such as the NuTeak on the swim platform of this Azure. PlasDECK is a patented synthetic teak boat decking option that provides the elegant look of a teak deck without any of the time-consuming and costly maintenance associated with natural wood teak. When youre looking for non-skid foam decking for your boat, look no further. We invited all the customers who had ordered a Saffier with teak deck and gave them the choice they instantly all went for the Esthec deck.. VAT) per square metre: Synthetic teak: 200-300 First published in the April 2020 edition of Yachting World. But looks aside, its real advantage is how it feels underfoot. The PVC version of teak comes formed in long rolls of narrow strips. You can see and feel PlasDECK by ordering a sample pack! Toll Free: 800.320.1841 This older Mako that serves as a towboat in the Daytona Beach region received a complete facelift. From there you can customize the look with borders and inlays if you like. The company, which has been established for 10 years, sells matched repair kits for 10 and says a very long lifespan is expected. Light weight is a further advantage, but custom panels are not available. 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. It also has the highest possible UV protection to prevent fading, antifungal inhibitors, superior adhesion and PlasDECK is proud to say that we offer the only synthetic teak decking option thats made in the USA! 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. On the downside these materials are susceptible to damage from impact or pets claws. Neither of these would have been considered suitable for marine decking without the addition of UV stabilizers to prevent it from becoming brittle and cracking.