Boat flooring options

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So what are your options for boat flooring these days? John Eichelsheim finds an impressive range of options available...

Traditionally boat decks have been laid in teak, a tropical hardwood that stands up well in the harsh marine environment. Teak makes brilliant decking material: it looks great, weathers well and gives years of service if properly laid and well looked after. However, teak turns silver with age (many people like this about teak, so perhaps not really a negative), it is susceptible to staining from fuel, oil and chemical spills, and care must be taken when cleaning it to avoid damaging the grain. There may also be issues with shrinking and water damage/rot.

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Depending on the thickness of the timber veneer used, teak decks can be rejuvenated by sanding and re-caulking, sometimes more than once, to extend their lives – a good teak deck can last well in excess of 10 years before it requires any refurbishment.

Teak remains a popular choice for larger vessels, but it’s expensive and tricky to lay. After centuries of extraction teak trees are now scarce in the wild, though most teak used in boat building is sourced from sustainable plantation forests.

Boat builders are increasingly turning to alternative decking surfaces, many of them synthetic teak lookalikes. Most of the new breed claim superior performance, durability and ease of application. They’re easier to clean and also require less maintenance compared to traditional teak. They tend to be lighter and cost less as well.

Depending on the product, other advantages include: resistance to petrochemical spills, staining and fungus infestations; ultraviolet stabilization; and the ability to withstand pressure washing. Most have excellent non-slip properties, are cool underfoot and can have patterns or stencilled boat names/logos etc cut into them with a router.

Several deck coverings offer a range of colour choices, allowing boat manufacturers to co-ordinate their decks with gel-coat/paint and upholstery colour schemes.

Stick-on decks

In recent years New Zealand trailer-boat manufacturers have really embraced alternative decking materials, using them for cockpit floors, side and foredecks, non-slip areas and steps. Some products can be supplied pre-cut to fit a specific vessel or model in a range, and many come with adhesive backing, making them super-easy to apply; others are easy to cut and fit in situ using suitable glues.

Like traditional teak, the majority of alternative deck materials can be applied to aluminium as well as fibreglass and wooden boats. Aluminium boatbuilders in particular have really embraced the new deck coverings in recent years, with leading brands such as Extreme Boats using products like MarineDeck 2000 (a manufactured wood [cork]) and SeaDek EVA products.

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Fibreglass builders are showing interest too, with Buccaneer Boats using SeaDek products in a range of its models.

These two manufacturers are among many Kiwi boat builders offering alternative deck coverings that provide improved aesthetics and underfoot comfort, along with excellent grip, wet or dry. EVA in particular is being used on gunwales, swim platforms, sidekicks and steps, as well as in cockpits and on foredecks.

New-wave deck materials can be divided into three broad categories: natural wood (including teak and manufactured wood-composite products); PVC (polyvinyl chloride) products; and closed-cell foam products, either PE (polyethylene) or EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate).

Manufactured wood-composite products have many of the same properties as real teak, but are cheaper to buy and easier to lay. They can be supplied prefabricated.

PVC decking is virtually impervious to chemicals and solvents, is lighter and harder wearing than natural timber, comes in a variety of colours, and can be engineered to look like real teak with a wood-grain finish.

Closed-cell-foam deck materials come in a multitude of colours and patterns. They can be cut to any shape, and supplied pre-cut or in sheet form with or without adhesive backing. A great DIY option, they’re non-absorbent, soft on the feet, hard wearing and non-slip. Most can be washed using soap and water or non-acid household cleaners such as Simple Green.

Alternative decking in New Zealand

MARINEDECK 2000

An attractive natural wood product made in the Netherlands from composite cork, MARINEDECK 2000 has many of the traditional teak decking’s attributes with few of the disadvantages. Requiring minimal maintenance, it’s cheaper than teak and less fiddly to lay. The material can be supplied pre-cut to fit a specific vessel.

Main features: High durability in the demanding marine environment; cool underfoot; excellent non-skid, especially when wet; easy to clean; prefabricated and finished; environmentally sustainable; cheaper than teak; traditional and free-deck designs. Distributed in New Zealand exclusively by Bailey Marine Ltd, www.baileymarine.co.nz MARINEDECK 2000 www.stazo.nl.

 

Flexiteek

Manufactured in the UK, Flexiteek 2G is a UV-stabilised, outdoorgrade PVC synthetic teak that’s lighter, stronger and harderwearing than before. Flexiteek looks and feels like real teak, yet is more durable, environmentally friendly, offers lower maintenance, UV resistance, and provides superior anti-skid performance. Flexiteek 2G is the next generation of decking: lighter in weight, it also doesn’t get as hot as other synthetic decking, so it’s cooler underfoot and doesn’t experience adhesion and warping problems in hot climates.

Main features: Virtually maintenance free; fully UV stabilized; non-slip wet or dry; anti-fungal; stain resistant; can be pressure washed; cheaper than teak. Distributed in New Zealand by Brin Wilson Boatbuilders, www.brinwilsonboats.co.nz.

 

Dek-King

Dek-King is manufactured in the UK from a UV-stabilised, outdoorgrade PVC that contains a colour-fast pigment and inbuilt graining effect that is totally convincing. 2G technology means it’s 35% lighter than synthetic teak products manufactured using older 1G technology. Dek-King is easy to look after, looks like the real thing all year round, doesn’t lose its good looks to sunlight or the harsh conditions of the marine environment, is cool underfoot, and can be cleaned simply by scrubbing with soap and water.

Main features: Dek-King is supplied with a five-year material warranty; virtually maintenance free; fully UV stabilized; non-slip wet or dry; anti-fungal; stain resistant; can be pressure washed; cheaper than teak. Dek-King products are available from decking, building and marine suppliers nationwide; visit www.wilks.co.uk.

 

NuTeak

Manufactured from high-grade PVC, NuTeak is easily cleaned with soap and water and will withstand pressure washing. Claimed to be so durable it will not crack, split, peel or fade, NuTeak can be sanded without damaging its finish. Supplied in flexible strips, NuTeak is customisable to fit any surface, no matter what its shape, and can be installed anywhere (and everywhere) on your boat. This marine-flooring comes in both exterior and interior products, with a variety of thicknesses and finishes available.

Main features: Virtually maintenance free; fully UV stabilized; non-slip wet or dry; anti-fungal; stain resistant; can be pressure washed; cheaper than teak; 20-year warranty. Available through a variety of timber, decking and marine outlets and distributed in New Zealand by Innovative Marine Coatings, Australia, www.nuteak.com.au.

 

Tek-Dek

A synthetic alternative to wooden decking, Tek-Dek can be applied to almost any surface, including GRP, steel and timber. Non-slip, traditional looking and manufactured from PVC, Tek-Dek is the original synthetic teak decking used by well known New Zealand boatbuilders, large and small, including Dickey Boats. Tek-Dek comes with a five-year warranty.

Main features: Looks and feels like real teak for one-third the price; practically maintenance free; fully UV stabilised and stain resistant; superb nonslip qualities; tried and tested formula. Manufactured in the United Kingdom by TekDek International and distributed in New Zealand and Australia exclusively by Decking Specialists, www.deckspecs.com.

 

SeaDek

This non-absorbent closed-cell EVA foam product is manufactured in USA by Batavian Rubber specifically for marine applications. Durable and shock absorbent, SeaDek provides an exceptional traction surface and lessens the fatigue brought on by prolonged standing and working on hard decking and platforms. SeaDek protects from scratching, chipping and dents, and also reduces noise. Available in a wide range of colours, service life is five to seven years, or longer if stored inside.

Main features: UV resistant, anti-slip and non-absorbent; reduces noise; shock absorbing. SeaDek is distributed by Batavian Rubber International Ltd and available through selected marine retailers; visit www.batavian. co.nz for more.

 

Ultralon

Ultralon’s laminated plank and dual routered deck treads offer a smart-looking solution for the boat owner who wants a longlasting, low-maintenance plank-look flooring. Made from durable, closed-cell PE and EVA foam options, Ultralon deck treads are designed specifically for marine applications. Sheets are available with or without a marine-grade, double-sided adhesive backing for easy peel and stick installation. Ultralon also offers hard-wearing closed-cell-foam deck treads as an alternative to moulded-in anti-slip or paint-on textures for traction in wet areas. Ultralon’s easy to clean, and stain-resistant foams provide protection for boat surfaces, especially in high traffic areas. They are a popular choice with many New Zealand trailer-boat manufacturers.

Main features: UV resistant, anti-slip and non-absorbent; reduces noise; shock absorbing. Manufactured in New Zealand by Ultralon Foam Group and available through marine retail outlets; for more, visit www.ultralonfoam.com.

 

Marine Deck

Manufactured from closed-cell EVA foam, Marine Deck matting can be used for decks, coamings, steps, wet areas and anywhere a non-slip surface is desirable. It is supplied in 3mm-thick sheets for on-site cutting and application, with or without self-adhesive backing. Available in grey, light grey and blue, Marine Deck matting is also popular for all forms of watercraft, large or small.

Main features: Light weight; non-slip diamond pattern; available in three colours; sheet size: 3mm thick x 1m wide x 2.4m long; diamond size: 9mm wide x 48mm long; ideal for boat floors, boat decks, steps, wet areas, paddle and surf boards, jet-skis; with or without self-adhesive backing. Distributed by NZ Rubber & Foam and available from marine and hardware outlets; for more: www.rubberandfoam.co.nz.

   This article is reproduced with permission of   
New Zealand Fishing News

August 2016 - By John Eichelsheim
Re-publishing elsewhere is prohibited

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