Bathing Platform - Alternative to Teak Slats

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rgsmg53

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I have a pair (port & stbd) of 'old fashioned' bathing platforms which consist of horizontal teak slats mounted on a tubular stainless steel frame hung off the transom.

One of my out-of-the-water winter jobs this year is to replace the slats. Does anyone know of a man-made alternative? As my design of platform is well wetted every time I use the boat, I'm wondering if some kind of 'plastic' / composite material would have a longer life and need little maintenance.

There seem to be plenty of composite materials for garden decking but some of these are unsuitable for constant immersion. Obviously, a suitable material needs to be non-slip if possible.

Anyone have any suggestions - preferably based on experience?
 
Sorry I can't remember the name of the stuff I used but it is a wood/plastic composite and the company is in oakhampton, devon, I had a sample pack and chucked a bit in the parts washer at work for a couple of weeks at 60 degrees with all sorts of horrible detergents/oil/gunge being pressure sprayed and it stayed good and has nice grippy grooves.
Found it, https://www.wpc-decking.co.uk/
It machines nicely and the hollow stuff is quite light.
 
Fiberglass is an obvious answer. If you can find an old boat rotting away on land perhaps somebody can let you cut a section of non slip deck with an angle grinder. Just an idea
 
in this months boat international mag there was an article on a teak replacement. They take a soft wood and with various processes the wood becomes maintenance free and stronger than a hard wood. Also it apparently absorbs less heat than teak. cannot remember the name of the product, but do have the mag at home.
 
snowbird30ds said:
Found it, https://www.wpc-decking.co.uk/
It machines nicely and the hollow stuff is quite light.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Snowbird. This is exactly the type of thing I was looking for. However, I note that their installation details state a max of 40 cm between supports and my stainless tubes are about double that. Definitely worth a second look though.

Bouba said:
Fiberglass is an obvious answer. If you can find an old boat rotting away on land perhaps somebody can let you cut a section of non slip deck with an angle grinder. Just an idea
Click to expand...

Thanks, Bouba. An interesting idea but I can't quite envisage how I would get the structural integrity required to support a person at 80 cm support centres without bonding some (wooden?) slats to the underside. I probably should have been more precise in my original posting - my 'platforms' are more grids than platforms with a number of individual teak slats (battens) of approx 50 mm x 25 mm cross-section. I suspect that you had in mind a 'solid' platform and then I could see how your suggestion would work. Before I posted, I had considered encapsulating some new wooden slats in epoxy but was concerned that water would find its way in sooner or later. But thanks anyway, I'm open to all ideas.
 
TonyR123 said:
in this months boat international mag there was an article on a teak replacement. They take a soft wood and with various processes the wood becomes maintenance free and stronger than a hard wood. Also it apparently absorbs less heat than teak. cannot remember the name of the product, but do have the mag at home.
Click to expand...

Interesting! I'll get on Google. Thanks.
 
Found the article. Company is accsys technologies. Product is called accoya. Heading for the article says 'imagine a wooden boat that doesn't need painting, varnishing or sanding and is completely weatherproof and waterproof.'
 
Kebony has been used for boaty stuff:

http://kebony.com/en/projects/rooftop-apartment-kebony-jacuzzi/

There is a UK importer, Brooks Bros. No prices evident, I bet it is as dear as hardwood

I have tried a recycled plastic in the home, very like the Mixed Plastic Lumber; it takes it out of any edged tools and warps like hell - much to my surprise.

I might take the hit and use teak....or iroko
 
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