Best / Worst Synthetic Teak

superheat6k

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Following from the current thread re why the stuff is so expensive, I am looking at a boat that will need the full deck area replacing as a significant part of much general dilapidation work. Will likely require ~15 - 20m2 of the stuff.

What opinions are there on best / worst makes ?

More interested in quality than price as being first priority.

How difficult is DIY application ?

The makes I am aware of are Tek Dek, Permateak and from the other thread DuraDeck.
 

Flynnbarr

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Went to the Southampton boat show with a woodie friend.Showed him some Made up Flexiteek panels,he thought they were real teak and was very impressed.
Flexiteek would be high up on my list if I went down that route.
 

richardbrennan

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Looked at a lot and chose Wilkes Dek-King in the end. Largely this was down to what we thought looked best, which will be a personal choice, and the underneath pattern that we felt was most likely to stay stuck down. We did not have the decks done, but the cockpit sole and seats and it's been widely admired; I'll try posting a picture when I have a little more time. I had it professionally laid, the hard bit was removing the old teak; if you do this yourself you will save a lot in labour charges.
 

superheat6k

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Thanks. The deck on this one is off a teak faced ply, which is generally completely knackered and worn through the laminations in places.

If I end up with it I reckon my multi tool will be wrecked by the end of the job.
 

pvb

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The makes I am aware of are Tek Dek, Permateak and from the other thread DuraDeck.

DuraDeck is Bavaria's brand name for decking made by Wolz Nautic. It's a sheet of teak-coloured material into which grooves are cut by a CNC machine, the grooves are then caulked and the surface finished. Because it's all carefully computer designed, I'd imagine the costs for a one-off would be prohibitive. It's not a DIY fitting proposition; it needs vacuum-bagging on to the fibreglass. There are some interesting pics of the manufacturing process in their brochure - http://www.wolznautic.de/ePaper/pdf/Kunststofftechnologie.pdf
 

Jabs

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Flexiteak looks great and there are shades to match the toe rail, whatever you do with it.

We had it fitted and it wasn't as much as I would have expected.

We used a very skilled chap called Ty who did an amazing job.

Our deck gets lots of positive comments.

Tony.
 

Tranona

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Following from the current thread re why the stuff is so expensive, I am looking at a boat that will need the full deck area replacing as a significant part of much general dilapidation work. Will likely require ~15 - 20m2 of the stuff.

What opinions are there on best / worst makes ?

More interested in quality than price as being first priority.

How difficult is DIY application ?

The makes I am aware of are Tek Dek, Permateak and from the other thread DuraDeck.

If you are happy with straight planks (rather than following the line of the deck) suggest you look at having real teak panels made up by www.kjhowells.com in Poole. Very competitive with the better (ie more expensive) fake stuff.
 

salar

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I took the DIY route to install synthetic teak decking in my motor cruiser cockpit. As a previous workboat, it was just GRP over ply. I went for synthetic because I use the boat for fishing and synthetic is much easier to keep clean as I will be hosing off bait and fish scales. Hopefully! I looked at Dek-king but the range of colours is limited and anyway they couldn't be bothered to respond to my enquiry. Instead I went for Permateek. I originally planned to have the lot done professionally, but due to the wait for an available installation slot I decided to have a go myself. You can either go for standard panels, cut to shape yourself and stick down or have custom panels made with planks the follow the shape of the deck and features. I went for the latter. First they supplied me with a pattern making kit which is well worth it, super strong tracing paper in a man made fabric. You have to be exact with this. Then they make the panels and you stick them on. Simples! If you are a moderately competent DIY-er this is a breeze but do follow their guidelines. The full story is on my blog post here
http://harley25refit.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/new-decking-in-cockpit.html
Dont skimp on the weighting, and make sure the existing deck is well prepared. Check for fit first becuse once it is down it ain't coming up in a hurry. Hope that helps.
 

Alpha22

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I have some original Tek-Deck..... in single planks.... it is quite a faff and a fiddle to glue them up into panels. Then you have to manually calk the borders...
The modern templates panels solve all this problem.

I did see two motor cruisers at the Anglia Afloat show a few years ago. Each was moored stern on. One had real teak on the bathing platform, the other fake. There was a stiff breeze blowing across Oulton Broad so the slight chop was washing over the bathing platforms..... you could tell the real teak from the fake from about a mile away.... I'll bet you could spot it from space..... The real teak looked like wet wood, the fake looked like.... well.... plastic!!!

That said, I like the fake in my cockpit, its hard wearing, none slip and maintenance free.....!!
 

Carianne

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We've just had the 2nd generation flexi teak fitted by Elite teak. Amazing product. It's even slightly rough to the touch, almost like you could get a splinter if you rubbed the wrong way...
 

rudolph_hart

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Looked at a lot and chose Wilkes Dek-King in the end. Largely this was down to what we thought looked best, which will be a personal choice, and the underneath pattern that we felt was most likely to stay stuck down. We did not have the decks done, but the cockpit sole and seats and it's been widely admired; I'll try posting a picture when I have a little more time. I had it professionally laid, the hard bit was removing the old teak; if you do this yourself you will save a lot in labour charges.

+1. Had them supply & fit the cockpit sole & seats on my Dehler 35. Superb job & their price was excellent. I removed the old teak myself (not too difficult.)

I'd post some photos, but I just can't be 'asked' to lock horns with the Forum's thoroughly hostile & difficult-to use-photo upload software (see East Coast Forum ref this.)
 

superheat6k

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I ended up buying a different boat, and although the deck on this one was filthy and looked worn out, a full treatment of Wessex two pack plus Semco later the deck is good for at least 10 years of regular Semco re-coats. I have just finished the gunwale cap rail and that look almost new now.
 
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