Is there a cheaper alternative to teak for use untreated on deck?

[prv]

Not as a deck - I'm quite happy with fibreglass there - but I have some bits and pieces for the cockpit that I want to make out of timber. I don't, however, want to have to maintain it, plus varnish wouldn't look right on the new boat anyway.

Are there any other species that can be left out unprotected, or is (expensive) teak the only option?

Cheers,

Pete

 

[cliff]

Iroko for one

 

[Tranona]

Iroko or afromosia. However if it is just small bits of trim probably worth spending the extra and getting good teak. Avoid plantation grown teak as it often has curly grain like iroko which makes it difficult to work.

 

[prv]

Iroko or afromosia. However if it is just small bits of trim probably worth spending the extra and getting good teak.

So although others are suitable, teak is better? What are the trade offs?

I did a fair bit of woodwork on Kindred Spirit, but that was all internal using one big order of sapele. So I don't really know much about the range of species and how they compare.

Cheers,

Pete

 

[Kukri]

Iroko surface checks and goes an unpleasant shade of black if left untreated.

You may as well spend a few bob more if you don't want to bother with varnish.

 

[prv]

You may as well spend a few bob more if you don't want to bother with varnish.

It's more than a few bob, it's about three times the price.

I will if I have to.

Pete

 

[cliff]

Iroko surface checks and goes an unpleasant shade of black if left untreated.

You may as well spend a few bob more if you don't want to bother with varnish.

Funny that. I did a lot of external wood with Iroko and it all went sort of gray in colour, just like teak, only difference is the grain is slightly coarser. If buying Iroko make sure you buy ¼ sawn timber NOT "planked" - grain tends to be much straighter and finer in ¼ sawn than if planked.

 

[Norman_E]

Iroko surface checks and goes an unpleasant shade of black if left untreated.

You may as well spend a few bob more if you don't want to bother with varnish.

I don't know what you mean by "iroko surface checks" but I used a piece of iroko to replace worn out teak in the centre part of the bathing platform on my boat. This is a photo taken before I caulked it with black stuff.

View attachment 37788

That was done in mid 2008, and the iroko and I don't have a recent photo, but after washing the Iroko is a bit darker in colour and a bit more grey toned than the teak, but as a trade off it is certainly harder than teak, so wears very well. Teak remains the best wood for decks, but only if you can get really good teak. A lot of the teak now available is quick grown plantation teak from fairly young trees, and seems softer than old growth teak. The other issue is that for decks you must get properly quarter sawn teak, which has its grain vertical when laid. The iroko I used was an available piece of 10mm think board that I just had sawn to width, and I am not sure if grain is the wrong way but it is surviving well.

 

[MASH]

What about temperate hardwoods? Oak is an obvious one. Elm (if you can get it). Why don't we use these - is there a practical reason apart from habit?

 

[Tranona]

It's more than a few bob, it's about three times the price.

I will if I have to.

Pete

Not sure where you are getting your prices from, but think you will find Howells in Poole are well priced for teak compared with some other suppliers.

 

[Poignard]

but I have some bits and pieces for the cockpit that I want to make out of timber.

If you don't need much it might pay you to go along to Howells in Poole, as Tranona suggests. They have plenty of odds and ends of teak for sale at reduced prices. You might find what you want at a lower price than ordering a substitute timber from a timber yard.

 

[prv]

Not sure where you are getting your prices from, but think you will find Howells in Poole are well priced for teak compared with some other suppliers.

I was looking at Robbins' price list - not that I'd necessarily buy from them, but i assumed a like-for-like comparison of their teak prices against their iroko prices would be valid.

Cheers for the tip about Howells.

Pete

 

[Tranona]

Think you will find Howells about one third less than Robbins retail but if you are buying volume there are discounts from Robbins. As parsifal says worth visiting Howells to choose what you want, and their teak is mostly old growth.