Kebony replacement for teak deck

Tradewinds

Tradewinds

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My teak decks on my 1980 GRP Nic39 are in the latter stages of their lifespan.

I'm looking at options.

Obviously there's the usual arguments regarding wooden decks laid over GRP or plain unadulterated GRP with a form of non-slip.

But I'm not interested in a debate on this :rolleyes:.

Just now, I'm after information/opinion from someone on the forum having experience of using Kebony as an alternative to teak - ie Pluses & minuses.

I've googled all day & I get a lot of references but they all lead back to the manufacturer with no real independent opinion.

OK I could contact Jeremy Rogers who offers Kebony as an alternative to teak on his Contessas but before I do that I thought I'd ask you lot :cool: .
 
Exactly the same when I looked for information. Seems the manufacturer is not seriously promoting the product to the marine leisure market and the Rogers boat may well be the only one that has used it. Suspect that it will not be competitive with teak, even at the current high price, so unlikely to make inroads based just on the environmental claims.

Would like to be wrong, but usually if a product has clear advantages it gets exposure very quickly - and this one seems not to have.
 
Tranona said:
usually if a product has clear advantages it gets exposure very quickly - and this one seems not to have.
Click to expand...

Usually, but not always.
Two years ago we replaced our teak with Marinedeck2000 (cork-based).
Very pleased with it: very good anti-slip properties, does not get hot underfoot, maintenance free, ...
I have yet to encounter another UK based boat with this fitted. On the other hand, have met quite a few of them in Holland, Belgium and France. ETAP (RIP) and Allures offer it as standard on their new boats instead of teak.
 
Suspect that is because there is nobody in the UK promoting it, whereas there is a rash of firms offering both teak and other substitutes.

I could not find any examples anywhere of Kebony being used on boats except the Rogers boat, which suggests that the manufacturers are not that interested in the marine market.
 
Agreed if you are looking at new builds. However there are still 000's of boats out there that need repairs, replacements and upgrades. Sometimes difficult to break in with anything new as individuals tend to stick with proven products, particularly when there is significant costs involved.
 
I seem to recall that William Fife frequently decked his yachts with pine.
OK they were racers and the weight loss versus teak was substantial
Might be worth a thought if you can find the right seasoned pine/
Cheers
Chr's
 
Quote
"Obviously there's the usual arguments regarding wooden decks laid over GRP or plain unadulterated GRP with a form of non-slip.
But I'm not interested in a debate on this ."



Apologies if I've moved sideways a little on your opening question etc....
Whatever you decide as the teak replacement, removing the original teak can take a while see http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=281573

Do you have a GRP/Balsa sandwich as in the front deck of the Nic 38 and my Tradewind?

Some water ingress may have occurred via, through and around deck fittings, hatches screwed down deck etc. so check that out thoroughly. I did and found only a minute amount around the heads hatch so the wet balsa has been scraped out and made good with modern filler.

Good luck
S.
 
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Scotty_Tradewind said:
Quote
"Obviously there's the usual arguments regarding wooden decks laid over GRP or plain unadulterated GRP with a form of non-slip.
But I'm not interested in a debate on this ."



Apologies if I've moved sideways a little on your opening question etc....
Whatever you decide as the teak replacement, removing the original teak can take a while see http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=281573

Do you have a GRP/Balsa sandwich as in the front deck of the Nic 38 and my Tradewind?

Some water ingress may have occurred via, through and around deck fittings, hatches screwed down deck etc. so check that out thoroughly. I did and found only a minute amount around the heads hatch so the wet balsa has been scraped out and made good with modern filler.

Good luck
S.
Click to expand...
Very interesting read. Yep there's some balsa sandwich on the foredeck, the sidedecks are solid grp. There's no teak on the coachroof (which is balsa sandwich) so I don't have to worry about that.
 
Tradewinds said:
Yep there's some balsa sandwich on the foredeck, the sidedecks are solid grp.
Click to expand...

When we rebuilt Guapa's deck (now balsa core) I made sure that the bit underneath the granny bars, genoa track, cleats, and all other deck fittings was solid GRP. No fitting through the balsa at all - anywhere.
Took some more work (and money) but what price peace of mind?
 
Tranona said:
Suspect that is because there is nobody in the UK promoting it, whereas there is a rash of firms offering both teak and other substitutes.

I could not find any examples anywhere of Kebony being used on boats except the Rogers boat, which suggests that the manufacturers are not that interested in the marine market.
Click to expand...

I believe Tranona is correct, I'm not aware of anyone in the UK supplying or promoting Kebony. I have been told that the Kebony people have contacted many of the major boat builders but so far none of them have taken up the offer. Perhaps they are worried that there is a stigma to having a wood-laid deck that is not teak and customers will not like it.

I have no idea on the cost but to my eyes is looks identical to teak when unfinished and left to weather, however it is a little darker than teak when oiled or varnished. I gather that Kebony has been used extensively in Scandinavia where external hardwoods are required (external seating, construction, etc). The main benefit of Kebony is that it is sustainably produced and real teak is only going to get more expensive as time goes on.

Having seen both the "Green" Contessa in the flesh, and the very beautiful new one that is about to leave the yard for the boat show I am very impressed with the kebony laid decks. If you are going to SIBS it is worth a look.
 
testmonkey said:
How about Iroko or Kambala?

New Bavarias come with Iroko decks, Teak is not an option at all.
Click to expand...

Teak became popular in the 1930's, mainly in the US because it was CHEAP! Much cheaper than the indigenous firs that were used for decking in high class construction up till then. Apart from the cheapness, its other great quality is that there is little need for expensive coatings to protect it.

Now, of course it has become very expensive, but in the early days of GRP boats it was not so, and the fashion started of using it to take away the blandness of GRP. Its only real benefit now is its non slip nature, as on every other practical count it is an inferior material for decking on a yacht - but the look is fashionable and some people are prepared pay, because as a %age of a new boat the cost to them is relatively low. It is the subsequent owner(s) who pay the real cost.
 
Georgio said:
I believe Tranona is correct, I'm not aware of anyone in the UK supplying or promoting Kebony. I have been told that the Kebony people have contacted many of the major boat builders but so far none of them have taken up the offer. Perhaps they are worried that there is a stigma to having a wood-laid deck that is not teak and customers will not like it.

I have no idea on the cost . . .
Click to expand...
There is an agent in the UK - Brook Bros of Malden Essex. I'll probably give them a call & enquire about a sample & pricing.

I'm curious though - there seems to be a two tier price structure -

Premium
C4S, vertical grain, some fibre disturbances, mostly even colour.

Yacht
C4S, vertical grain, fibre disturbances allowed, colour variations allowed.

I presume the Premium is closest to quarter sawn teak with regular, fine grain & the Yacht grade can have a more swirly finished as seen on this newly laid Kebony Moody cockpit seat below - not a finish I really want if I was to go down this road.

_linkimage.php


I bet the Premium grade is not that cheap either - I'll post here when I find out.
 
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