reflooring cockpit - fake teak or real wood

[collinsp]

Hi Guys,

Have just this weekend removed the old flooring from my cockpit as it was rotten beyond serviceable. I have been looking at different alternatives for the replacement and wondered if anyone has experience with laying false teak decking and specifically what make/type. I have seen many different alternatives on Amazon which most say they are self adhesive (peel off plastic and attach) which potentially worries me a little. I have found a few companies that specialize in flooring for boats but none provide a cost, they simple say call for pricing which usually means be sitting down when they give you an idea of the price However i guess these are more fit for purpose ??

Have also considered laying real wood, which I know is a lot more work laying and also maintaining, but am still open to this idea.

Any advice, examples, real life stories would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Paul

 

[Tranona]

You don't say what your substrate is nor what you have removed, but if it is GRP and flat then the 3 broad alternatives are Treadmaster, "plastic" teak such as Flexi-Teek (there are several manufacturers) or solid teak where you can get either pre made panels to your pattern or DIY using pre-machined teak strips. Price wise they are roughly in the same order and work involved about the same.

 

[collinsp]

You don't say what your substrate is nor what you have removed, but if it is GRP and flat then the 3 broad alternatives are Treadmaster, "plastic" teak such as Flexi-Teek (there are several manufacturers) or solid teak where you can get either pre made panels to your pattern or DIY using pre-machined teak strips. Price wise they are roughly in the same order and work involved about the same.

It's GRP and removed teak plywood . . . still removing the glue they used as I have to say they done a great job of sticking it down

 

[geem]

We replaced the teak in the cockpit in 2015/16.
We used one inch thick teak laid on epoxy and corked with TDS. It's had no maintenance since and looks perfect. As liveaboards nine months of the year is gets a lot of use. I love the feel of teak. The cockpit seats are the same. The luxury feel of teak is hard to beat but eventually there will be maintenance

 

[lustyd]

Last time I looked there was no legal/legitimate source of actual Teak so if you go the wood route you'll be looking at one of the alternatives. Personally I would go with a flexiteak or similar as it's zero maintenance. I got a quote of around £2k for my cockpit and cockpit seats (Sun Odyssey 36.2) which I thought was pretty reasonable - that was including removal of existing teak and fitting. In the end I didn't change as Patio Magic made the old stuff look like new

 

[LadyInBed]

You could put a teak or the like grid down.

 

[geem]

Last time I looked there was no legal/legitimate source of actual Teak so if you go the wood route you'll be looking at one of the alternatives. Personally I would go with a flexiteak or similar as it's zero maintenance. I got a quote of around £2k for my cockpit and cockpit seats (Sun Odyssey 36.2) which I thought was pretty reasonable - that was including removal of existing teak and fitting. In the end I didn't change as Patio Magic made the old stuff look like new

This is where our teak came from. To be fair, it's not the same quality as the original Bermese teak we have when the boat was built but it's ok.
Trinidad Teak Promise - Carib Teak

 

[PlanB]

Where do you keep you boat? Flexiteak etc get very hot underfoot in the sun.

 

[Minerva]

Last time I looked there was no legal/legitimate source of actual Teak so if you go the wood route you'll be looking at one of the alternatives. Personally I would go with a flexiteak or similar as it's zero maintenance. I got a quote of around £2k for my cockpit and cockpit seats (Sun Odyssey 36.2) which I thought was pretty reasonable - that was including removal of existing teak and fitting. In the end I didn't change as Patio Magic made the old stuff look like new

For ethical reasons alone, I'd be loathe to specify teak knowing what we know today. It does feel good underfoot, but it is undeniably an environmental abomination.

For me it'd be either Painted non slip or faux-teak type. I'd probably avoid the eBay/Amazon EVA teak though - I can't imagine that being any good and would likely start to peel & look rubbish in very short order.

 

[Stemar]

I don't know if it would work for you, but Jazzcat has a timber grid between the hulls at the stern. Since it was in poor condition, I replaced it with sapele bench slats, which were far and away the cheapest proper wood option.

Replacement Bench Slats | Hardwood Bench Slats - Yandles

They look good - I've left them to go grey - and have plenty of strength. The rounded edges may or may not suit you, but I'm sure you could arrange for Yandles not to pass them through the router.

 

[Poignard]

My cockpit floor was rotten and access to the rear of the engine and the sterngland was almost non-existence so I made removable hatches and they allow excellent access and provide some very useful storage space/

The hatch lids are 3/4" plywood, edged with iroko, and coverd in Treadmaster. The support framing is made of iroko and is very strong.

 

[Arcady]

Consider Stazo marinedeck. It’s a cork and synthetic rubber compound with excellent non- slip and thermal properties. Here’s some being laid on our boat: Stazo Marinedeck

 

[geem]

Consider Stazo marinedeck. It’s a cork and synthetic rubber compound with excellent non- slip and thermal properties. Here’s some being laid on our boat: Stazo Marinedeck

I saw some cork decking on a boat in Albuferia marina last year. I don't know if it was the same stuff but it really hadn't aged well.

 

[ashtead]

You don’t say where you are based but I would suggest you speak to a few owners with Flexiteak -our has been down since new in 2015 and no issues so far.

 

[Arcady]

I saw some cork decking on a boat in Albuferia marina last year. I don't know if it was the same stuff but it really hadn't aged well.

I’m told this deck is fifteen years old:

 

[geem]

I’m told this deck is fifteen years old:

That looks a lot better than the one I saw