Teak alternatives for cockpit sole

[2copplane]

My cockpit seats are well finished in teak but the cockpit sole is just bare white grp and I have been looking at diy installing teak. It is about 2.5sqmtres and it was a shock to see how much much some 34mmx9mm teak would cost. As the sole is flat and the timber wouldn't require any curves I was wondering if any alternative types of timber would be suited. The timber would have to fade to silver to match the seats.

The only one I know of is iroko but are alternatives available and how do they compare?

 

[Quandary]

I suspect that if there was a viable alternative to teak for decking someone would have tried it. If you were considering a grating Iroko or something might work but if you intend to fix it solidly to the grp you have to use teak or perhaps one of the plastic/ cork composites that are supposed to look like new teak. My S31 has the opposite, a nice weathered silver teak floor grating but the teak on the seats have been replaced with sh1t coloured stuff, Tek Dek or something like it. I just have to put up with it, but regret the parsimony of the previous owner but one.
Maybe sometime when I have less to do?

To answer your question with another, what exactly is wrong with the grp?

 

[JumbleDuck]

... or perhaps one of the plastic/ cork composites that are supposed to look like new teak....

And end up looking as phoney as an American politician's teeth.

OP, have you looked at Howell's teak grating kits? http://www.kjhowells.com/TG

 

[Amulet]

Teak - You know you're worth it.

 

[2copplane]

And end up looking as phoney as an American politician's teeth.

OP, have you looked at Howell's teak grating kits? http://www.kjhowells.com/TG

Thanks for the suggestion. Just had a shufty and it works out around 300sqm so more than teak.

 

[Tranona]

Does not need to be 9mm, 6mm will be fine. Howells will do you a package of the teak cut to size so you assemble yourself with Sikaflex and then glue down onto your GRP or make up to your template so you just stick down.

 

[reeac]

I had two teak gratings made by Sheraton Marine in 2004. They were pricey, admittedly, but they still look superb - no sign of wear and a nice silver colour. Every Winter I lift them up and scrub the grp underneath clean, leave them tilted up until the Spring and then OK for another season. As I said, pricey but worth it.

 

[H35]

Just got the whole cockpit done. There is no substitute that's good enough. Just get started!