Teak - Real or Fake? (Again, I know, sorry)

AdeOlly

AdeOlly

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I very nearly had Tek-Dek put onto the swim platform last Spring but never got around to it. Having lifted the cockpit carpets earlier this week for storage at home I found that the backing was comprehensively disintegrating. With the eating habits of the two little ones we're forever having to try and vacuum bits of fish finger and cheerio out of them anyway, and I'm fed up of this. So I'm gonna have the whole lot covered in teak rather than get new carpets made. Question is do I go for the real stuff or fake.... I've made a sketch of what's required and the area is about 5½ square meteres in all. So far I've had one Tek-Dek quote coming in at £1450 and Howells have quoted £2150 for the real stuff, both to manufacture panels from templates I produce.

My heart says buy the real stuff, however we're seriously considering trading up to a larger boat and I think this is likely to happen with the next 12-15 months, so my head says go for the cheaper option. I reckon that having 'teak' will make the boat more attractive and maybe a bit easier to sell, but probably won't make any difference to the price it'll fetch, and that weather the teak is real or fake is unlikely to change that.

What does the panel think?

From my previous research into fakes, Tek-Dek seemed the best bet to me, but has anyone tried others?
 
I did the same thing a couple of years ago on a Sunseeker Portofino, for the same reasons. I bought teak from Howells which was then about £1,500 for an area of 4 sq m - pretty comparable with what you have been quoted although the final price was somewhat dependent on the amount of twiddly bits.

I was pleased with the teak, although I don't think it added a penny to the price I sold the boat for.

No experience of fake teak except that I reckon I would have spent plenty of time looking at it and wishing I'd gone for real teak if I had bought it.
 
Before:

P2240001-1.jpg


After:

P2240004.jpg
 
Very, very nice that.....

If I was going to keep the boat some years I'd probably go for real, but as that's very unlikely I'm having trouble justifying the extra £700. I'll be trying to get both figures down tomorrow...
 
Thanks. I templated it and fitted it. Howells made up the panels. Like doing most things, I learned a few lessons which would have made it better/easier next time around.

Like you need to rub away a layer of skin to get the Sikaflex off your hands! But as my dad would have said, what d'you want to put it on your hands for in the first place?
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
If I were buying I'd be attracted by the real teak and rather turned off by fake teak. And that's after spending 3 days cleaning and treating my teak capping rails!! But definitely worth it. They look a treat.
 
I got hold of some samples of the Tek-Dek and think its very good. However I have the real stuff on my deck, it looks good but you do have to work to keep it looking ok. If I was going to sell the boat in near future I would probably go for the the Tek-Dek. Gives you a chance to see how it stands up to life before you buy the next boat.
 
I've just had my Sealine fitted out by Permateek and I'm more than impressed with the transformation. Whether traditionalists would be happy is another matter, but from a low maintenance and cosmetic viewpoint, it ticks all the boxes.
 
Definitely go for Tek-Dek/Permateak. Why, well you do not have to look after it and that is good especially when selling as any punter will step on board and think it looks new. With real teak it will absorb stains from beans and fruit drinks (and Red wine) and will need sanding down. Also real teak goes silvery and people think it looks unloved (i like it). On the aquador we had both and the fake stuff was a lot easier to look after.

Cheers

Paul /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Permateek... thanks; I'd not come across them before. Will check them out too. Must admit, I am concerned how the real stuff will stand up to the abuse the children will deliver.
 
Real teak will stand up well, and cleaning it is easy. Last boat (34 ft) had teak in the cockpit, swim platform and side decks. Could do the whole lot back to a nice just sanded pale yelow on my own in about 20 minutes
 
My kids don't spill too much red wine /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif but plenty of milk, cranberry and apple juice, buttered toast, chocolate, yoghurt etc etc.
 
I was about to recommend Marinedeck 2000 (cork) but then saw this thread:

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.php?Number=1966027

I was thinking of putting Marinedeck 2000 on my boat over winter. I'll be very interested to see what Guapa thinks of his new decks once done.

Will it look nice? Will it be spongy underfoot?

Other than those two concerns, the Marinedeck ticks so many boxes...

- Thermal insulator
- Sound insulator
- Cooler underfoot
- Natural
- Non-skid
- Hard wearing
- Dents pop out
- Non staining
- Light weight
- Very low maintenance
 
scrubs hand cleaners will remove sikaflex, on the decking I would opt for cork, its great in hot climates and insulates in the cold, its very grippy in bare feet and wears well.

Mot sure of the brand but I was on a Swedish yacht in the azores with the stuff.
 
if you are going to sell it anyway, I d go for the carpets. Keep the money for the next boat.
Personally, I havent seen any fake teak that doesnt look like fake teak, and to my mind it looks bloody aweful.
All depends on what tickles your fancy, but on premium boats I certainly notice the quality of the fitting, whereas on cheaper boats, it tends to be a few strips of teak/fake teak, and thats supposed to be adequate. So whichever you do, get a top quality fit.
Real teak might make the boat a little easier to sell, but I m not sure that you would actually get the investment back.
 
I agree with the sentiment, but the carpets really are shot and could hinder a sale and/or impact the price... I do agree that real or fake it needs to be installed properly.
 
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