TeKDek or Flexiteek?

[steverow]

Am considering using one or the other to re-floor my cockpit approx 8ft by 8ft.
I was going to use TekDek, then reading MBM this month saw another product called Flexiteek from Golden Arrow marine.
Anyone know what the differences between the two are? Which is better, easiest to work with and cheapest??
Anyone actually used either of 'em?

Steve

 

[ShipsWoofy]

I was going to use tek dek for a job but changed my mind. Not because of the material by the way.

I contacted tek-dek and chatted with them which concluded with them sending me a sample of the material. I was and am impressed with it, it also looks very easy to work with.

Does not really answer your question; But I would, if I was you, call them both and get some samples.

 

[brianhumber]

Used TeKDek to replace the teak on my sugar scoop. Found it easy to cut and assemble with some care needed as you apply the sealant around edges in order to get that 'professional neat' finish.

However one of the reasons for moving into Chi marina was to avoid the crap on the decks from Cormorants, Starlings, Crows etc. However the bloody marina Ducks and Coots now rest on the sugar scoop, shitting as they sleep. Having disposed of a bucketful of crap over the Xmas period, I have put some cover up mats down on the TeKDeK but I have noticed that the TeKDek has been left stained from the Duck Poo.

 

[alpha]

I believe that the makers of tek-Dek recommend 'brake and clutch cleaner' for cleaning their product - or, you could just re-sand it (with very coarse paper, very slowly, though you should find this works well).

 

[Jezzb]

I suggest you look at other Synthetic Teak Decking alternatives as well. I used another brand which i got from teakforboats which looks like real wood, easy to work with and it was cheaper than the other two products mentioned above. I suggest you google it. They had really good service as well.

Hope this helps

Jezzb

 

[blueglass]

when getting quotes for flexiteek a few years back I ended up with real teak instead as there was not a huge difference in price. Glad I did too, nothing like the real thing. I know the maintenace regime is greater with wood, but that again I find minimal.

 

[crisjones]

I have used Tek Dek to do our cockpit, transom steps, helm area and other areas around the cockpit, no experience of using Flexiteek though.

I am very pleased with the results and it has now been laid for approx 3 years and still looks very good. As others have said, a quick rub with fairly coarse sandpaper will remove any serious stains and retain the non slip qualities, having said that a scrubbing brush and detergent will remove almost anything from the surface.

Laying the stuff can be done in a variety of ways however I found it easiest to make a very accurate paper / card template for the area to be covered and then making a mdf / ply / chipboard former from this pattern. Then glue together the strips, do not skimp on the glue, to make up the area, once done mark around the perimiter 50mm in from the edge of the mdf and cut accurately and squarely. Then glue on the 5mm black strip followed by the final outer strip all along the outer edge. By using a timber former you can easily clamp this outer strip in place to follow any curves neatly while the glue dries. For sharper corners you need to glue two or three pieces of the plain brown strips together and carefully cut out the shape of the corner required, before gluing in place with the black caulking strip. Once everything is glued together and dry you can sand the whole thing with a belt sander to get rid of any excess glue and to level any slightly uneven joints etc. Use plently of black glue when gluing the 5mm caulking strip to the main planking and the outer strip, this will fill any minor flaws in your cutting and trimming, once dry and sanded you will not be able to tell the difference. The big advantage here is that you can do all this work in the garage or workshop withe everything to hand, it will also be warmer which makes it much easier to cut and bend the material.

Then lay it onto the boat using the glue provided, making sure it is carefully positioned to give an even gap all around the edges. Mask off this gap both sides and finally caulk this with the same glue used to stick the stuff down with. Any blemishes or excess caulk etc can be finally sanded off when everything is dry. Try and do all work in as warm a temperature as possible, the material is much easier to work with.

An 8 x 8 area is a large bit to do in one go, but I did do our cockpit floor which is about the same. It is a big section to handle and I laid the whole thing in place dry, then rolled half of it back, applied the glue and rolled it back down, repeat for the other half. The mdf former is now very useful for weighing the material down while it dries, put it on top of the laid material and weigh it down with as many buckets and drums of water as you can get on it.

I would recommend practising on a smaller area first before trying such a big area. All in all it has made a huge difference to the asthetics of our boat, particularly the cockpit which was white non slip grp and was almost impossible to keep from looking grubby.

 

[PCUK]

Don't forget Dek-King from WIlks the fender people. This is one of the better ones with 'T' section ribs for extra grip on the adhesive.

 

[Sy-Revolution]

We decided on Flexiteek in the end. To my mind it looks more natural. Tek Dek is harder where as Flexiteek is softer. It looks alot less like plasitic. Ours has been on for around 4 years (1 year in the Med) now and still looks good, and still fools people. Does get hot in the sun but is very(!) non slip.

 

[lumphammer]

Don't forget Dek-King from WIlks the fender people. This is one of the better ones with 'T' section ribs for extra grip on the adhesive.

I'll second that, we had our cockpit and side decks done, and very pleased with result

 

[Koeketiene]

You may also want to consider this

We had it done two years ago; this is what it looks like now.
In summer it keeps the heat out, in winter the cold. Good sound isolation and very 'grippy'.
Only very minimal maintenance required

When it was just done

 

[Greenwichman]

Another vote for Dek-King

Don't forget Dek-King from WIlks the fender people. This is one of the better ones with 'T' section ribs for extra grip on the adhesive.

I researched all the various options at last January's LIBS. After comparing quality, performance, construction etc I chose Dek-King. It wasn't the cheapest, but there again you get what you pay for and the difference in price wasn't bank-breaking.

It has been down on the sole of the cockpit since March and I have been delighted with the look, feel and upkeep. The adhesive supplied is easy to use (but black in colour, so needs care when laying!).

Sun, frost, snow, heavy feet and wine have all had a go, but the appearance remains as new.

http://www.wilks.co.uk/dek-king.aspx

 

[KathyD]

Guapa, Where can you get MarineDeck? Is there anyone in the UK?

 

[Koeketiene]

Guapa, Where can you get MarineDeck? Is there anyone in the UK?

We got it directly from the company, but there we 2 UK importers listed on their site till a while ago.

Best contact the company directly: info@stazo.nl - they're quite friendly and communicate in fluent English

 

[Euphonyx]

was going to ask the same question as the OP, with the addition:
1. Can you glue solid king planks together side by side?
2. can you heat it and bend it around corners?
thanks folks!

 

[KathyD]

Thanks for reply.

Did you get it from manufacturer and DIY or did they send you from templates. I emailed them a couple of weeks ago. They seemed very helpful and sent a brochure, which said they can either send it for you to fit or they would make it up for you from templates. I sort of assumed the making up would be for people in the Netherlands.

I thought maybe you had found a UK supplier.

 

[Koeketiene]

Thanks for reply.

Did you get it from manufacturer and DIY or did they send you from templates. I emailed them a couple of weeks ago. They seemed very helpful and sent a brochure, which said they can either send it for you to fit or they would make it up for you from templates. I sort of assumed the making up would be for people in the Netherlands.

I thought maybe you had found a UK supplier.

Went down he DIY route - though I found someone afterwards who a templates made from a CAD drawing and that seemed to fit very well.

There was a UK supplier at the time when we fit ours - but he was about 30% more expensive than buying from the manufacterer directly.
At the time the exchange rate was €1.5 to the £ - his price was the same, he just substituted € for £.

 

[KathyD]

That's interesting, as we have wondered about doing it ourselves, your boat looks great looks like a brilliant job.

 

[Theshipscat]

Used TeKDek to replace the teak on my sugar scoop. Found it easy to cut and assemble with some care needed as you apply the sealant around edges in order to get that 'professional neat' finish.

However one of the reasons for moving into Chi marina was to avoid the **** on the decks from Cormorants, Starlings, Crows etc. However the bloody marina Ducks and Coots now rest on the sugar scoop, ****ting as they sleep. Having disposed of a bucketful of **** over the Xmas period, I have put some cover up mats down on the TeKDeK but I have noticed that the TeKDek has been left stained from the Duck Poo.

Nowt worse than duck poop on your scoop. I bought a plastic crow from Chichester armoury and mounted it on the pushpit. It seems to have done the trick.

 

[Shorn100]

Permateek

Just to confuse you some more - I used Permateek - http://www.permateek.com - for my cockpit. They supply completed panels. All you have to do is make a template and send it to them. They make the panels then all you have to do is stick them down. Far easier and cleaner than sticking down individual planks.

It's been down for two years and still looks like new.

Shorn