What is The Best Material for Boat Deck

A boat dock see’s some incredibly harsh conditions since they are so close to the water they are typically getting abuse from waves and are often constantly saturated with water. Constant moisture is an enemy for all boat dock materials whether they are wood or composite. In fact, constant moisture can lead to faster rot and decay, mold and mildew and leave you with excessive maintenance.

Pressure-Treated Pine

Pressure-treated pine is the most common and affordable type of wood commonly used for boat docks. The pros of using this material for boat deck are the initial cost is the cheapest compared to other options. This material should last you 20 years or more with annual maintenance.

The cons are the annual maintenance that will be required. A Pressure-treated pine material for boat deck will need to be sealed every year or every other year with a water sealer to keep the water from saturating the wood. If this is not done it will lead to early rot and decay of your boat dock since pine is a softwood. Softwoods are more prone to rot and decay, insect attack as well as mold, algae and fungi growth. The regular maintenance costs will add up over the lifetime of your dock. Pressure-treated pine is also known to splinter overtime which can be bad for your life if you are using your dock with bare feet. The pressure-treated pine boat dock above has weathered severely. Additionally, the wood has splinters all over and is rotted in parts that had seen more water.

Cedar Wood

Another softwood option is Cedar which is considered an upgrade compared to treated pine. Although Cedar is known to have some natural rot resistance but it still requires a water sealer applied every year or every other year to keep the water from rotting the wood. you can see it still splinters and will rot which is why the deck board above is being replaced. The waterproofing sealer will eventually flake off.

PVC Soft Deck Flooring For Yacht

This is a product that we asked a lot of users and developed based on customer feedback about various problems with wooden decks. First of all, teak decks on ships are very expensive in terms of materials and labor. Then there is the availability of teak. There are also post-maintenance issues, and as you know, teak decks require careful maintenance. Finally, if you need to be environmentally conscious, there are shortages or bans on teak imports in some countries or regions.

Now, If you like the look and feel of a teak deck then you may want to look at the many synthetic teak decking alternatives which are cropping up on the market. The PVC soft deck flooring or fake teak decking material is becoming much more prevalent appearing on mega yachts, cruise liners, production boats and now DIY owners.

After 10 years of excellence, we have taken PVC synthetic teak decking to new heights and our fitted material for boat deck look equally at home on a luxury yacht as they do on a small dinghy or powerboat. The versatility of our boat decking has been proven over time in unique installations including decking for swimming pool, balconies, office pod doors and bathrooms.

PVC Soft Deck Flooring Advantages

1. UV Stable

Ask if ultraviolet light (UV) stabilizers are used in the manufacture of the synthetic teak decking material. The sun can shorten the life of the decking more than wear and tear do.

2. Cleanability

Ask whether the synthetic teak decking is made from closed-cell material. Some, such as SYNBOATEK®, are made from closed-cell EVA materials that will not absorb liquids.

3. Heat Absorption

The denser and darker in color the material, the hotter it can get. The less-dense and lighter in color the faux teak material, typically the cooler it will be. Denser materials absorb and hold heat longer.

4. Customization

Some materials makers offer logos, boat names or graphics. Other custom options include color, surface texture, density and thickness.

5. Installation

Ask how to remove or replace the synthetic teak decking. Often, with contact cement, grinding and sanding are required. With some of the other faux teak choices, the residual adhesive can be cleared away with mineral spirits or similar products.

6. Nonslip

Some synthetic teak decks offer better-wet traction than others. Ask for samples, wet them down, and walk on them before making your decision.