Decking – Permateek, manufactured in Ringwood, Hampshire.
There was a time when synthetic wood seemed counterintuitive. Those days are long past, and Sam Fortescue reviews the various alternatives available.
There are numerous reasons for re-decking a vessel. Perhaps the current surface is starting to look worn, or it has incurred some damage. You might want to enhance a fibreglass deck’s aesthetics. Regardless of the reason, it’s wise to think carefully before contacting your boatyard to recommend a teak installer.
Most teak available globally is now grown on plantations. While this isn’t inherently negative, it has opened teak forestry to areas with different climates. Some argue that this leads to inferior wood quality from faster-growing and less uniform trees. For example, shorter planks with unpredictable grain patterns complicate teak deck installation, and one seasoned fitter stated that the high rate of rejected planks and necessary repairs significantly increased costs.
Currently, a genuine teak deck costs starting from approximately £840/sqm installed, making even small boat decks a considerable financial commitment. Thankfully, there are many teak alternatives, including cork, PVC, and EVA foam. Each option comes with its pros and cons – continue reading for an overview.
PVC decking
PVC panels remain the most prevalent alternative to teak, having been available for decades. Designed to closely resemble the grain and color of real teak, this plastic material resists weathering and wear. Cleaning requires nothing more than a sponge or spray wash, and persistent rust or burn marks can even be sanded out.
PVC usually comes in long rolls, specifically made to imitate two caulked planks. For customized fits, suppliers weld strips together to create a deck panel, which can be finished with another PVC strip to resemble a margin board. CNC routing can produce nearly any design, logo, or text you want in the paneling. Some manufacturers even provide rolls for simple DIY installations, allowing customers to glue strips together and affix them.
The manufacturers offer a broad array of shades, from fresh wood to aged teak, with caulking colors in white, black, or grey/silver. An increasing variety of non-natural colors are available too, including carbon, off-white, and titanium. These shades primarily serve to give your boat a specific aesthetic rather than replacing teak.
Initially, PVC decking weighed about 6kg/sqm and was infamous for absorbing the sun’s heat. Similar to denser teak wood, this decking could be uncomfortable to walk on bare-footed during hot Mediterranean days. Flexiteek has since developed a second-generation product that incorporates microbead fillers, reducing weight and density by one third. Consequently, these fillers reduce the deck’s potential to heat up.
Other brands like Permateek and TekDek emphasize their use of only virgin PVC without fillers. The verdict on which product is superior remains undecided; however, with countless examples of both types still in reliable use, it may ultimately depend on the sailing conditions and color preferences.
Permateek
Offering 14 colors with three caulking choices, Permateek recently introduced a new High Grain (HG) version, which reportedly better resembles real wood. Manufactured in Ringwood, Hampshire, the product comes in pre-made panels that imitate straight-planked ‘wood’ for straightforward DIY installation, or custom decking can be created based on a template. Permateek provides a patterning kit for DIY deck fitting or can send its own installers for an additional fee. Price ranges from approximately £200-550/sqm depending on panel complexity.
permateek.com
Permateek
Flexiteek
Chosen for new yachts from brands like X-Yachts, Grand Soleil, and Hanse, Flexiteek can also be retrofitted easily. It comes in 11 base colors and can be CNC milled for logos, patterns, or names on your deck surface. However, it is not suitable for amateur installation – strictly for professionals! Its sister brand, Isiteek (easy teak), is focused on simpler DIY tasks using rolls of PVC ‘planking’ that can be cut and joined into panels. Flexiteek’s costs range from £342 to £462/sqm, potentially totaling around £8,000 for a 40-footer’s deck.
flexiteek.co.uk
TekDek
Manufactured in the UK, TekDek claims to be the “original” PVC decking material, distinguishing itself from competitors by using no fillers. TekDek asserts that this results in a more stable product but also one that is heavier and absorbs more heat. It is available in four natural shades and a grey referred to as ‘London blue,’ along with several caulking color options. Prices are from £264/sqm for sheets to £696/sqm for ring decks on sailing vessels.
tek-dek.com
TekDek
Evo Decking
Launched just over a year ago and also produced in the UK, Evo Decking aims to be the most authentic synthetic teak available. It offers six natural tones, along with charcoal and titanium, and comes with the usual three caulk colors. DIY installation is not an option – Evo Decking is exclusively available for professional fitting, starting at £600/sqm.
Andrew Adams chose Evo Decking to replace damaged teak on his boat’s bathing platform. The detailing was so precise that the synthetic product aligned perfectly with the existing teak in the cockpit, saving him an estimated £6,000 in replacement costs. “I’ve had other synthetic decks on other boats, and they always look decent, but this is the first product on the market that genuinely looks like wood,” he remarks. “You simply cannot compare the two! The way the colors are blended into the product mimics natural wood so closely that it looks like it has knots! It has swirls that replicate real wood.”
evodecking.co.uk
Evo Decking
Case Study: Evo Decking
Three years ago, Mark Turnnidge acquired a well-used Hallberg Rassy 36 and set out to restore it to pristine condition. “We had a 312 previously, but we wanted something slightly larger,” he explains. “This boat became available, though it wasn’t in the best shape when we got it – the lacquer finish below was dull, and the deck was in rough shape, and the engine was worn out.”
The existing teak deck was leaking significantly, so he aimed to install a waterproof synthetic deck instead. While visiting the Southampton Boat Show, he was immediately impressed by the Evo Decking display. “It surpassed everyone else’s offerings – it genuinely has the ability to look and feel like real wood.”
Elite Teak quoted approximately £20,000 to remove the old deck and construct and fit the new one. However, a crucial portion of this job involved filling and smoothing the glassfibre substrate. “Taking off the old deck took six to seven days with two people working on it – it was glued and secured with over 2,000 screws,” he shares. “Next, fairing took two weeks, as they needed to let the epoxy cure between coats. Templating was incredibly quick. The deck’s manufacturing was complete in a day and a half, followed by just a few days for fitting. Some of the finishing touches took longer.”
Case Study: Evo Decking
The cockpit coamings featured a simple teak band, and Turnnidge capped the toe rail with a 60x10mm PVC profile. Using additional Evo Decking profiles and a stainless steel core, he engineered grab handles on the coach roof himself, which turned out so well that Elite Teak is incorporating them into their product line. “I’m extremely pleased with the results; it has significantly enhanced the boat’s appearance,” he adds. “It looks just a notch better now.”
Cork
You may occasionally see a boat equipped with cork decking, and its popularity is increasing. Compressed cork provides nearly all the benefits of PVC, along with its advantages. It’s flexible, easy to cut and install, lightweight, naturally cool and insulating, non-slip, durable, and waterproof. Essentially, it is completely sustainable in its pure form – some even argue it’s carbon negative!
Conversely, it doesn’t closely resemble teak. While various shades can approach a solid wood look, the texture always presents the speckled appearance familiar from your favorite bottle of wine. “Cork looks like cork!” states Tye Conway from Elite Teak. “There’s no doubt about that. However, it can be CNC machined, so you don’t have to adhere to conventional patterns.”
Another disadvantage is that it may be 10-20% more expensive than PVC, although still less than teak. Similar to teak, cork will gradually weather unless treated every five years with a protective polyurethane sealant.
Installation is highly flexible. DIY kits allow you to lay cork in strips of 6-9mm thickness, just like real wood, followed by caulking. Suppliers can also supply sheets for you to cut to fit or offer a complete templating and custom building service. Since screws cannot be directly fastened into elastic cork, you may need to use inserts made from sturdier materials like Delrin.
Marine Deck 2000
One of the oldest cork decking brands, Marine Deck 2000 is distributed in the UK by Eco Marine Deck from Plymouth. The product is actually produced by a Dutch company with over 40 years of experience. It is formed under 400 tons of pressure from pellets of Portuguese cork that are synthetically bound and then cut into sheets and strips. Eco Marine will provide it in planks starting at £420/sqm, sheets, or as a fully custom-made deck from £660/sqm for professional installation.
ecomarinedeck.co.uk
Oceancork
Produced by Germany’s Multicork Solutions since 2003, Oceancork has made its way onto both superyachts and daysailers. It comes in pure cork and rubber cork varieties, available in large panels. Multicork recommends an 8mm thickness for the best longevity-to-weight balance, while thinner cork can be advantageous around contours. Additionally, they offer strips or panels made with caulk lines and full custom deck service. You can either install these panels yourself or hire a shipwright.
multicork-solutions.com
Oceancork
Elite Teak Cork
Elite boasts 30 years of experience installing various deck types, including their own cork product. Pricing starts at £600/sqm installed, dependent on what needs removing and the amount of fairing required.
eliteteak.co.uk
Elite Teak Cork
Seacork
Based in France, Seacork is primarily sold locally and in the US. Nonetheless, it has extensive experience creating decks for smaller sailboats and tenders. Note that it supplies its product in various thicknesses based on specifications, making the service more suited for DIY enthusiasts.
seacorkfloor.com
Marine Cork
This is an Italian supplier of cork decking that caters to DIY installers or anyone with a cooperative shipyard. They have experience constructing decks for larger sailing yachts.
marinecork.com
EVA foam
EVA foam decks are less common on sailing vessels, but they do exist – particularly in the racing scene. They are easy to machine and fit, providing a wonderfully comfortable cushion perfect for intense competitive sailing with many crew members sitting on the rail. Even away from competition, foam decking can transform cockpit coamings or locker lids into cozy seating areas. From TP52s to J Boats, Wayfarers to tenders, foam offers an economical and quick-fitting alternative.
SeaDek
Produced under license in the UK, SeaDek offers an unparalleled variety of textures, colors, and patterns. The flexibility of EVA foam allows for finishes that are impossible with wood, cork, and PVC. However, while one of the potential textures may resemble a grain-like finish, no one would claim that ‘brushed mocha’ foam resembles teak. It is available in solid sheets, 2-inch and 4-inch strips, diamond shapes, fractals, and hexagons.
As a deck covering, foam is not only springy but also waterproof, easy to apply, anti-slip, and beneficial for sound and heat insulation. However, some have raised concerns about its durability—hence, the introduction of a heavy-duty version, SeaDek HD, designed for commercial and military applications. This was the chosen decking for the TP52 Gladiator owned by Tony Langley, as well as the new Gunboat 80 Highland Fling XVIII. It features a durable outer layer that can be applied in single-ply 5mm sheets or laminated with any classic SeaDek finish underneath. Regardless, SeaDek will fabricate panels to your measurements equipped with a 3M peel-and-stick adhesive backing for effortless installation.
SeaDek
Standard SeaDek, which is machined, starts at £182/sqm, with one installer providing an all-in quote around £250/sqm for templating and installation. SeaDek HD is priced about £190/sqm all-inclusive; although prices may decrease if a pre-existing deck plan for your boat is available.
seadekpro.uk
WässerDek
Though the name suggests otherwise, WässerDek is produced in Britain. This product is a 6mm thick covering made of dual-layer EVA foam. You can select from seven colors for each layer, allowing the reveal of the color underneath when the top layer is cut out for caulk lines. It’s offered in three designs – plain sheets, a planking look, or honeycomb lattice – with options for adding logos, designs, or names as well.
WässerDek can send you a templating kit to measure the different panels required, which you can then fit yourself (or have the yard complete). The installation is made easy with a simple stick-and-peel adhesive. Alternatively, you can order a templated, cut, and fitted service from WässerDek for £300/sqm.
wasserdek.co.uk
WässerDek
Wood alternatives
Eco Teak
The closest alternative to teak planks is a composite known as Eco Teak – created by binding sawdust into stable planks with a bit of pigment. Manufactured by Euro Design, it is offered in three standard colors: weathered, brown teak, and yellow teak, with custom options also available. The product can be installed just like genuine teak (which the company also supplies), but it can also be produced into custom pre-caulked panels with adhesive backing for easy application. Consequently, it is cheaper than actual teak and remains cooler to walk on. Moreover, since it utilizes by-products from the furniture trade, Eco Teak is considered sustainable.
ecoteak.se
Eco Teak
Accoya
Treated softwood presents another potential decking material. Although Lignia, based in Wales, is no longer in operation, the non-toxic pickling process used with the Accoya brand converts fast-growing pine into durable hardwood with remarkable longevity. It is widely utilized for cladding buildings and outdoor decking and was recently used to refit the SS Great Britain in Bristol. Westport, a US superyacht builder, is evaluating its use, and supplies are readily accessible from timber merchants. Despite efforts to introduce it into the marine market, it has not succeeded thus far—perhaps due to Accoya’s ‘surface checking’ or minor cracks that don’t impair its function, but do affect its aesthetics.