General Info: Synthetic teak?

[LeeV]

With the new brands of synthetic teak, I'm curious about the longevity and price. Is it really worth 10-12k USD (L45, Helia...), how easily does it stain and is it easy to keep clean? Does it show dirty footprints like plain fiberglass decks?

I compared 2 Leopard 45s last week (1 with and 1 without) and then choked when I saw the price, but the Admiral loved it! Of course she does......

Thanks for the input.

[SailRedemption]

Check out Marine Deck 2000, it's cork based. We'll switch to that whenever we change out our teak decks.

[sailormed]

Go for the cork based. Its great advantage is that it won't get hot in the sun. All others get hot AFAIK.

[LeeV]

I'll also have to see what he price is vs getting it from the factory!

[SailRedemption]

I saw a new South African cat at Miami with it and it was cool in the hot sun. It's used on cruise ships supposedly

[Cotemar]

My wife also just had to have those synthetic Teak floors, until she seen one used for 3 years then she changed her mind.

She is now very glad that she has the standard white floors.

[LeeV]

Originally Posted by SailRedemption

I saw a new South African cat at Miami with it and it was cool in the hot sun. It's used on cruise ships supposedly

Well, that's comforting (pun intended!).

[LeeV]

Originally Posted by Cotemar

My wife also just had to have those synthetic Teak floors, until she seen one used for 3 years then she changed her mind.

She is now very glad that she has the standard white floors.

That's what I was wondering, Mark. I thought they were supposed to wear well, and be easy to clean with a small power washer and a brush. Not so, I take it?

[Kenomac]

We love our genuine teak decks, and will most likely replace them with the real thing when the time comes.

Shop around because a good friend found an awesome deal on genuine teak in Italy of all places.

[LeeV]

No thx; no more real teak upkeep for me. That's why the inquiry about synthetic.

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by LeeV

No thx; no more real teak upkeep for me. That's why the inquiry about synthetic.

Not sure what you mean by "upkeep?" All we do is lightly wash ours with a soft brush four times per year when we wash the boat. No chemicals. The textured fiberglass decks on our Hunter required 10x the care to keep them looking nice.

You'll still need to wash the fake teak.

[LeeV]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

Not sure what you mean by "upkeep?" All we do is lightly wash ours with a soft brush four times per year when we wash the boat. No chemicals. The textured fiberglass decks on our Hunter required 10x the care to keep them looking nice.

You'll still need to wash the fake teak.

This is my 5th boat, and we're now looking for our last "retirement" vessel. Two of those had real teak, and like many, I still have a litany of products designed for the upkeep and maintenance of teak. After sailing transatlantic aboard the Pride of Baltimore II, scrubbing, sanding and coating, I swore I'd never have real teak again. Just last weekend I watched a crew scraping all the teak in the cockpit of an offshore fishing boat and thought, "No way." At least every couple of months there's an article about refinishing or caring for teak. https://www.practical-sailor.com/new...m-10074-1.html I admit it's beautiful; it's just not for me, and I've never had issues (or the amount of labor) keeping the fiberglass on our Trimaran clean. She's a 2004 and the topsides are nice and bright with no new paint - and we walk on all 3 hulls all the time.

My understanding is that the new synthetics only need a gentle power wash to clean up, something I'd do anyway. So my query is whether or not anybody has any experience with it over a few years. Regardless, I won't have real teak aboard.

Respectfully,

[dmtparkerLcsk53]

Originally Posted by LeeV

My understanding is that the new synthetics only need a gentle power wash to clean up, something I'd do anyway. So my query is whether or not anybody has any experience with it over a few years. Regardless, I won't have real teak aboard.

Respectfully,

On a previous boat (a Pearson Triton) I actually did a whole laid 'teak' deck with 1/4" strips I cut from a Trex 2x6. It bent to the curve quite nicely. I glued it down with epoxy and then filled the 'caulking line' with epoxy and powdered carbon. Looked great, cool to walk on, and easy to clean. It was a major job, however, and very messy. Not sure I'd do it again.
FWIW, the project was actually featured in one of the early issues of "Good Old Boat"

[geoleo]

Originally Posted by LeeV

This is my 5th boat, and we're now looking for our last "retirement" vessel. Two of those had real teak, and like many, I still have a litany of products designed for the upkeep and maintenance of teak. After sailing transatlantic aboard the Pride of Baltimore II, scrubbing, sanding and coating, I swore I'd never have real teak again. Just last weekend I watched a crew scraping all the teak in the cockpit of an offshore fishing boat and thought, "No way." At least every couple of months there's an article about refinishing or caring for teak. https://www.practical-sailor.com/new...m-10074-1.html I admit it's beautiful; it's just not for me, and I've never had issues (or the amount of labor) keeping the fiberglass on our Trimaran clean. She's a 2004 and the topsides are nice and bright with no new paint - and we walk on all 3 hulls all the time.

My understanding is that the new synthetics only need a gentle power wash to clean up, something I'd do anyway. So my query is whether or not anybody has any experience with it over a few years. Regardless, I won't have real teak aboard.

Respectfully,

I have fake foam teak decks that are deteriorating by the Florida sun rapidly and they are only3 years old.

[EllesBelles]

So no synthetic teak because it's KILLER hot on the feet (I can attest!) (besides which it looks so fake) and no foam cork teak because the sun rapidly kills it.

I'd heard a rumor there's a new fake teak product on the market that's not blisteringly hot in the sun. Does anyone know what it's called, and if it's better looking and longer lasting?