Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 30-06-2009, 18:47   #1
Registered User

Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 6
FlexiTeak - Your Opinions

Greetings fellow Sailors!
Am working on some sailboat improvements, and I am considering a small bit of FlexiTeak (faux teak, synthetic teak) in the cockpit -- I have no other teak on the top deck. Anyone familiar with it? Pros/cons?

Thank you for sharing!
s/v Thievery is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-06-2009, 19:01   #2
Moderator Emeritus
 
Pblais's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Hayes, VA
Boat: Gozzard 36
Posts: 8,700
Images: 15
Send a message via Skype™ to Pblais
It's not teak but it is dimensionally stable. If you could get real Asian teak it would be different. Real teak has been replaced with "Honey teak". It is commercially sustainable and more correct for a modern environmentally minded world. Real teak only comes from Asia where the process of getting it is not an upbeat story. Honey Teak also has 1/3 the teak oil that makes teak what it really is. When you sand with fine sand paper real teak appears to bleed. It's the oil that makes teak desirable. Real teak won't ever be what it was - it is all but gone. Busting you behind to pretend it is is still here is a mistake.

Your chore is to maintain a boat that you love. If you do that you have won the battle. There is no extra points for anything else.
__________________
Paul Blais
s/v Bright Eyes Gozzard 36
37 15.7 N 76 28.9 W
Pblais is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-06-2009, 19:06   #3
Registered User

Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 6
Thanks, Paul. I guess I'm interested to see if people have found that synthetic teak holds up well and is a good substitute. Going with a synthetic would eliminate the need for sanding, etc., and is more "green," if you will. Thank you for the reply!
s/v Thievery is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-06-2009, 19:29   #4
Registered User
 
Christian Van H's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Princeton, NJ
Boat: Challenger Anacapa 42
Posts: 2,097
Images: 57
I have used solid plastic lumber from these guys. PlasTEAK 100% Recycled Plastic Lumber Products 1-800-320-1841 Guaranteed Its recycled milk bottles...sort of. This stuff is about as tough as you can get. No teak on my exterior, ever again!
__________________
www.anacapas.com

Here's to swimmin' with bowlegged women!
Christian Van H is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-06-2009, 20:13   #5
Registered User
 
whatever's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: on the boat
Boat: Jefferson Motoryacht 45' Whatever!
Posts: 149
There is an article in the July edition of Soundings mag, I believe, about Flexiteek. The writer of the article gave very high marks for it.
whatever is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-06-2009, 20:15   #6
Moderator Emeritus
 
Pblais's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Hayes, VA
Boat: Gozzard 36
Posts: 8,700
Images: 15
Send a message via Skype™ to Pblais
Quote:
Thanks, Paul. I guess I'm interested to see if people have found that synthetic teak holds up well and is a good substitute.
It's not the same stuff but it does hold up to a whole lot of abuse. I've seen it enough to know that for sure. There is no romance and no one tells you how great the fake teak looks. I still own a taft rail that owns me plus more for a bonus. It's like being married. You do it for love - not for convenience. That's my story and I'll stick with it. Sailing really is more about showing up regular than the ride you have.
__________________
Paul Blais
s/v Bright Eyes Gozzard 36
37 15.7 N 76 28.9 W
Pblais is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-07-2009, 23:26   #7
NDH
Registered User

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Gosport
Boat: Dufour 40
Posts: 104
Flexi Teak

Have just laid some and an extremely pleased. Our cockpit seating was teak strip on ply core and was beginning to de laminate and looked scruffy so we replaced with flexiteak, really easy to lay and looks great. It has only been down a couple of months but so far so good, the only downside to date is that it does get very hot in mid day sun.
NDH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-07-2009, 03:33   #8
Registered User
 
Albro359's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Elyse is in New Zealand
Boat: Amel Super Maramu 2000
Posts: 589
no more teak decks !

Hi everyone,

I have had teak decks, or maybe they had me !
After 10 years of burning my feet, constantly cleaning / sanding to keep it looking good and watching it wear thinner and thinner each year, AND always trying to find tiny leaks which I am sure were coming from one or two hundred of those 10,000 screws in the deck, I have had it all ripped off...except for the cockpit which I had relaid 2 years ago.
My boatbuilder / advisor offered me Flexiteak, but I decided against it....plastic decks on a wooden boat didn't quite make it somehow...I opted to glass the complete deck (yes I know glass is considered plastic) and paint it ....all that work is done and the boat is in the paintshop now...I am sure this is the best solution.
The glass will ensure that the deck doesn't leak and it will be low maintenance...only real concerns were, the quality of the non-skid...real teak gives great grip, and the issues of glare on a large foredeck...the nonskid will be off white and the rest will be "de-glossed" with a flattener to minimise glare.
Just my 2 bobs worth...I'll post pics of the deck when its done
Cheers
Alan
Albro359 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Snapdragon 26 - Opinions? Greenman Monohull Sailboats 12 18-09-2015 18:24
Need opinions on AC units Oceantyme Product or Service Reviews & Evaluations 11 15-08-2008 12:07
Opinions Welcome! Janny Monohull Sailboats 9 24-10-2007 17:47
Your opinions please Tim Whaley Monohull Sailboats 5 04-05-2007 03:30
Info on Garmin 498 C Sounder. Opinions? Transome mounted Transducer? Opinions? chuck711 Marine Electronics 0 14-01-2007 16:06

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 06:14.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.