Plastic, fantastic?

With teak on the endangered list, Sam Fortescue investigates the synthetic and composite alternatives for decking out your yacht

- Sam Fortescue

Real teak has been the flagship decking material for boats since before the time of Nelson. But in a world increasingly concerned about sustainability, sourcing slow-growing tropical hardwoods from ancient forests in the developing world is not straightforward. Myanmar's teak industry is mired in environmental controversy and, despite traceability schemes, it is very hard to know how sustainable teak supplies really are.

All this means that teak is becoming more expensive. The value of the timber has reportedly risen tenfold in 30 years and quotes for supplying teak decking run to around £500 per square metre. Redecking a 42ftHallberg-Rassy would cost over £10,000 in timber alone. So it is hardly surprising that entrepreneurs have been developing alternatives to the wood. They all aim to replicate the beauty of teak, and imitate the traditional way of laying it in strips with a line of caulking between each one. But they are typically produced in sheets that can be cut to size, giving good results for DIY installers.

This means they are not only cheaper than real wood, but they are cheaper to fit as well. Elite Teak, which specialises in fitting both wood and synthetic decks, quotes around £250 per square metre (ex-VAT) to install real teak versus just £50 per square metre for composite decking. Other advantages include lighter weight, better sound insulation and lower heat absorption than the real thing. Some are even based on recycled materials and can themselves be recycled. Explore the options below.

PVC teak