EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BOAT DECKING

In the first of o our new series of guides we discuss...

- Jonathon Savill

What are boat decks made of?

Before the advent of fiberglass, boat decks were pieced together from multiple wooden planks to form a structural watertight covering. These days most boats are built using a much simpler one-piece moulded non-slip GRP deck and superstructure that is bonded onto the open hull like the lid of a giant sandwich box.

This does much the same job as a traditional wooden deck but lacks many of the practical and aesthetic properties that boat owners value such as grip, warmth, comfort underfoot and, of course, style. So even though it's not strictly necessary, many boat owners choose to fit some form of additional decking material, either as a new build option or an aftermarket upgrade. This will spend most of its time either being baked by the sun, soaked in water or trodden on by multiple feet, so UV resistance, durability and sustainability are also important considerations.

What are the different types of decking?

The main choices are natural wood, chemically modified wood, synthetic teak, cork or EVA foam decking.

What wood is suitable for decking?

Most woods fall into two categories: hardwood and softwood.

Hardwood comes from deciduous trees that lose their leaves annually. They grow slower, the grain is tighter and the timber denser and stronger. That said, not all hardwoods are suitable for decking as they are prone to swelling, warping and splitting from constant exposure to water and sun. The best hardwoods for decking are teak, iroko and sapele as they are resistant to water absorption and contain natural oils that prevent rot and insect damage. Softwood comes from evergreen conifers such as pine and larch. They grow quicker so the timber is softer and looser grained but can still be used for decking if treated.