Is the clock ticking for teak decks?

by Peter Franklin, METSTRADE
All of us who have been involved in boating are familiar with that moment when you kick off your shoes and step onto a pristine teak deck; it’s the first thing your eyes make contact with, and very often leads you to form an instant opinion about the build characteristics of the yacht.

However, with today’s focus on all things environmental, mankind’s negative influences on Mother Nature, and the vital need for preserving carbon capturing forests, it has to be said, that the use of teak and other tropical hardwoods in all forms of construction, are suffering something of a public relations backlash.

Writing in the April edition of the UK’s Practical Boat Owner magazine, Sam Llewellyn, a lifelong performance sailor and nautical adventure novelist said, “Some people including me, dislike teak decks because whatever anyone tells you, they get filthy, plus the sustainability of teak is open to debate.”

In the April issue of Dockwalk, the magazine targeted specifically at superyacht crews, there is an article titled ‘Searching for Sustainability’ by Sara Ventiera that goes even further, explaining that natural top-quality teak from trees, has become a threatened species.

She points out that the dense hardwood forests in tropical Asian regions, which can take as long as 80-100 years to reach maturity, are now so depleted that the source is literally drying up. Full report.