Once the gold standard in yachting, teak is under fire as ethical concerns squeeze supply and shipyards face hefty fines. The good news? It’s opening the door for smart decking alternatives.
Shipbuilders have relied on teak for centuries. When the British Navy ruled the waves, they did it in ships built with this wood from a far-flung corner of the Empire that offered unparalleled resistance to rot and warping. Later, in a more modern era when the great boatbuilders built less for naval superiority than for enjoying her sun-dappled coasts, golden-hued teak became not just a practical material but a symbol of style and luxury.
But today, teak is in trouble. Old-growth Burmese teak — the undisputed gold standard in yachting from the country now called Myanmar — has in recent years become a complicated product fraught with controversy. Talk of mass forest destruction and worker exploitation has been reported in the West since the 1960s. The situation worsened in 2021 when Myanmar’s military regime seized control of the country’s timber trade, turning it into a state-controlled monopoly. Under this system, protective regulations are frequently disregarded as long as profits are funnelled to the ruling government. This has led to unchecked deforestation, with minimal oversight and scant concern for the forests’ future.
While the superyacht industry represents a small segment of the global teak market, it remains a visible target for critics concerned with environmental responsibility. And the industry’s obsession with “the real deal” has led to increased scrutiny of its environmental and social impact.
In the absence of proper local regulation and enforcement, the US and EU have taken steps to make it more difficult for those dealing in illegally harvested Myanmar teak. In 2023, the EU replaced its voluntary due diligence framework with a stricter system aimed at curbing illegal logging. Recent fines levied against major shipyards, including Oceanco and Sunseeker, highlight the increased regulatory focus on compliance and responsible sourcing.
The industry’s obsession with “the real deal” has led to increased scrutiny of its environmental and social impact.
However, all this could soon be a moot point; according to the Environmental Investigation Agency, at the current rate of logging, Myanmar is on track to lose its teak forests within a decade. Meanwhile, the scarcity of old-growth Myanmar teak has driven prices up, making it increasingly difficult to source and eye-wateringly expensive.
Producers in countries such as Thailand and India have rushed in with plantation teak intended to offer a commercial-farmed alternative to fill the gap, but experts say it doesn’t have the same qualities as teak from Myanmar. Plantation teak grows slowly, and teak milled from younger trees offers shorter, narrower boards with less tightly packed grain. As a result, it tends to crack and wear more easily. Plus, poorly managed plantations can still contribute to deforestation when natural habitats are cleared for cultivation, making plantation teak an imperfect solution to the teak supply crisis.
So what is the solution? Well, a growing sector that has historically thrived in more utilitarian areas of the boating industry is now making its way into yachting as a viable, high-end option. Advocates tout these alternatives as more affordable, durable and eco-friendly, with the added benefit of reduced maintenance for crew. Teak alternatives come in many forms, from PVC and foam to cork and engineered woods, and these innovations have paved the way for new players looking to reshape the future of yacht decking.
When it comes to cleaning and upkeep, teak is a bit of a Goldilocks material — everything has to be just right.
One of the companies leading this shift is Teakdecking Systems, based in Sarasota, Florida. Known for its expertise in traditional teak decking, the company has also embraced synthetic alternatives, recognizing the changing demands of the yachting industry.
According to Teakdecking Systems’ CEO Richard Strauss, interest in synthetic teak has skyrocketed. “It’s changed a lot in the last two years,” he says. “There’s a lot of our clients that we see on a regular basis. Four years ago, we’d get a lot of pushback. Now, they’re coming to us asking for alternatives.”
Teak itself has undeniable practical benefits. Thanks to its high oil content, it doesn’t crack, shrink or expand easily, and a properly maintained teak deck can last more than 40 years. However, maintaining its golden brown color requires harsh brightening agents and scrubbing, which can reduce its lifespan by more than half. And, left to age naturally, teak fades to a silvery gray. In contrast, modern alternatives are designed with varied lifespans; some are meant to last as long as traditional teak decking, while others are more budget-friendly and intended for more frequent replacement.
When it comes to cleaning and upkeep, teak is a bit of a Goldilocks material — everything has to be just right. Clean it often, but don’t scrub too hard, and heaven forbid you use the wrong chemicals. And if something major goes wrong? Brace yourself for a major repair.
One of the perks of synthetic teak is it requires less fuss and labor, unlike teak which needs regular cleaning, oiling and recaulking to maintain its appearance. “The number-one thing is low maintenance,” says Denis Hamel of Nuteak. “The best way to clean it is to pressure wash it. The regular cleaning becomes less a physical exercise — just hold the pressure washer and pressure wash it.”
Another key benefit of synthetic teak is its resilience. Natural teak is prone to damage from high-heel shoes, spilled drinks and the usual wear and tear on yachts. Richard recalls a captain who once called him in a panic after hosting a party in the Bahamas where nobody had taken off their shoes on the teak deck, leading to death by a thousand stiletto marks.
Synthetic teak tends to be less prone to damage, and if it does occur, repairs are much easier. A composite panel can be repaired by simply pouring a mixture and sanding it out. “With composites, you don’t have to deal with split seams or wet spots,” says Richard. “Plus, our sealers have less sheen and fewer lines, making it look better for longer.”
Another major player in the teak alternative market is Esthec, a company whose patented material contains neither PVC nor wood. Esthec’s decking is highly resistant to oil, grease and water, and it won’t require any treatments or sealers. As co-founder Marcel van der Spek points out, this makes Esthec a favorite among crew members tasked with maintaining the deck. “You don’t need to do anything; it’s the ease of maintenance,” Marcel says. “It’s extremely hard to damage. If you spill red wine or olive oil on the deck, it doesn’t absorb it. And when you clean it, you can use a hard brush in all directions — something you could never do on a traditional teak deck.”
While synthetic materials like Nuteak and Esthec are growing in popularity, wood-based alternatives are also gaining traction. Accoya and Tesumo, for example, are engineered wood products made from fast-growing, sustainably sourced trees. Developed by industry leaders Lürssen, Wolz Nautic and the University of Göttingen, Tesumo uses a patented process to create wood that is both durable and environmentally friendly. Other woods, such as African iroko and North American maple, offer similar durability and warmth to teak without the environmental concerns associated with tropical hardwoods.
For those still not yet sold on a synthetic substitute, TMT Marine offers another alternative with the look and feel of natural wood. Its Marine Maple and Marine Light products are sourced from sustainably managed forests in the US, where rigorous sustainability practices ensure the long-term health of the ecosystem. Xavier Ardevol of TMT Marine explains that his products offer the same tactile benefits as traditional teak, without the ethical concerns.
Crew won’t notice any day-to-day differences between TMT Marine’s woods and teak, Xavier says. “It works exactly the same.” He believes that while synthetics might be popular for smaller boats, high-end yachts and major shipyards still prefer natural lumber. “All the big shipyards are looking for lumber. The lumber gives you the kind of exclusivity that high-quality ships are looking for,” he explains. “For more regular ships — around 40ft or so — the options lean toward synthetics. But when it comes to the high-end yachts, the demand is always there for lumber.”
Yachting hasn’t exactly been known for embracing change quickly, but it seems the industry is finally warming up to the idea of exploring sustainable materials. Whether you’re on team teak or leaning into synthetic solutions, one thing’s for sure: even the most hardened traditionalists might one day find themselves wistfully looking at their ship’s deck and wondering, “Did it really have to be this complicated?”
“Once they’ve experienced it — once they’ve used it, seen it, touched it — they’re convinced,” Marcel says. “People need to understand that teak wasn’t originally aesthetic. It was functional. And now, you can achieve that same functionality with other materials.”