The deck covering of a boat is made of a covering material that can be synthetic or natural wood.
When it’s made of wood, it’s subject to a number of phenomena and stresses associated with the maritime environment, which can cause cracking, graying or even rotting over time. That’s why it’s so important to choose the right wood.
Among the woods on offer is iroko, a brown wood native to Africa’s sub-equatorial forest. But what are the advantages and disadvantages of using iroko for boat deck cladding? And what about installation and maintenance?
The advantages of iroko
Iroko is an attractive wood with a darker or lighter brown color and attractive golden highlights. Frequently described as a substitute for teak, it is much less expensive to buy.
Rot-proof, it is also resistant to light and UV rays and does not fade, but does tend to darken over time. Installation is similar to that of other types of wood cladding. Iroko can be expected to last a long time, provided the slats are of impeccable quality, carefully caulked and regularly maintained.
Disadvantages of iroko
The main drawback of iroko is that it releases a toxic dust when sanded. Depending on the age of the wood, its origin and the composition of the soil, it can contain from 1 to 6% chlorophorin, an agent that can cause skin sensitization.
Its grain is medium to coarse, with very visible and sometimes hollow traces of vessels. The wood is medium-heavy and medium-hard, with average impact resistance. Another drawback is that it is relatively sensitive to temperature variations and humidity. Compared to teak, it works harder and is also more nervous, which can lead to warping and cracking.
Installation
Iroko is easy to work with, whether by hand or machine. Like teak, it comes in prefabricated strips or panels, which are then joined together with polyurethane joints to ensure flexibility and watertightness. Once the planks have been assembled to size, all that’s left to do is glue them to the deck and carefully make the peripheral joints.
Care and maintenance
Like teak, iroko is an oily wood and tends to lose its oil and darken over time. It’s permeable by nature, so it’s important to clean it to remove stains, revive and nourish it.
To clean and revive it, we use specific products for oily exotic woods.
Once this has been done, we nourish the wood with a special oil that will impregnate its pores, applying a minimum of two coats with a brush in the direction of the wood, and allowing it to dry between coats.
