- Feb 5, 2009
- 827
- Boat Info
- 560DB
2 x Raymarine e125's
Walker Bay Generations 360 Centre Console w. Yahama 60HP
2 Seadoos
- Engines
- CAT 3406e (C15's) @ 800HP
I had NuTeak installed on the JJV before launch in the Spring and this post is intended to provide my observations after a season of use and abuse. There have been a number of posts showing installations on various boats and through these threads there have been a number of questions that have arisen - some of which I'll attempt to address here.
First off, here are a few pictures on the installed product on my boat:
So far, I've had the stuff (NuTeak) installed on my swimplatform, stairs to the bridge and steps dropping down into my cockpit.
One of the choices that I made was to not put the material over the drain inserts on the swimplatform. I wanted to see what it looked like leaving these white and I'm happy that the result fits. I simply added spacers below the inserts to bring them up to the same level as the installed material. Why - because I wanted to leave a couple of white spots to stand on if the stuff gets hot in the summer, which leads me to:
Question #1 - Does this stuff get hot?
Yup - but not inordinately in my opinion.
Any material coloured other than white, will get hotter than white fiberglass. It is what it is. I'm not sure how that might play out in FLA, however it's manageable here. And while some of you may have pictures of the cold white north (which would be appropriate on this cold January Saturday morning), I want to clarify that it does get very hot up here in the summer.
If the platform gets too hot, it quickly cools off with a dousing of water. I would also imagine that it gets no hotter than similarly coloured real Teak.
I have had a ton of folks walk up to the boat and to compliment the look and to talk about the installation. I am very happy with the look and think it adds a nice finish.
The grip is phenomenal and better on these stairs to the bridge than the way they were before. There was also an unanticipated benefit in providing a little cushion to the fiberglass. My knees aren't the best (nothing too severe, just creaking with age catching up:smt100). I have found a noticeable difference to impact on the knees with the little bit of give afforded by the PVC.
Also, I mentioned that I think the NuTeak option provides a few more "on-the-fly" customization options to the installer, than the Flexiteek which has to be pre-thought and properly communicated to the factory. Please feel free to correct this if you have a different perspective, I'm not invested in NuTeak. The example I'd use is with the Bullnose finish on the stairs to the bridge. The installer was trying to determine a good finish that wouldn't leave a visible edge to the product that need to be covered in caulk. He came up with and manufactured the bullnose as a solution, which I think was creative and a good looking solution.
I also want to clearly state that I am not in anyway associated with either NuTeak or Flexiteek, other than having chucked our megabucks to have the former installed, which leads me to:
Question #2 - How much does this stuff cost?
I am sure my boating brethern to the south get a better deal than us poor sods in Canada, however in Ontario, the NuTeak product will cost $55/sq.ft. installed. If you want to install it yourself, hav' at 'er, but having seen the installation, I would not - even though I think I'm reasonably handy. The preformed custom mats will run you $45/sq.ft. plus adhesives, while the raw materials (PVC strips) will cost between $25 and $30 sq. ft. I think the Flexiteek was a similar cost.
Question #3 - What the heck is the difference between Flexiteek and NuTeak?
Well that one took a fair bit of digging to get a straight answer. Bottom line is that both materials are essentially the same extruded PVC product and come from the same manufacturer - Flexiteek of the Netherlands. I think there was a settlement of a lawsuit involved, however I ran out of patience before I got the straight answer on that one. Flexiteek comes as a preformed mat straight from the factory, while NuTeak comes to the installer in strips and he or she has to glue the stuff together into the custom fitted mat. As a consequence, Flexiteek should have the higher probability of cleaner seams, while I don't think it would be much of an issue if you're using an experienced installer. On the flipside, the NuTeak will have additional, on the spot, customization that can be completed by the installer (e.g., aforementioned bull nosing that was added to my install).
Here's a picture of samples of both products side-by-each:
The lighter colour stuff on the left is the NuTeak and other is Flexiteek. the I have these products at home and took the photo myself. The feel of both products is essentially the same and both have a very realistic wood grain look to them. On my installation, I actually had a brief argument with a friend of mine, who wouldn't believe that the stuff on my swim platform wasn't wood.
Here's another shot of the bottom of the same two samples:
The oval is the NuTeak and the rectangle is the Flexiteek. Both materials are about 1/4" thick.
As I mentioned earlier, I had a heck of a time trying to get a straight story on the comparison of these two products. As you might expect, the representatives would have a different version of the story to better represent their particular brand. That is not an accusatory statement - just good salesmanship.
Here's a somewhat confusing response I got straight from the horses mouth - i.e., the factory in the Netherlands:
Message starts saying the products are not the same, but then the content fails to point out any difference other than in the marketing. Take my word for it, functionally the products are the same.
Question # 4 - I've got dogs - will they be able to scratch the material?
Yup - but I think it's manageable. I have two dogs (a Lab and a Cocker Spaniel). As a consequence, I decided to not do the floor of the cockpit since that it their living area. I was concerned that they would scratch the heck out of the stuff. Scratch have appeared on the steps from the gunwale down into the cockpit, but they seem to disappear. I think that if they had to move around on the stuff all the time, that the material would get pretty scratched up, but I couldn't say that for sure. I have now given the installer the go ahead to complete the cockpit floor this winter, but will get an outdoor rug to put down when the dogs are there with us.
Question #5 - Can wine stain the product?
Yup - but I think only if you don't get to it quickly. I had a few sloppy red wine drinkers on the boat this summer (you know who you are :grin
and I didn't have any issues with permanent stains.
Both products represent themselves as stain free, and I took this as a challenge to test. The following is a series of shots of a sample of the NuTeak product which I subject to my little test. I poured a decent sized puddle of red wine on the stuff and left it to sit for two days before doing anything about it.
Then I went through a series of steps to take out. First, I just wiped with a paper towel, which clearly left the stain:
Then I tried cleaning with just water (again which didn't get the stain out):
Then with dish detergent:
Better, but stain is still there.
What I was not able to do, was use boat cleaning supplies which may have worked better. But as my test was a consequence of winter boredom last year and my supplies were all on the boat, I could not try that....
So I took sandpaper to the stuff. The manufacturer represents that you can sand out blemishes. I found though, that by the time I had taken out the stain, I had also taken off the grain! :wow:
All that to say, this was an extreme test and I have not had issues in real use.
Question #6 - How easy is the stuff to maintain and clean?
I'd say, as easy at the fiberglass that was there before it. I simply use the same cleaner that I use on the rest of the boat, scrub with the same shurhold brush and hose it down. I cleans pretty easy. In contrast, I watch my dock neighbour and friend as he scrubs his real teak paltform on hands and knees for hours, to get it looking good for one day before it goes grey again. I like to rub it in - often when I drop the hydraulic swimplatform into the water when he's around I simply look up at him and say "I'm cleaning the teak".
All in all, I'm very happy with the installation - so much so that I'm having more added over the winter to complete the cockpit floor.
Hope this was helpful to someone!
Paul
First off, here are a few pictures on the installed product on my boat:
So far, I've had the stuff (NuTeak) installed on my swimplatform, stairs to the bridge and steps dropping down into my cockpit.
One of the choices that I made was to not put the material over the drain inserts on the swimplatform. I wanted to see what it looked like leaving these white and I'm happy that the result fits. I simply added spacers below the inserts to bring them up to the same level as the installed material. Why - because I wanted to leave a couple of white spots to stand on if the stuff gets hot in the summer, which leads me to:
Question #1 - Does this stuff get hot?
Yup - but not inordinately in my opinion.
Any material coloured other than white, will get hotter than white fiberglass. It is what it is. I'm not sure how that might play out in FLA, however it's manageable here. And while some of you may have pictures of the cold white north (which would be appropriate on this cold January Saturday morning), I want to clarify that it does get very hot up here in the summer.
If the platform gets too hot, it quickly cools off with a dousing of water. I would also imagine that it gets no hotter than similarly coloured real Teak.
I have had a ton of folks walk up to the boat and to compliment the look and to talk about the installation. I am very happy with the look and think it adds a nice finish.
The grip is phenomenal and better on these stairs to the bridge than the way they were before. There was also an unanticipated benefit in providing a little cushion to the fiberglass. My knees aren't the best (nothing too severe, just creaking with age catching up:smt100). I have found a noticeable difference to impact on the knees with the little bit of give afforded by the PVC.
Also, I mentioned that I think the NuTeak option provides a few more "on-the-fly" customization options to the installer, than the Flexiteek which has to be pre-thought and properly communicated to the factory. Please feel free to correct this if you have a different perspective, I'm not invested in NuTeak. The example I'd use is with the Bullnose finish on the stairs to the bridge. The installer was trying to determine a good finish that wouldn't leave a visible edge to the product that need to be covered in caulk. He came up with and manufactured the bullnose as a solution, which I think was creative and a good looking solution.
I also want to clearly state that I am not in anyway associated with either NuTeak or Flexiteek, other than having chucked our megabucks to have the former installed, which leads me to:
Question #2 - How much does this stuff cost?
I am sure my boating brethern to the south get a better deal than us poor sods in Canada, however in Ontario, the NuTeak product will cost $55/sq.ft. installed. If you want to install it yourself, hav' at 'er, but having seen the installation, I would not - even though I think I'm reasonably handy. The preformed custom mats will run you $45/sq.ft. plus adhesives, while the raw materials (PVC strips) will cost between $25 and $30 sq. ft. I think the Flexiteek was a similar cost.
Question #3 - What the heck is the difference between Flexiteek and NuTeak?
Well that one took a fair bit of digging to get a straight answer. Bottom line is that both materials are essentially the same extruded PVC product and come from the same manufacturer - Flexiteek of the Netherlands. I think there was a settlement of a lawsuit involved, however I ran out of patience before I got the straight answer on that one. Flexiteek comes as a preformed mat straight from the factory, while NuTeak comes to the installer in strips and he or she has to glue the stuff together into the custom fitted mat. As a consequence, Flexiteek should have the higher probability of cleaner seams, while I don't think it would be much of an issue if you're using an experienced installer. On the flipside, the NuTeak will have additional, on the spot, customization that can be completed by the installer (e.g., aforementioned bull nosing that was added to my install).
Here's a picture of samples of both products side-by-each:
The lighter colour stuff on the left is the NuTeak and other is Flexiteek. the I have these products at home and took the photo myself. The feel of both products is essentially the same and both have a very realistic wood grain look to them. On my installation, I actually had a brief argument with a friend of mine, who wouldn't believe that the stuff on my swim platform wasn't wood.
Here's another shot of the bottom of the same two samples:
The oval is the NuTeak and the rectangle is the Flexiteek. Both materials are about 1/4" thick.
As I mentioned earlier, I had a heck of a time trying to get a straight story on the comparison of these two products. As you might expect, the representatives would have a different version of the story to better represent their particular brand. That is not an accusatory statement - just good salesmanship.
Here's a somewhat confusing response I got straight from the horses mouth - i.e., the factory in the Netherlands:
Message starts saying the products are not the same, but then the content fails to point out any difference other than in the marketing. Take my word for it, functionally the products are the same.
Question # 4 - I've got dogs - will they be able to scratch the material?
Yup - but I think it's manageable. I have two dogs (a Lab and a Cocker Spaniel). As a consequence, I decided to not do the floor of the cockpit since that it their living area. I was concerned that they would scratch the heck out of the stuff. Scratch have appeared on the steps from the gunwale down into the cockpit, but they seem to disappear. I think that if they had to move around on the stuff all the time, that the material would get pretty scratched up, but I couldn't say that for sure. I have now given the installer the go ahead to complete the cockpit floor this winter, but will get an outdoor rug to put down when the dogs are there with us.
Question #5 - Can wine stain the product?
Yup - but I think only if you don't get to it quickly. I had a few sloppy red wine drinkers on the boat this summer (you know who you are :grin
and I didn't have any issues with permanent stains.Both products represent themselves as stain free, and I took this as a challenge to test. The following is a series of shots of a sample of the NuTeak product which I subject to my little test. I poured a decent sized puddle of red wine on the stuff and left it to sit for two days before doing anything about it.
Then I went through a series of steps to take out. First, I just wiped with a paper towel, which clearly left the stain:
Then I tried cleaning with just water (again which didn't get the stain out):
Then with dish detergent:
Better, but stain is still there.
What I was not able to do, was use boat cleaning supplies which may have worked better. But as my test was a consequence of winter boredom last year and my supplies were all on the boat, I could not try that....
So I took sandpaper to the stuff. The manufacturer represents that you can sand out blemishes. I found though, that by the time I had taken out the stain, I had also taken off the grain! :wow:
All that to say, this was an extreme test and I have not had issues in real use.
Question #6 - How easy is the stuff to maintain and clean?
I'd say, as easy at the fiberglass that was there before it. I simply use the same cleaner that I use on the rest of the boat, scrub with the same shurhold brush and hose it down. I cleans pretty easy. In contrast, I watch my dock neighbour and friend as he scrubs his real teak paltform on hands and knees for hours, to get it looking good for one day before it goes grey again. I like to rub it in - often when I drop the hydraulic swimplatform into the water when he's around I simply look up at him and say "I'm cleaning the teak".
All in all, I'm very happy with the installation - so much so that I'm having more added over the winter to complete the cockpit floor.
Hope this was helpful to someone!
Paul
Last edited:
