SHUFFLING THE TEAK DECK
Few things feel finer under bare feet than a sun-soaked teak deck. Yet after years of overharvesting, Burmese teak is in short supply. Lignia Wood Company, a supplier of sustainable modified timber, based in South Wales in the United Kingdom, has created an alternative to teak using fast-growing softwoods sourced from sustainably managed and Forest Stewardship Council-certified plantations in New Zealand and Chile. The softwoods are processed with Lignia’s “ligniafication” treatment, resulting in a manufactured wood that is harder, lighter and more durable than teak. The Lignia Yacht wood product comes with a 50-year warranty against rot and decay. Lignia Yacht wood is currently being used by high-end builders, including Spirit Yachts, to produce beautiful, teaklike decks. It’s also available to boat owners who are interested in DIY refit projects.
Lignia Yacht wood is produced at the company’s 50,000-square-foot manufacturing plant. High-quality, quarter-sawn radiata pinewood is impregnated with a proprietary resin. The resin permeates to the wood’s core; the wood is then kiln-dried and -cured. Although the process uses formaldehyde, once cured, the formaldehyde is locked in and doesn’t leach. Tests from independent laboratories—including HPVA Laboratories in the Us—have determined that Lignia’s formaldehyde-emission levels are effectively below quantifiable levels.
Lignia Yacht wood’s durability, density and golden-brown color stem from the modification process, says Lisa Ayala, Lignia’s North American sales manager. The final wood product is supplied rough-sawn to distributors around the world, including yacht manufacturers and yacht-deck manufacturers.
Lignia cultivated its pine-tree sources in the Southern Hemisphere and has formed long-term relationships with producers. Although there’s a lot of radiata pine in the world, Ayala says that Lignia is careful and choosy when it comes to deck material.
“The quarter-sawn wood needs to be graded and to have minimal visual defects,” Ayala explains. “What is shipped to us is of the highest quality wood and potentially the longest lengths with minimal visual defects.”
Lignia’s testing has shown its wood to be as strong as teak. The product’s strength allows builders and Diyers to use thin decking strips, yielding lighter-weight decks. The reduction in weight translates to better fuel economy and sailing performance.
Similar to teak, Lignia Yacht wood will turn gray over time and with UV exposure. Lignia’s in-house comparison testing suggests that the graying process typically unfurls at a slower clip than it does with teak. Builders and Diyers can mill Lignia Yacht wood as they would any other hardwood, and it is compatible with marine-grade coatings, paints and varnish. As for maintenance and cleaning, Ayala recommends that cruisers use eco-friendly, acid-free cleaners and never use chlorine-bleachbased products. Lignia Wood Company’s North American dealer is East Teak Fine Hardwoods, and orders for their products can be purchased through their website (eastteak.com).