Our elderly yacht was originally built with teak decks which looked the part but were well past their sell by date. The planks were lifting in places allowing water to seep beneath and they were always prone to green algae which was difficult to clean off without using strong chemicals which threatened the marine environment. We looked at the present day alternatives: inferior farmed teak, plastic lookalikes, and were not impressed, then we were advised to consider Eco Marine Decking. At first we were sceptical about refitting our decks with such a different material, but we were shown other yachts where this had been used and were impressed by the natural looking appearance and feel underfoot of the cork, so we went ahead. The installation of the decks was tailor-made to get the close fit and planked appearance of the old decking and we were very happy with our new streamlined look. The finished result is very much in keeping with our yacht’s classic lines and is easy to walk on as it isn’t slippery. It also has the insulating properties of the cork from which it is made, so we hope for a cosy cabin in winter and cool decking to walk on in the summer. An added bonus is that it is easy to clean, and if it gets stained can be lightly sanded. The clincher for us was its environmental credentials, it is made from a sustainable resource, which is the ideal solution for us all.