FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Seacork?
Seacork is made from true cork, the bark of the mediterranean Cork-oak tree. It is fabricated in plates and strips. It is super-light weight, buoyant. Cork closes our best Champagnes...
DOES IT CRACK?
Cork is resilient and bends to conform to any movement. It does not absorb liquids, prevents condensation, does not bloat or dry up. Therefore, it cannot crack. Choice material for steel & aluminium hulls (it can be stuck directly on the surface). Seacork behaves like a protective skin.
Can we eliminate condensation?
Marine Cork Agglomerated cork and sprayed-on cork lining stop condensation IMMEDIATELY because they create maximum insulation between a cold and a hot surface. The dew point can never be reached. These two products 'breath', even if the actual cork cells are waterproof and non-porous. Partitions and decks equipped with marine cork absorb humidity in the air inside cabins, 'drying' the environment. It gives it back naturally when the atmosphere dries out. This constitutes an automatic and natural damp control system. Interiors made of cork do not accumulate bad odours caused by dampness and fungi. This is a great benefit of cork.
DOES IT CHANGE SHAPE OR MARK?
Seacork is so flexible that impacts 'bounce off'. Its very resilience makes it highly resistant to direct hits. It can withstand very heavy loads without deformation. Big engine and turbine blocs were made of cork blocs until recently. Gaskets are still made of cork! Plus cork resists very high temperature (space shuttle noses and Arianne 5 walls are made of cork for this reason)
DOES IT BURN UNDERFOOT IN THE SUN?
On the contrary, Seacork always keeps a pleasant temperature, in a heatwave or the cold of winter. Sunbathe without a towel and enter the shower in winter in the warm...
IS IT EASY TO KEEP CLEAN?
SeacoRk does not absorb fish blood, diesel, tar, oil, wine, coffee or sunscreen: it is in fact waterproof. Clean with sea water with a sponge a little dishwashing liquid. Consequently, it cannot freeze, thus there is no need to winter your boat!
HOW TO KEEP SEACORK CLEAN? (NO Kärcher - high pressure jets!!)
Simple brushing and rincing with seawater is generally sufficient.
For greasy stains ans pollution stains:
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Mix your usual detergent (no acid or agressive detergents!) in your bucket respecting the mix stipulated on the bottle.
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Apply on the DRY cork surface (do not wet the cork beforehand, you will only dilute the mix!)
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Scrub the surface vigorously but not too hard to damage it, with a classic hard bristle type scrubbing brush. Wait 10 minutes.
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Re-scrub again in he same way.
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Rince with seawater (or normal water if you don't have seawater!)
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Repeat from time to time...
DOES IT GO BLEACH WITH TIME?
Cork, like every organic material, oxidises at the contacts of UV light. A super thin layer of 300 µ (300 microns or 1/3mm) forms with time. This surface lightens up the natural colour of cork and protects cork underneath from further oxidisation. We always recommend keeping this precious layer as you can see on BLJ. It ensures surface protection and furthers anti-skid properties. However, it can be sanded with grit 60 or 80, by hand, to recover the original tint underneath (not more than 1/3mm!).
ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY?
Cork-oaks are not felled to produce cork bark. The bark is harnessed every 9 years. This action stimulates its growth. Cork-oaks can live and produce for over 150 years! The Cork-oak forests we use for our cork are managed by the FSC. They harbour diversified and dynamic eco-systems and habitats, and contribute to the sustained development of rural communities. They are exploited in harmony beween nature and man.
ECO-FRIENDLY?
Cork is 100% renewable, biodegradable and recyclable. It captures twice to 5 times the CO² of wood! You can fight global warming directly with your deck.
Cork production takes into account:
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sustainable development imperatives
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fairtrade practices, underpinned by the conservation of a complex material culture sustaining a substantial number of rural western Mediterranean and western Maghreb territories and maintenance of local handicraft and artisanry.
COMPETITIVE PRICES
SEACORK is well positioned in terms of tariff.
It is half the price of real teak of similar quality, installed on-deck (8mm for example) without its burdens: overheating, expensive maintenance, wintering in cold climates, heavyweight, rarity, random qualities, time-consuming fit). Real Burmese teak will be instinct by 2018 although some 'hidden' stocks remain which will increase prices.
It is 30 to 40% cheaper than the plastic alternatives installed ondeck (synthetic teak made of PVC, polyester resin or polyurethane plastics)*
Tariffs Tarifs in euro, ex-France, fitted.
True Burmese teak has practically disappeared. Its exploitation is not ecologically viable or politically or ethically correct. Teak wood overheats readily in the hot sun, absorbs liquids & dirt and requires heavy annual maintenance.
Real teak and synthetic teak are very heavy in weight and burden the yacht's environmental and carbon footprint.
WHICH CORK, FOR WHICH USE?
Three kinds of cork exist on the planet: two in China and one in the western Mediterranean and Maghreb. Only the latter is usable in oceanic conditions. Seacork is made from world renown Portuguese cork. It is agglomerated and manufactured with the highest quality standards, in France.
Two types of cork are not used for marine purposes:
- agglomerated cork as a building material, used for indoor sandwich partitioning and under flooring. It absorbs floor movements in wood flooring very well and insulates concrete floors. But they are poorly compressed and remain fragile and brittle: cannot resist the sea.
- expanded cork, excellent for housing insulation but lacks resistance: it is not agglomerated, not compressed, not flexible, not dense and not waterproof. Cannot be used in marine applications.
The 2 Chinese cork species are used for cork paper, cork textile, notice boards, for building material, gadgets...some flooring and... decoration. These qualities do not meet the demands of the marine environment.
IN CONCLUSION
CONVINCING ARGUMENTS
Good marine wood is expensive to purchase, to install and to maintain. It absorbs humidity, liquids and stains. It tends to crack, to 'move', it can freeze. It invariably deteriorates after a few years and needs annual maintenance to keep its shape.
Burmese teak (the best teak for marine use) does not exist any more: its forests have been but decimated by overexploitation. They have practically disappeared. Exploitation is under-regulated severely worldwide but stocks are found here and there. Illegal trees are being cut and sold by certain totalitarian and corrupt states via third-party countries such as Indonesia and shipped to the west.
The creation of teak forestries in South American states has a mitigating effect. They ease the overexploitation in Burma but the Burmese teak transplanted to South America or Africa grows far too quickly. It is too tall too young and is felled at 25 years to 35 years without gaining its full hardness and its natural anti-rotting oil. Its use in contemporary marine decking produces non-durable decking (5 to 7-year maximum longevity). This hardwood does not meet the harsh requirements of the marine environment.
Artificial or synthetic ' teak', like all PVC and polyester plastics accumulates heat or cold to the extreme. In science, you call this inertia. This plastic keeps heat or cold for a long time and its insulation value is nil. This means outside surfaces and indoor spaces are unbearable in intense temperatures. Polyesters, PVCs and polyurethanes are not environmentally friendly, especially in marine and nautical activities where they degrade rapidly. The petrochemical industries producings these plastics are great polluters of our streams and oceans. This is a known fact.
Facing these challenges, cork is an excellent solution.
HOW SEACORK SAVES YOU MONEY
Cork is a luxury product. But is economical, compared to its competition.
Firstly, Seacork is light weight (3kgs/m² against 9kgs for teak and 6kgs for synthetic teak).
This makes it attractive to yacht designers and sailing/racing yachtsmen, including small vessels and multihulls of all sizes.
During transport and on deck, this translates to a substantial saving.
Secondly, the optimum implementation of cork decking does not necessarily entail the removal of the old teak deck, as the replacement by a new teak or plastic deck requires.
This is a substantial saving.
Thirdly, during installation, the deck rig and equipment (such as winches, pullies, etc.) do not necessarily have to be removed either. This is an extra saving and ensures the continued stability of the existing rig.