Trex for Coamings?

[Commander 274]

Hello,

I have recently purchased commander hull #274 from fellow forum member Stephan. While the boat is in solid shape all around, there are some cosmetic repairs that I would like to perform. Has anybody ever used or considered the use of Trex as a replacement for the coamings? Although it isn't quite as beautiful as a nicely finished piece of mahogany, I feel like its resistance to moisture, rot and splintering make it a possible candidate as a replacement.

For those of you who don't know what it is....

http://www.trex.com/whytrex/WhatIsTrex.aspx

Thanks,
Michael

[Tony G]

There are a couple of boats out there with their decks sheathed in Trex or a similar product. I've never seen nor heard of it being used for coamings. It sure would be nice to have a bunch of maintainence free brightwork wouldn't it?

If I recall correctly, Dr. Mark Parker put synthetic wood decks on his Triton All Ways. Take a spin over to the Triton MIR website and look under the gallery or in the maintainence page, I can't remember.

[mbd]

Here you go.

Are your coamings shot, or just in need of a bunch of work?

IMHO, I think it works in that application because there is plenty of real wood and other eye candy to ogle.

PS. I just love love LOVE those bulwarks with the inset chocks. How sweet is that?!?

[Commander 274]

thanks for your response. the pictures look great.

The coamings have seen better days. They are cracked and splintered, and reinforced with metal plates.

the original wood is mahogany, correct? is it easy to come by?

[bill@ariel231]

mahogany is easy to get (and not as expensive as teak). The coamings can also be repaired with a couple dutchman if you don't mind a couple patches... here's an example:

http://www.pearsonariel.org/discussion/showthread.php?t=1230&page=3&highlight=a-231

cheers,
bill@ariel231

[mbd]

I was going to point you to Bill's thread among others. Do a search for "coamings" and you'll see plenty of pics that should convince you that wood is the way to go. ;)

Of course TonyG's coamings are going to look pretty nice to, but I'm certain he'll cap it with a nice varnished wood. It's been said before, and I happen to agree, the brightwork is one thing that really makes these, or any boat for that matter, stand out.

[ebb]

Hello Michael,
Trex is a recycled polymer wood pulp mix. That makes it green and commendable.
It's more bendy and heavier than a like piece of mahogany.
Wood has fiber strength while Trex is a wax that requires support for non-sag. My guess is that you'll have a couple winch bases to support the coaming sides.
It fades over time rather than gray out.


I haven't looked at all the products. But it looks like you'll be choosing a tropical pattern from the 'Brazillia' group because a 3/4X11.5 plank is available.

You can't glue the stuff - altho on the internet it's possible to find a few polyethylene gluers available. Recycled pop bottle is mostly PET. I found an expensive two-part one under the Scotch brand, 3M. Don't think it's UV protected.

That means you probably can't cut posts (or winch bases) from glue ups, tho it is worth a try, and we all would like to see the result.
The problem is that you can't sand it without changing its appearance.
And a cut end will look like soap.

What is the length of coaming? The two available dark planks have what look like darker grain streaks printed on them. I'd ask what the pattern repeat is or inspect the material first hand. And try to imagine what it looks like faded with the streaks probably more prominent. I'm assuming that the base is the dark color that will fade but that the tropical wood streaks are added to the surface. Don't know.

I'd ask if a sealer was available so that the material might be clear coated. Not only the color but it is the gloss that makes mahogany coamings boss. Maybe there's a drying oil?
I know, I know, varnishing defeats the purpose of using imitation wood - BUT that Trex won't shine by itself!


Altho I haven't used it I believe that a product called Plas-Teak is probably better suited to the job because it has been around awhile and used on boats for replacing old teak. Therefor it's not a cross-over home product, but specifically marine. Coaming sized planks may be available. Some 'end grain' pieces I've seen could almost pass for the real thing. And since putting down a teak deck on a boat is exacting and requires a lot of cutting and refinishing, I would guess the product can be routed and sanded and so forth. Don't think you can get it at Home Despot like T rex.