About | U-DEK USA, Asia, Europe

About

U-DEK^® was developed by foam manufacturer Ultralon^® Foam International and has become popular with the discerning and established marine community in New Zealand, Australia, USA, APAC and Europe

MARINE DECKING

U-DEK®

U-DEK® by Ultralon® Foam International

U-DEK® Marine Decking was developed by foam manufacturer Ultralon® Foam International whose parent company is Skellerup. U-DEK® has become popular with the discerning and established marine community in New Zealand, Australia, USA, APAC and Europe.

In New Zealand and Australia U-DEK® is available in kit form via a U-DEK® authorised installer or from OEM boat manufacturers across the country. In the USA, APAC and Europe U-DEK® marine decking foam sheets are supplied to converters and manufacturers in the marine industry.

About U-DEK® Marine Decking

U-DEK® marine decking is a great looking and high performing option for all types of marine craft, from sailing yachts, motor yachts, trailer boats, to RIBS and personal watercraft.

It is made from lightweight closed cell foam, offering a high level of comfort underfoot and excellent traction in all conditions. Durable, low maintenance, U-DEK® has been designed specifically for deck kits and is supplied in various colours and tread options to suit individual styles.

As a leading global manufacturer of PE and EVA foam, Ultralon® Foam International designs and produces U-DEK® using our own dedicated plant and IP. Tightly controlled manufacturing processes, careful selection of raw materials, high-level technical expertise and the latest technology and equipment, enable us to offer customers quality, reliability and consistency of product.

Our closed-cell chemically cross-linked foams are manufactured from polyethylene (PE), ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers (EVA) or a high-tech blended copolymer. The fine cell structure gives minimal water absorption, a high buoyancy rating and excellent chemical resistance.

Ultralon® foams are produced in moulded block form and can be trimmed to size and thickness. They are easily processed, using standard foam-processing machinery. No chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) product or derivatives are used, and no organic fillers are added to foams.

If you have any questions about U-DEK® Marine Decking, check out our Commonly Asked Questions or contact us.

What is U-DEK® made of?

U-DEK® is made of closed-cell chemically cross-linked foams, which are manufactured from polyethylene (PE), ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers (EVA) or a high-tech blended copolymer. The fine cell structure gives minimal water absorption, a high buoyancy rating and excellent chemical resistance. Download the datasheet here.

Why would I need U-DEK® marine decking?

U-DEK® is a great alternative to carpet, moulded non-skid or teak flooring on all types of marine craft. Made from lightweight closed-cell foam, U-DEK® offers a high level of comfort underfoot, excellent traction in all conditions, whilst being durable, low maintenance and easy to clean.

Can I add my logo to my deck?

Yes! Your preferred pattern, design or logo can be custom routered into the deck for you. Check out our gallery of options here.

How should I look after my U-DEK®?

We recommend cleaning immediately when soiled to reduce possible staining, as some materials can stain the decking if not promptly removed, including: mustard, fish hooks left to rust, fish blood, bird droppings.

Have a bottle of U-DEK® Cleaner on hand to use when needed. For more details on how to clean U-DEK®, check our Warranty & Care document.

Reducing longer term exposure to the elements when not in use, such as storing your boat in a garage or under a cover, will help extend the life of your decking and reduce colour fade.

Inflatable pool toys or water bottles stored long-term on U-DEK®, or placing decking near reflective surfaces or beneath glass can be destructive to the decking, as these objects can refract/reflect light.

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How long does U-DEK® last?

If it is well looked after, U-DEK® can last for 8+ years.

What’s involved in designing and installing a U-DEK® deck kit?

We use the latest technology and software to expertly design your kit to ensure it’s perfect down to the very last detail. Our licensed installers will facilitate installation quickly and professionally, and it will certainly help move things along if you’ve got a clear idea of what you want.

Check out the process.

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What benefits does U-DEK® offer over alternatives?

U-DEK® offers a range of benefits over surfaces such as teak, carpet and other hard surfaces.

U-DEK® helps to drastically reduce noise reflected from outboards and inboards and adds a customised design that alternatives like teak and tube mats can’t compare to. It adds style, and therefore value, to your boat.

U-DEK® also revamps an otherwise tired or aged looking vessel – a makeover with U-DEK® Marine Decking can make your boat look 10 years younger!

U-DEK® offers safety against slipping and stops chilly bins going rogue when the water gets rough. It is comfortable underfoot and takes the chill off a hard floor – much better for a long day on the water fishing.

It also reduces glare to almost nothing in a fibreglass boat.

What’s the warranty on a U-DEK® custom deck?

In the case of a U-DEK® customised kit, the installer will provide a warranty.

The warranty for the U-DEK® Marine Decking foam product (prior to fabrication) is here.

Can I lay U-DEK® over tread plate /checker plate?

No. The surface of tread plate or checker plate is too uneven for uniform cohesion of the 3M adhesive on the back of the U-DEK® foam. We don’t recommend putting U-DEK® over tread plate/ checker plate, as air and debris can be caught in the little bumps, against the 3M adhesive that we use.

Colour Considerations

Matakana River Tours

We set the U-DEK® team a challenge to come up with a deck solution that not only performed well and was extremely durable, but was also comfortable and provided a more aesthetic look than the standard industrial or workboat decks.

The U-DEK® team designed a custom foam deck kit for the Kotiti and incorporated the company logo into the deck. 3M™ acrylic based high-bond pressure sensitive adhesive backing allowed us to quickly and easily lay the decking ourselves.

The crisp CNC cut bevelled edges provided a high quality finish and also ensured the PE foam deck stay perfectly bonded in use.

The Kotiti’s U-DEK® flooring has performed really well through 4 years of intensive use and heavy foot traffic. Its thickness makes it very comfortable underfoot and it has been incredibly low maintenance - a good scrub once a year is all that is required to keep the Kotiti looking as fresh as the day she was launched.

Phil Morris, Owner / Matakana River Tours

Horizon III

During the restoration and deck modifications of the 65’ Alan Warwick designed motoryacht Horizon III, an Auckland based vessel operating pleasure trips and blue water fishing in and around the waters of the Huaraki Gulf, we began to look for a new non slip deck solution that was more comfortable (softer and cooler to walk on in bare feet in full sun)
than the previous teak decking we’d used.

New Zealand foam manufacturer Ultralon® was able to offer their U-DEK® double laminate PE foam decking which not only gave us the comfort levels we were looking for, but also provided a customized finish and a significant cost benefit over teak decking.

Ultralon® put together a great looking Winter grey over black deck panels and were able to personalize the deck with the boat’s name and branding at no extra cost.

Being locally based simplified the whole process of measuring up and installation,
making U-DEK® the perfect option.

The Horizon III crew and passengers have found the U-DEK® PE decking to be totally slip resistant and a major improvement versus the old deck in tough sea conditions. Easy to clean with normal washing and incredibly durable, the U-DEK® solution has performed so well that we have decided to apply it to other areas of the vessel.

Traditional hard non-skid finishes on boarding platforms can be very slippery when wet and can easily be damaged by dropped knives and other fishing equipment. By switching to the softer U-DEK® on the boarding platform, we have made this area totally safe for stepping aboard as well as providing a comfortable and secure surface for fishing and filleting the catch.

John Cook / Owner Horizon III

Sea Legs

We have been working with Ultralon® for many years now, their products, attention to detail, and support are market leading. It’s great to partner with a like-minded company who is always pushing forwards.

U-Dek® is a fantastic product. Our customers love it and its becoming more popular all the time. With the wide range of colours, customisable patterns and shapes, and fast turnaround, it’s a great addition to our luxury craft.

Damon Jolliffe / Sea Legs

Stabicraft

Stabicraft Marine has been using U-DEK® marine decking for over 20 years. We manufacture a premium product for people who expect quality and we only use companies that can meet the same quality standards – Ultralon®’s products complement the Stabicraft brand to meet whatever punishment customers throw at our boats. Ultralon® are a great team to work with whether designing a new product or manufacturing a high volume of product to meet the changing needs of our customers and remain at the forefront of technology.

Daniel Upperton / Stabicraft

Smuggler Marine

We have been using Ultralon®s U-DEK® marine decking in our boats for a number of years. Our customers love the soft feel, non-skid properties and extensive range of colours. Ultralon® are easy to deal with, with a quick turn around on production, helping our manufacturing process run smoothly. U-DEK® gives our boats a professional finish.

Spokesperson / Smuggler Marine

Marco Boats

We have been using the U-DEK® product from Ultralon® for about 3 years now, we were a bit skeptical as to how well the foam would last at first so we used a piece as a floor mat into one of the boats on the workshop floor for a week.

By the end of the week it was black and had bits of alloy swarf all over it.

I scrubbed it with a clean rag and soapy water and it came back to new, so much so we could still use it in a storage compartment in a boat.

We have been using U-DEK® ever since.

Dayne Horne / Marco Boats

Marine Decking

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