Cork is currently the covering with the lowest environmental impact. It is completely natural and, unlike synthetic teak and natural teak, does not involve cutting down trees, but only “peeling” them. Cork oaks, a special type of oak that grows in the Mediterranean basin and North-West Africa, grow bark that is harvested approximately once every 10 years.
Cork could therefore well become the new standard on the decks of our multihulls. This is certainly the aim of various suppliers, including Agglolux-CBL, a company founded in 1929 that operates in France and Europe. It offers tailor-made solutions for the maritime sector. Its products, some of which are made from recycled corks, are used on boats because they offer a multitude of advantages, including strength, lightness, and comfort. Agglolux-CBL manufactures composite cork in panels and rolls, as well as other products such as expanded insulation cork, bulk panels, and decorative cork for walls and floors.
The advantages of cork
- Durability and mechanical properties when agglomerated as a composite product.
- Impact resistant.
- Moisture and fire resistant. Cork can therefore be used in any climate or environment.
- No treatment required as it is resistant to UV rays, salt, hydrocarbons and ethyl alcohol.
- Waterproof and non-slip: resistant to sunscreen, oil, coffee, and red wine.
- Lightweight: 2.7 kg/m² (0.55 lb/sq ft) compared to 4.5 kg/m² (0.9 lb/sq ft) for good synthetic teak and even 9 kg/m² (1.8 lb/sq ft) for natural teak 2 cm (¾”) thick.
- Thermal insulation: it also helps maintain a constant temperature inside the boat, which means less heating in winter and less air conditioning in summer.
- Acoustic insulation: it absorbs sound reverberation and vibrations.
