|
Facts About Burma (Myanmar) Teak |
Teak is the world's most valuable and
versatile hardwood. The rare beauty of teak, its rich
golden brown luster, decorative grain and unique
properties of strength and resistance to wear have made
it the best wood for marine use.
Teak has been prized by the shipbuilding industry for centuries. Teak has been used on aircraft carriers,
tall-mast graceful clipper ships, cruise ships, refined
yachts, dinghies as well as rugged workboats.
Exterior teak decks are valued because teak is the only wood that withstands the harsh effects of sea
water and broiling sun and does not split, crack or warp.
The decks of the Titanic were covered with teak and the wood is as good today as the fateful night in
1912, when she sank. Sunken logs recovered from the Rangoon River in Burma, under water for more
than 150 years, were as durable as the day the tree was felled.
Teak is ideal In boat interiors where there is high humidity, for doors, hatches and cabinetry because
it does not warp, twist or expand which could make opening doors and drawers impossible. Unlike
most woods, teak does not crack when in contact with water because of natural oils and remains
stable even under months in the hot sun or submersed in ocean waters.
Teak develops a unique non-skid property underfoot, even when wet due to a high silica (sand) content giving traction when walking on a wet teak deck. Teak needs no paint or varnish and over time will develop a silver gray patina. Snow storms, monsoon rains, tropical heat and even scorching desert conditions do not diminish the strength of teak. Teak has natural resins called techno quinines that repel termites, marine borers and resist rot.
Teak is a precious resource and only four countries in the world have natural teak forests; Burma, Thailand,
Laos and India. Thailand once had 35 million acres of natural teak forests but has now been reduced to a
few thousand acres. Felling of teak trees in Thailand has been banned since 1982 and forests are tightly
controlled. Teak is
probably the best-protected commercial species in the
world. Elephants are still being
used extensively to extract teak because of their low impact upon the environment. Burma (renamed
Myanmar) now exports 80% of the world's natural teak supply.
Teak is not a tropical rainforest species and grows sparsely in mixed deciduous forests. In its natural
environment there are only 1 to 5 trees per acre in the best growing
areas. Burma established plantations in 1856 with some very farsighted foresters who saw the need to treasure trees for future generations. Teak seeds from Burma have been used to start plantations in Africa and Central America.
Teak from other regions of the world cannot match true Burma Teak. Varying climatic conditions,
topography, soil type, drainage, elevation, rainfall, length of dry season and professional management
result in vast differences in
quality, hardness, texture and coloration. While
plantation wood is suitable for parquet flooring, garden furniture and other small moldings, it is generally not suitable for marine use.
Due to the
high price many yacht builders have tried to replace
teak with ipe, oak, ash, maple, mahogany
or cherry. Others
have tried to promote substitutes species such as
Iroko or
Afromosia as "African Teak". These woods may be suitable for various applications but only Burma Teak is indispensable on a boat.
Burma Teak is
truly a gift of nature for the marine industry. |
|