The 68' Wandering Star was built in 1971 to a Defever design from steel in Kurihama, Japan. We've owned and cruised it since then. It has teak decks in a natural state. They have never been sanded or treated. 34 years later they look a little worn but they have never caused any problems. I can't remember any problems from heat, mainly because the side decks and stern decks were shaded from the high bulwarks and the overhead. You could put on shoes or some variant. Then there's the question: "Do the ants bother you much?" Answer, " No, why." Response, "From eating your candy ass." Some people love the natural wood ambience of the interior and exterior of a seagoing vessel. I'm one of them. I would never spend my money on a boat that had a white fiberglass interior or white fiberglass decks with sand thrown on them. Call me a hopeless romantic but the sublime intimacy established with a natural wood interior, the occasional kerosene lamp, the atavistic attraction to small, protected and comfortable interior spaces makes going to sea worthwhile. Teak decks are wonderful accoutrements. They may not be necessary, but their minimal care is well worth it for us seagoing romantics. Bruce -- ======================================================================= L. Bruce Jones U.S. SUBMARINES, INC. President POSEIDON UNDERSEA RESORTS LLC Tel: 208/687-9057 Fax: 208/441-7478 E-mail: bruce@ussubmarines.com http://ussubs.com http://poseidonresorts.com "Design, engineering and construction of submarines and submersibles" "Submarine related consulting, sales and operations." =======================================================================