“Essentially the Boardwalk has to be able to support a small bridge load, and do it without splintering or burning, and the untreated cumaru and ipé meet those performance criteria.” JOHN FEAIRHELLER
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When the original mile-long boardwalk opened in 1870 it was built out of old-growth pine. The 10-foot by 12-foot sections were taken apart at the end of the summer and stored for the winter months. But even with the seasonal preservation efforts, within ten years the boards were splintering and had to be replaced. Throughout the next hundred years the boardwalk would continue to expand, periodically being destroyed by storms and then rebuilt. Pressure-treated pine was briefly used once old-growth was no longer available, but with a short 5-year life cycle, a tendency to leach chemicals and a reputation for ferocious splinters, the material specification was discontinued. In the late 1970’s the groundbreaking decision was made to bring casino gaming to the fading beach resort, and in 1981 the boardwalk itself got a muchneeded upgrade to exotic wood species. In the thirty years since the change in specification there have been no replacements for rot, only for hurricane damage or when work needed to be done on the substructure. “We examine all aspects of the material,” says Feairheller, “but one of our main concerns is fire because the boardwalk is a place where people assemble. And exotics don’t burn.” The other main concern for the boardwalk is durability. “The problem is we are in a part of the country that experiences freeze and thaw cycles,” explains Feairheller. “The cumaru isn’t porous so you don’t get water into the surface that would freeze and cause it to splinter. For pine, splintering is a real problem, but when it comes to untreated exotics there is no splinter issue. It is virtually free of any checks.” A crew of twelve individuals maintains the Boardwalk, and it is one person’s job to walk the deck all day on patrol for tripping hazards.
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