Ipe (pronounced "EEE-pay") is known for its weight and density. It sinks. Used as waterfront decking, it survives the storms. Southern pine - the most popular decking material - floats, its buoyancy pulling it upward in a flood, tearing it from its attachments. Ipe suffers none of this, explaining the post hurricane footage showing scores of docks destroyed by the storm surge. The docks that remain nearly entirely intact? Likely constructed from ipe.