Aluminum boat floor Material?

[dthrckt]

I've been searching for info on the suitability of fiberglass reinforced plastic panels (like the textured panels I've seen at home depot) as a top surface to a deck.
I'm planning to add a floor to my aluminum boat. It seems like frp could be used on top of plywood. I've also considered marine carpet, truck bed coating (of which I happen to have a gallon, in black) and textured garage floor paint.
Costs seem close enough to choose whatever is best. It seems the carpet might be easiest to install, but I'm hoping FRP would not snag hooks, hold water or smells (like carpet), provide more protection to the wood, and maintain its finish better than a paint.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Aluminum boat floor Material?

I did a shower surround with those FRP's and they are awesome. However I think it would slippery as HECK! So I don't know about that as a floor. My concern with the garage floor coating would how it would hold up on something semi-flexible like the plywood floor. Couple guys on here have used Durabak which seems like an awesome product but I think it is $$$$. I have carpet and I hate it and won't be doing that again.

 

[willyrocket]

Re: Aluminum boat floor Material?

One thing to consider, if you cant catch fish like me, you dont have to worry about fish smells in your carpet!!!!! (jokingly) I went with carpet........

 

[dthrckt]

Re: Aluminum boat floor Material?

I've looked at the durabak. Pretty cool stuff. I was considering por's whitecote for the boat and durabak for the wood (seat boards and small bow cover) but now I want floor boards too and it'd be a whole lot more $$ to do those.

Wish I hadn't bought the duplicolor bed coating - it was on clearance. Emailed duplicolor and they said you can't add color but that some people paint it. I'm worried the paint wouldn't hold up well since it is not as flexible as the bed coating. They did say their enamel will not weaken the bed coating so I guess I could just touch it up if it scratches.

Thanks for the response on the frp - I bet it would be slippery, even with that bubbly texture. It would probably be the greatest weakness. I could rough it up but it'd look terribly dirty after that. I don't want carpet, even though I do more fishing than catching

I think I'll take coat a board w/ the bed coating, let it cure, paint it and then use it as an outside door mat for a couple weeks to see what happens...