Composite decking material?

[12Footer]

Has anyone considered using Fiberon or other composite decking material as decking material inside a boat?<br />I had a 12ft stick of Fiberon in my garage that I plucked from a const site scrap bin. It is heavy stuff, so no wieght-savings from it's use...But the stuff should be there when the rest of the boat sinks. What do you guys think?

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Composite decking material?

I checked out their website, 12Footer. It is way too thick and appears to only come in 6" widths. Also a lot of that kind of material does not have much structural strength compared to wood.<br /><br />The more I get into my project the more I like the idea of well impregnated 1/2" plywood with a layer of glass on top. It's light and strong. I am going one step further, however. Whereas my fiberglass seat buckets were simply screwed thru the 1/2" ply, I'm going to run at least 3/4" ply, (maybe some 2 x material) laterally between the stringers, as additional reinforcement under the seat mounting positions.

 

[12Footer]

Re: Composite decking material?

That's the stuff. It does only come in 6"wide planks. And it seems to be as beefy as a stick of Doug fir the same thickness. But it is way heavier. My main concern tho, is if it can handle marine environments as well as it's touted to withstand the backyard deck.<br />I kicked around the idea of using planking instead of solid deck, as it would allow water to channel and drain, like the deck of a destroyer....Not that it would be seeing waves break-over it's bow (I hope).<br /><br />But so far, yes, I plan on using 1/2" ply with a glass top-only, painted underside also. It's a wieght savings, as the orininal fore and aft fishing decks were 5/8".<br />I kicked-around using Divinycell, but that stuff is foam samwich (like a surfboard). Wereas it's light as air, it's setbacks are cost, availability locally, and the fact that it must be cut to fit, then re-sealed to keep it waterproof....Waterproof and boats in the same sentence does not make sence. <br /><br />But the reason I ask is not just the main decking idea. I thought about using this stick I had for bracing some of the thinnner areas, like under the pannels of the walk-thru.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Composite decking material?

Originally posted by 12Footer:<br />But so far, yes, I plan on using 1/2" ply with a glass top-only, painted underside also.

Be sure to use CPES or at least some thinned epoxy, on the underside, not paint. Paint will sit on top of the surface. The penetrating epoxy will get into the wood fiber and keep it from delaminating as well as make it rot proof.<br /><br />Not sure what you mean by this;<br />"I thought about using this stick I had for bracing some of the thinnner areas, like under the pannels of the walk-thru."