Deck alterntives

[4FUN4LATER]

Just purchased a 1974 ranger 18'. The boat has seen some bad years in utah, snow, rain, ice.
The deck, flooring is rotten and needs to be replaced. Has anyone considered using man-made material such as "tyrex" to replace the old plywood? I was thinking about something like a tongue and groove with no carpet.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Deck alterntives

Welcome to iBoats!

Yep, been discussed many times here on the Forum. General consensus is...Not suitable for Marine use. Lots heavier, not very structural and has tendency to swell with heat. It's your boat and you can always do as you see fit, however, in general, the Pros here on the forum have ruled it out as a viable product for boat restoration.

 

[1988Starcraft]

Re: Deck alterntives

I just finished refurbishing my 14 foot Starcraft including fixing leaks and replacing the floor. I used Arauco plywood (7/16 thick) (available at Lowe's) and since I keep my boat inside and the floor isn't likely to be wet for long, I didn't seal it with resin. I painted the underside with two coats of exterior deck paint and used a product called Grizzly Grip (www.grizzlygrip.com) for the non-skid surface treatment on the top and edges. I hope this helps. 1988 Starcraft