Decking Dilemma

[MacDaddy21]

I have an older Lowe Line 16ft V-bottom aluminum boat that I want to deck. I just finished rebuilding the 79 merc 40, and want to get a deck started. I have searched online for answers, but I have not found anything truly suiting. My boat is going to be used strictly for fishing, so keep that in mind. I am also a college student at Texas A&M, so I am on a bit of a budget. I have discovered the horrors of using Pressure Treated wood, so I will stay away from it, and lastly, I cannot afford Marine Grade plywood, so here is my question.

Can I use tradtional plywood, coated in a deck sealant, then completely covered in fiberglass? I would then top it off with some paint and/or vinyl flooring. I just want to know if this is a working solution that will be effective and prevent the wood from rotting or absorbing any water.

Thanks

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Decking Dilemma

Totally suitable. Use 1.5 oz fiberglass mat an polyester resin. Coat the wood with resin first then apply the mat then another coat of resin. Use ext. grade cdx 1/2" plywood. Use Rustoleums Professional Oil Based paint an thin it 10% with Acetone and you'll have a deck that'll look like a million bucks and last for years. Go AGGIES!!!!

 

[MacDaddy21]

Re: Decking Dilemma

Here I was expecting to get raked over the coals for my novice suggestion, and low and behold a fellow aggie/aggie fan comes along. Thanks for the info. I like the sound of that....because it is affordable. Tuition is CRAZY these days. ~$4700/semester. Plus off campus housing and all the extras. And all this supported by a meager, yet hard earned 8 bucks an hour at TAMU Foundation Seed Crop Testing and Biofuels. Gig 'Em!!!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Decking Dilemma

Skip the deck sealant part as it may interfere with the fiberglass adhesion. (especially if you were gonna use something like Thompson's which is basically just colored wax anyway )

 

[MacDaddy21]

Re: Decking Dilemma

i dont mind that, that just saves me money. also, I wanted to make a frame of 2x2's for my deck. can i use those joist brackets that are used to build back yard decks/patios, and rivet them to the hull?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Decking Dilemma

I think the whole dissimilar metal thing would be bad. They sell aluminum channel and flat stock at Lowes/HD, perhaps you could fab your own brackets. Does it even necessarily have to be connected to the hull?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Decking Dilemma

Got any way to take some pics of that AGGIE BARGE!!!!! It would make it easier for us to help you get it floatin!!! Check out my signature line for how to post em. Definetly use Aluminum Angle in her, NOT the other stuff.

I must tell you I AM an Oklahoma AGGIE (OSU) that is. BUT... My best friend in all the world is an A&M Aggie and we attend the AGGIE/AGGIE football game EVERY year together. We root for each other EVERY day except that one. AGGIES FOREVER!!!

View attachment 86876

 

[MacDaddy21]

Re: Decking Dilemma

I think the whole dissimilar metal thing would be bad. They sell aluminum channel and flat stock at Lowes/HD, perhaps you could fab your own brackets. Does it even necessarily have to be connected to the hull?

I did not want to connect it to the hull if i didnt have to, but I just assumed it was necessary to hold it in place. I do plan on fiberglassing the wood I put down. I just bought some 3/4 inch plywood earlier today. I'm gonna cut it to fit this weekend and get all my holes cut. Any tips on how to go about cutting a piece to fit perfectly in the bow? tried making a cardboard template, but i rushed it and its a little sloppy.

Woodonglass - I will take some pics in better light tomorrow. And that is cool man, my dad is a PhD professor at A&M. He is in Soil and Crop Science and Water Quality and has been there for 31 years. My mom is also a Biomedical Safety Officer for the university. So I guess you could say it was sort of in my blood to go to A&M. My older sister however, opted out and is a sorry t-sip. She actually regrets going to TU. So I guess she learned something beneficial from TU!!

 

[rickryder]

Re: Decking Dilemma

The best way I have found to get a tight fit is to measure and mark a center line or pull a string from the bow to where you want the deck to end. I then mark one foot increments along the sides and measure off the center line square to those points. Mark that out on your cardboard and connect the dots. That should get you close,fit the cardboard template in your boat and adjust accordingly.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Decking Dilemma

View attachment 86876

The irony of wood having a messed up pic

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Decking Dilemma

NOW I could NOT let that ^^^^^ GO without doing something about it!!!! THIS is the PIC!!!!






GO AGGIES!!!!

 

[MacDaddy21]

Re: Decking Dilemma

Yeah buddy!! I am going to try to take some pics of the boat tomorrow and show ya'll what i'm working with. I'm sure ya'll have some other helpful advice or even ideas to point me in the right direction.

Also, Im still not sure on one thing. Do I need to attach the 2x2 frame to the hull? If so, how do I go about doing that?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Decking Dilemma

Also, Im still not sure on one thing. Do I need to attach the 2x2 frame to the hull? If so, how do I go about doing that?

Well I'd have to see some pictures but I'm thinking you might be able to do it as a floating deck. Might even be beneficial to have it be removeable at times. Not sure if your boat is the bench seat kinda deal or not but this guy made removable floor sections in his http://www.shareaproject.com/fullImages/4206.jpg
http://www.shareaproject.com/pages/projectTut,p,270,00.html

 

[MichaelP]

Re: Decking Dilemma

I'd go with epoxy instead of polyester resin. After all your pieces are cut coat everything. Might cost more but should last longer if not forever. The thinned out rustoleum will work for a long time and may be the best option for you right now. If in 10 years you still have the boat it will be easy to make a new one because you will have a template.
Good luck!

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Decking Dilemma

Hey Mac,

Did you drop your camera in some cow dung down there in Aggie land. Where's dem PICS!!!!!

 

[MacDaddy21]

Re: Decking Dilemma

Hey Mac,

Did you drop your camera in some cow dung down there in Aggie land. Where's dem PICS!!!!!

Hahaha sorry man I've been so busy drinking beer and watching NASCAR I just haven't gotten around to it.

Totally joking about the NASCAR by the way. Left turns get boring after the first one, in my opinion. I'll run out and take a few pics on my iPhone right now and see if I can get them posted up.

 

[Star]

Re: Decking Dilemma

If you would ever take advice from a retired 67 year old fool???
i have a Starcraft 14' fishing boat. I installed a removable deck made of 3/8" exterior ply
coated with polyeurthane, and stiffened with oak 2 1/2 moulding. covered it with exterior carpet. It is suported by a removable post that goes to the front seat. The post doubles as a mount for a seat I fish from. The glass is very heavy and really doesn't add much life. The first one lasted 5 years, I weigh 220 and walk on it.
I can post pics if you like.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Decking Dilemma

The glass is very heavy and really doesn't add much life.

I will have to disagree with this. Coating the wood with resin and adding a layer of 1.5 oz mat and another coat of resin WILL greatly enhance the waterproofing of the wood, AND it will add less than 10lbs to the overall weight of your boat. HOWEVER, STAR, has a point!!! Using several coats of Basic POLY will reduce your costs, WILL give you some WaterProofing, WILL increase the longevity of your deck and will deliver ALL of the attributes he posted. It depends on whether you are looking for Cheap NOW Do it RIGHT later. You KNOW what your BUDGET allows at the moment, SOOOOO it's up to you AGGIE!!!!!!!! But...... I still want some PICS!!!!!! By the Way STAR. At 67 you're NO FOOL, Wisdom COMES With AGE!!!!! I'm only 7 years behind ya.

 

[MacDaddy21]

Re: Decking Dilemma



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As an aggie, I was far too lazy to read your post about posting pics, so I figured I would just wing it. Its kind of an aggie thing, most don't understand. But I hope they come up.

After reading those two conflicting posts, I'm a little uncertain as to the cheapest decking route I can take. Woodonglass, clear this up for me.

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Decking Dilemma

Looks like you're missing a few benches there???

As to plywood, you say you already got 3/4" thick; did you ensure it was an exterior grade? I don't see any need to strengthen 3/4" ply with any kind of framework, nor any reason to anchor the deck. I'd think you can just lay the sections right onto the existing crossmembers, so long as you're spanning a few with each section, they fit together well (no excessive movement), and you're putting "joints" directly over a member.

As to sealing the plywood, if it was me I'd get about a gallon or a gallon-and-a-half of low-viscosity epoxy resin, cut it maybe 10-15% with acetone to help penetration and spreadability, brush coat the bottom and edges and let set; when epoxy coating the top I'd heavily cast some sand or pumice grit for grip, let that set, then paint 2 or 3 coats with a couple quarts of Rustoleum Topside. That much resin, acetone, grit and paint should run under $100, do the job very nicely, last a good long time, and be easy to "touch up" in the future.

Poly resin and mat route may be $20-$25 cheaper all told, but you can't get any easier than the above. Now IF you were using a thinner plywood, I'd recommend the poly and mat route for added strength.