pontoon deck replacement

[acad]

Hundreds of threads on material to use. Majority of you folks say to pay the extra for marine grade. Only a 16 footer, so okay. But some say good exterior plywood sealed with epoxy resin is just as good. Is it? I think I want to paint the top with that 'gorilla' coating that is common for truck beds. It now is sold by the gallon and in white. What suggestions do you guys have for prepping the plywood (marine grade or otherwise) for receiving this coating? All opinions appreciated - thanks!

Also, is 5/8" okay? Do I need 3/4". I'll want to drill and install flush-mount chair bases.

 

[jusfloatin]

Re: pontoon deck replacement

Also, is 5/8" okay? Do I need 3/4". I'll want to drill and install flush-mount chair bases.

There will be more advice on prep work but I can answer this one

No. Even if you were not to mount flush style pedistal, 5/8" is not thick enough.

 

[Nismospeed]

Re: pontoon deck replacement

I have to agree with Jusfloatin on this. 3/4" is pretty much the marine standard, and it offers a lot more support overall. If the gap between support beams was 5" less between beams, I would say 5/8" would be sufficient. The added beams would make up for the thickness reduction, supporting all of your furniture. As for the gorilla coating, I have never seen it used on wood. I have seen people use bed liner paint to line the truck bed and even to repaint the whole vehicle, but never on lumber. I would say that if it bonds to wood like regular paint, and you use more than one coat, I would think its a brilliant idea. But thats just my opinion.

 

[acad]

Re: pontoon deck replacement

I have to agree with Jusfloatin on this. 3/4" is pretty much the marine standard, and it offers a lot more support overall. If the gap between support beams was 5" less between beams, I would say 5/8" would be sufficient. The added beams would make up for the thickness reduction, supporting all of your furniture. As for the gorilla coating, I have never seen it used on wood. I have seen people use bed liner paint to line the truck bed and even to repaint the whole vehicle, but never on lumber. I would say that if it bonds to wood like regular paint, and you use more than one coat, I would think its a brilliant idea. But thats just my opinion.

Thanks. I intend to talk to a mfg rep before I do it, but my son's bass boat turned out beautifully and it's been a year and half. Ocassionally he'll spray it down with a weak bleach solution and hose it off. Still looks new. That boat gets a ton of use, too. He lives on a big chain of lakes and is out 4 or 5 evenings each week. Okay, 3/4' it is.

 

[meandmyharley]

Re: pontoon deck replacement

I recently purchased and older pontoon boat. 1978 crest to be specific. It has two layers of 3/4inch plywood. not sure if PT or marine grade. would this make the boat too heavy. I am brand new to all of this. any help would be greatly appreciated.
bill knapp

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: pontoon deck replacement

With a pontoon its not just floor support its structural integrate and why 3/4 is used. The floor is the backbone of the boat.

I recently purchased and older pontoon boat. 1978 crest to be specific. It has two layers of 3/4inch plywood. not sure if PT or marine grade. would this make the boat too heavy. I am brand new to all of this. any help would be greatly appreciated.

I bet if you look real close underneath you will see the origonal floor is giving way and the extra floor is capped on insted of it being replaced.

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: pontoon deck replacement

pressure treated is OK if you insulate (isolate) the wood from the aluminum. I've seen some new pontoons with pt for decking but they have a thin layer of closed cell neoprene foam between the pt and the aluminum. Five years ago I had my duck boat sprayed with camo truck bed coating. Don't remember the brand. Still sticking great to the aluminum floor and boat but starting to peel off of the wood hatches. Gonna replace the wood hatches with AL somehow before the hunting season, just sayin'