Replacing decking with aluminum

[midgetracer2222]

I need to replace the decking in a bass tracker. I was considering using aluminum instead of wood. What grade and thickness of aluminum should be used for flooring and decking? Where is a good place to look for the aluminum and where can flotation foam be purchased?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Replacing decking with aluminum

Really will not work as well as you think.......... You would end up using fairly thick aluminum and might need to add more supports below the deck. Aluminum would have to be over 1/8" thick. Just not cost effective. Foam can be purchased here on iboats.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Replacing decking with aluminum

Aluminum decking is hot and LOUD in the summer and cold and LOUD in the winter... it's also very expensive all year 'round.

A good grade of exterior plywood (not pressure treated) sealed with several coats of epoxy resing will outlive you.

As Bob said, expanding urethane can be purchased here and the rigid polystyrene sheet insulation foam is also another popular form of floatation foam used by many folks on this site in aluminum boats.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Replacing decking with aluminum

As already mentioned, aluminum doesn't sound like a good idea at all. When you replace the deck though you'll need to put a layer of fiberglass on, not just paint it with epoxy. At a minimum I'd use a layer of 10 oz cloth, and go two layers in high traffic areas. And I get epoxy resin, fiberglass cloth, and flotation foam from US Composites.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Replacing decking with aluminum

I just happened to be up under the deck of my alum bass boat recently. The hull and deck are made from .100" 5052 grade aluminum sheet which is high grade of alum; very strong for it's thickness. However, the boat has a lot of aluminum framing braces behind it to support it. Mine isn't noisy as it is covered in OEM outdoor carpet.

Alum is lite. On wood, I'd use marine grade plywood which will give you high strength and minimum thickness. Marine ply uses marine waterproof glue and multiple layers as compared to the same thickness of cabinet grade or worse wood and that is where it gets it's strength. It is wood however, and wood can rot under the right conditions. How long that takes depends.

Agree on covering it with glass mat which adds that much more weight if you are into the long haul. If not, a good penetrant like Boiled Linseed Oil and turpentine 50-50 works well then covering with heavy duty vinyl. Rumor has it that the store bought wood sealers don't contain all that much Linseed and that is what keeps the water out of the wood. Only problem I would have with epoxy would be it cracking and letting water in. As long as it doesn't crack, fine.

My 2c,
Mark

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Replacing decking with aluminum

This is what I did to my Tracker:

http://forums.iboats.com/boat-resto...ir/97-tracker-pro-deep-v-facelift-509163.html

 

[dingbat]

Re: Replacing decking with aluminum

There is nothing "high grade" about 5052 aluminum. 5052 is a common, medium strength, commerical alloy sometimes used in marine applications. 5086 would be a better choice for marine fabrication with 5083 being superior to both.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: Replacing decking with aluminum

A good source for it is your local scrap yard. We sell half sheets all the time of 5052 and 3003 for $1.00 a lb

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Replacing decking with aluminum

Aluminum works very well as a trouble free long lasting floor. It isn't as loud or hot as some people think, and I don't often fish in my bare feet so it doesn't matter that much. My friends and I have put aluminum diamond plate in several boats and none of them regret it. When new it may be rather glossy and the reflection may bother you, but it will soon become worn and non glossy.

On some boats you need to ad more supports under the floor, but it's not hard to do. 1/8 is what we use most of the time.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Replacing decking with aluminum

There is nothing "high grade" about 5052 aluminum. 5052 is a common, medium strength, commerical alloy sometimes used in marine applications. 5086 would be a better choice for marine fabrication with 5083 being superior to both.

Well it beats aluminum foil and in industry we built a lot of things using it; 5052, T6.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Replacing decking with aluminum

Well it beats aluminum foil and in industry we built a lot of things using it; 5052, T6.

That doesn't surprise me. 5052 is a widely used "bendable" alloy. The T3 and T6 temper is used for general fabrication work

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Replacing decking with aluminum

where can flotation foam be purchased?

You can buy the rigid polystyrene sheet foam at Lowes:

Shop extruded polystyrene foam at Lowes.com: Search Results!

... and Home Depot:

Owens Corning Foamular F-150 2 in. x 48 in. x 8 ft. Scored Squared Edge Foam-45W at The Home Depot

If they don't have the thickness you want in stock, they will order it for you.

This foam is closed cell and won't absorb water.