Re: Decking Options
But there are plenty of non rotting materials out there. There just aren't any cheap ones suited for marine use. Plastic deck planks are too floppy and heavy, plastic lumber is too flexible and fiberglass won't stick to it, metal is ok but more expensive and may cause cracking in a fiberglass hull (different rates of flexure).
If you still want non rotting stiff decking, check out nida-core. Plastic honeycomb, never rots. It's what the pros use.
Erik
So why is it the pros use nida-core???? because we all know that a wood deck in a boat is going to rot. How much money do you figure is invested in a 3/4" decent quality plywood floor including all materials and time required to "do it properly" ??? And we are not even taking into account needed skills and knowledge to "do it proper". One little short cut or one little crack and rot is on. We already have proof in hand that wood just don't last. And there is no way to guarantee that your wood floor will not rot. None because as long as you are using wood there is the chance that the wood will rot. No wood, no rot. Like trying to build a fireproof house out of wood by treating the wood with fire retardant, it is still gonna burn.
So how cheap is it really to use wood again and again???
The mind set that wood is the only alternative for boat decks sounds like the same that was said about boat hull materials 50 years ago.
"Fiberglass?? Fiberglass??? Aluminum??? Aluminum??? the only economical and proper way to build a recreational boat is with wood"
And what is this "sagging" referenced? I am talking about extruded vinyl, pvc and aluminum planks that are generally made to span up to 24" or more.
Not that composite and recycled plastic and wood crap from Home Depot or Lowes.
Weight is also generally half of wood and even more so if that wood is wrapped in fiberglass.
Just as an example of costs, that lockdry aluminum decking runs around $7 per square foot.
I did my 8 foot x 21 foot pontoon for $1200. That was five years ago and there are more choices now that cost less. I also got the deck boards in 21 foot lengths so there are no seams front to back and all water that ends up in between the boards has to run out the bow or the stern end. No water gets thru to the underside.
To each his own, but to install a wood floor "the proper way" is merely an old school temporary fix and not the solution.
