IslandManMitch
Petty Officer 3rd Class
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2005
- Messages
- 89
I have a 1988 20' bass buggy pontoon. We use it in the lower river and bay for fishing, cast netting, running crab traps and leisure boating. It is all open deck except for a stand up center console set all the way to the rear. I've replaced the cable steering with hydraulic steering and using Morse binnacle controls. I have folding deck chairs that stack out of the way until needed for seating. I also have an aluminum truck type of tool box for dry storage. I replaced the deck when I first bought it maybe 15 years ago with pressure treated plywood. The replacement wood did not rot but separated between layers over the years and was getting spongy. I searched and read about different options on Iboats and other forums. I wanted whatever I used to be durable enough to last me the rest of my life. The option of a good quality marine plywood would have worked except I could not buy it local and the shipping was more than the cost of the plywood. A friend was telling me his neighbor put 3/16" aluminum sheets on his 20' pontoon and has run it for 3 years in the bay without any problems. I bought 4 sheets of 4'x10'x3/16" scratched up aluminum for $75 per sheet. I cut the length down to 8' and used 1/4" stainless carriage bolts 12" on center to secure it to the frame. I still have to bolt down the console and when I put the railings back on I am going to block them up 3/4" for easier clean-up. I feel I have it the way I want but I'm not sure about the deck being slippery and what to cover it with. Carpet does not meet my durability requirement. I'm thinking about maybe sharkskin paint? Any suggestions?