Fiberglass grating

[medburd]

Hi folks - been a member a while but this is my first post in a while and I really appreciate the knowledge I have gained from the vast knowledge base that you folks have shared - thank you!
I’m looking for opinions on what seems to be an outside the box thought (or hair brained idea you make the call I had today while trolling fb marketplace. I’m currently restoring a 1979 17’ McKee Offshoreman. I’m in the process of removing all of the water logged foam in the hull. I will be replacing 75% of the deck and refoamin it with 4lb foam. I have come across an opportunity that had me - I was originally planning on replacing the plywood deck w/new and epoxy/fiberglass the new plywood in place (just restoring pretty much as it was originally) drilling a few 2” holes in the new deck - tilting the boat at about a 30degree angle and pouring in the new foam to get it to conform & fill the void under the deck.
My new thought was the fiberglass pultruded grating I came across @ 2$ a sq ft @ 1” thick..which is comparable to plywood. If I went this route I could lay the grating down in place of the plywood - I could pour the foam between the grating rails to ensure complete foam fill - the foam will hold the grating down due to the voids it will fill as they’re I beam style costruction, then cut/level the foam where it expands above the grating, then fiberglass/epoxy over the foam and grating to create that water tight barrier - then a finish coating of whatever paint i choose later..
What do you guys think?

 

[GA_Boater]

Don't know if this is a grate idea. :smile:

How will things be secured to the grating - Seats, console, etc.?

The boat doesn't need to be tipped to re-foam. It expands into places you don't want if its overdone. I kinda envision a holy mess using expanding foam with a grating deck. Out of control mozzarella in a pizza shop.

 

[Woodonglass]

I agree ^^^ Take the advice and be "Grateful"!!!!

 

[Scott Danforth]

Its a "grate" idea...... until you attempt to attach anything to the deck that needs "grate" strength..... which wont be there because the grate is not great for making a deck.

 

[sphelps]

I don’t know why but I actually like this idea .
If you can just figure out the seat mounting problem .
Maybe build a plywood base with 2 pieces of ply .
Sandwich the grating by adding another piece of ply under the grating . Lag down seat through all 3 layers of plywood . Fill the grating holes up with pb where the seat base is sandwiched . Idk maybe , maybe not ...
I would be grateful if y’all would be kind enough to confirm I haven’t lost it ...

 

[garbageguy]

...and finding small things dropped, and little nooks and crannies collecting and keeping all kinds of dirt.etc??

 

[medburd]

I see what you did there ..
the thought was to glass in mounting points on the top and between the fiberglass grating of the deck so as to not penetrate into the foaming areas - no strength in the grating for sure

 

[medburd]

...and finding small things dropped, and little nooks and crannies collecting and keeping all kinds of dirt.etc??

I don’t know how you mean gg - that grating would be completely glassed over - if you were thinking of those grate openings being exposed I totally get your point - but I wouldn’t do that to myself