redecking

[1983 ercoa 21']

I'm rebuilding a 83 ercoa 21' pontoon adding a third log and really thinking about replacing my deck with aluminum the plan at this moment is cross members on 12" centers and using.090 aluminum. And would like to paint a non skid deck type paint to the floor but still kinda in the air as to paint,vinyl,carpet really leaning towards the paint if I knew it would stick and stay. Any one here done this how did it work for you what's the pros and cons? Thanks for your time and input

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: redecking

.090 is really light gauge aluminum for flooring. you will have it dented up by walking on it in no time

what is wrong with using exterior grade plywood?

 

[1983 ercoa 21']

Re: redecking

Weight and never having to replace it again. Think alot of the newer boats are aluminum decked also. And yes.090 is a little light but was thinking with cross members every 12" it shouldn't dent and flex that bad should it.

 

[alldodge]

Re: redecking

I'm rebuilding a 83 ercoa 21' pontoon adding a third log and really thinking about replacing my deck with aluminum the plan at this moment is cross members on 12" centers and using.090 aluminum. And would like to paint a non skid deck type paint to the floor but still kinda in the air as to paint,vinyl,carpet really leaning towards the paint if I knew it would stick and stay. Any one here done this how did it work for you what's the pros and cons? Thanks for your time and input

Adding a 3rd toon, changing plywood to .090 aluminum is making thing lighter and should raise the deck up some more. Adding more cross members and the 3rd toon will add weight and increase drag. With the raised deck may need to drop the drive to keep it in the water in turns. Non-skid paint may reduce maintenance if properly prepped and applied. If someone falls may get some serious road rash.

Why do you want to add the 3rd toon, plan to be carrying extra weight?

 

[1983 ercoa 21']

Re: redecking

All the above. Better flotation better planing better performance I'm not sold on the more drag by adding a. Third toon you're reducing the drag on the other two by getting them out of the water more. As to adding more weight the motor pod I pulling off was steel an weight differences between it and the third log is probably around 50 pounds. Yes third log has transom built in . I'm replacing all cross members do to the factory one was galvanized steel I'm putting all aluminum ones in not exact on the trade off but pound for pound should be a push plus the more cross members the better the rigidity of the whole boat .

 

[Water logged]

Re: redecking

Aluminum decks are made with extruded planks, not sheets. Sheets will not resist twist like the planks.

Glenn

 

[BrianMc]

Re: redecking

The resistance to twisting will come from your extra stringers. To help with diagonal racking weld an outer frame onto the stringer ends. If the decking option your looking at is .090 (about 3/32") and 2"x2" channels for stringers then my best advice would be to go with 8"on center,which would leave you only 6" to bridge with the sheeting.

My deck and frame ended up very stout on 12" centers,but I used 1/8" diamond plate which has the strength of 3/16 plate. I think you will feel the decking give without tightening up the gap on .090. Going from 12" to 8" will add another 11 stringers. I also used stainless self tappers on 12"x12" centers to utilize the strength from the sheeting. On .090 I'd up that too at 10"x10" centers. I would also score some 1/4" backer plate for mounting stuff like pedestal seats.

As far as grip on the sheeting I'm not sure what I'd use. Whatever you use for a 8'x24' deck that will stick to aluminum wont be cheap. There's suppose to be a way to make line-x stick to aluminum,which would make a nice surface. You could also lay vinyl on it. The extra stringers and coating and screws would probably cover the cost of the diamond plate,if all you need is a fishing platform.

 

[1983 ercoa 21']

Re: redecking

Once again Brian you have some good and detailed information. I was kinda thinking.090 would be a little thin . Every place I look aluminum is through the roof but I'm at a point that I sure hate not to put the aluminum floor in . Thanks for your input

 

[alldodge]

Re: redecking

All the above. Better flotation better planing better performance I'm not sold on the more drag by adding a. Third toon you're reducing the drag on the other two by getting them out of the water more. As to adding more weight the motor pod I pulling off was steel an weight differences between it and the third log is probably around 50 pounds. Yes third log has transom built in . I'm replacing all cross members do to the factory one was galvanized steel I'm putting all aluminum ones in not exact on the trade off but pound for pound should be a push plus the more cross members the better the rigidity of the whole boat .

Agree, the outer toons will come out of the water some, then add the weight of the 3rd toon. The displacement of all of it should be less in the water but your also pushing water out of the way from the 3rd. From the reviews I've seen the pontoon is slower and the HP allowed is less due to design. The Tritoon is faster and a larger motor is allowed and this is where the increase in speed comes in, but also the extra fuel burn. Any boats and speed come down to the HP to weight ratio

 

[MaPaHa]

Re: redecking

In my 1983 - 22 foot project pontoon (with 23 inch toons and a "78 model 140 hp Evinrude) I went from a standard twin-toon to adding a Pontoon water glide then to removing it and adding a center toon with a transom and lifting strakes (only on the center toon). As far as speed and handling the Water glide was the best bang for the buck and time spent... period.

I had an idea that the center toon would be even better for drag and speed than the Water Glide but after spending thousands of dollars changing it out and relocating the motor on the center toon I found out quite the opposite. In my head it made sense but on the water it was slower than the water glide but maybe slightly ahead of the basic twin toon, keep in mind the center toon had lifting strakes from day one. In all fairness there was several years between the twin-toon and the triple-toon but as I remember the triple-toon wasn't much ahead of the twin-toon as far as speed and what improvement there was could have been from the lifting strakes on the center toon.

Overall I'm pleased with the center toon because I added an in-floor storage compartment, an in-tube fuel tank and it got me a healthier motor transom that would handle a larger motor not to mention the added flotation and higher ride. When you place value on these things then the center-toon makes since but as far as drag goes, it slowed it down compared to the Water glide.

My boat is not an exact comparison to what you are doing because of the time factor and strakes. I would like to hear one solid case where someone added a center toon to an existing pontoon boat with no other changes and hear that it ran faster because of reduced drag. I've been on the forum a couple of years now and watched just about every thread having to do with adding center toons and have not seen it yet (and don't think I ever will). Most projects have several major changes going at once so it's hard to compare just one factor.

I'll agree 100% the center toon allows for more hp. My final changes have been adding strakes to the outer toons and changing the motor up to a newer 150 hp which is about a 20-25 hp bump from the older 140 hp motor rated at the engine. When I bumped the motor then I got the speed I was looking for but without the center toon I'm sure upping the motor wouldn't have made much of a difference. The center toon rebuild of the boat allowed for more hp so as you mentioned and how I see it, both aspects go together and when only one of the two is changed it doesn't seam to get half way there.

Mark

 

[1983 ercoa 21']

Re: redecking

Well hopefully I'm not spending thousands maybe two when I'm completely done with new floor cross members and buying the third log and but I was fortunate I got a really good deal on the third log with transom already built in.

 

[1983 ercoa 21']

Re: redecking

Really keep going back and forth in my mind on weather to deck with wood or aluminum.

 

[cannonman]

Re: redecking

I'm sure you could make either type of flooring work, but will changing from wood to a much thinner product affect the method you have to use to remount your fencing, furniture, or any other items that go back on?

 

[1983 ercoa 21']

Re: redecking

My floor plan don't include much seating I use ice chest they serve as a seat ,cooler,keeping thing's cold and so on as to the fence will be mounted to cross members also

 

[1983 ercoa 21']

Re: redecking

I was able to purchase a aluminum deck from a tracker toon that I will install on my boat. Really glad to be going with aluminum it will save weight and never rot . Now to get the worn out carpet off the aluminum. Any ideas?