Deck Materials???
 

Starting to redo a 69 Formula Thunderbird. The deck is pretty well mush. I was thinking of building a cored deck using fiberglass and polystyrene foam planking. Think from Home Depot. Any input would be appreciated. I know it's not a Seacraft but still looks like it could be an addition the the toys.
Thanks
Bob

Re: Deck Materials???
 

I would consider a material designed for marine applications, like Coosa Composites. We use a ton of this at Proline...

Re: Deck Materials???
 

i plan on using coosa for the transom in my 23. plan on using plywood for the floor because it will hold screws for the t-top. how does pro-line secure tops ??

Re: Deck Materials???
 

Why would you usecoosa for the transom and not just use wood? Mine is solid wood and glass. At least 5 inch on the transom

Re: Deck Materials???
 

my reason behind it is, its lighter and since SC's are already stern heavy i figured it could use all the help it can get. thats the other reason for the wood floor. keeping the weight forward. again because it will hold the screws better than the coosa.

Re: Deck Materials???
 

Blue,
As long as the Coosa coring is pre-drilled, we have no problems getting screws to bite in Coosa... :D

Re: Deck Materials???
 

Couple of issues / problems with pink/blue polystyrene basement insulation board. Polystyrene foam melts with polyester resin and will not even bond well with epoxy. I made a few sample boards and it worked "ok" if you cut it into 6" x 6" squares, but laminate didn't last long when I jumped up and down on it. The core is really too soft . . . 1/2" core cell, pesnske, coosa or marine ply are much much better choices . . . 1/2" marine ply and polyester resin is the least expensive route and arguably the strongest most durable laminate.

Re: Deck Materials???
 

I used a material called penske board. Strong, light and does not absorb water.

Re: Deck Materials???
 

I am using penske board for my whole rebuild. When I put my floor in I am going to go ahead and figure where my ttop and leaning post is going to be mounted. I am going to glass some 1/4" fiberglass panel to the bottom side of floor. The panels will probably be 8"x8" and this will have plenty of strength. I have also seen people glass aluminum pads under the floor and then they drill and tap where the screws are and use stainless bolts instead. Either way it works very good along with a bit of 5200.

Adam

Re: Deck Materials???
 

FYI-It WILL bond with epoxy. I have built plane wings and car wings with blue insulation...it can be crazy strong and ductile. It is main material in Rutan aircraft.

Re: Deck Materials???
 

I must be getting old because I look at things kind of traditional. When I re did my boat in 2001 I considered using composite material for my transom and deck and concluded that I would go with Marine ply instead. The reason why was that the new Marine composites had only been used for less that 10 years on any boats and that just wasn’t enough time on the water to conclude if they were better than marine ply. Now it’s been approx 20 years of use and I would not hesitate using a good Marine Composite like Coosa now a days. BUT my fundamental thinking hasn’t changed.
I don’t want to be some companies test subject of their newest method of “how to” especially when the amount of work is such as it is in re doing a boat transom or deck.
I hold to the theory “the second mouse gets the cheese” the first mouse died trying to be first.
Why reinvent tried and proven methods when you are wanting success??? Why would I want to use something that might not work??? Again I must be getting old, I can’t figure this trend of thinking out. The chance of failure increases by using a material that is not a Marine grade composite. What advantage is it??? Money??? Why take a chance on something that no boat builders use for a composite?

I think I will stick with Quality and Safety first.


FellowShip

………………………….

Just for the Grins :D

Re: Deck Materials???
 

Proline has been building Coosa Cored transoms now for 15 years...seems to be holding up quite well!

Re: Deck Materials???
 

What thickness and density coosa would be suggested for the following?

1) transom
2) stringers
3) bulkheads
4) deck
5) cabin roof (people walking on top)
6) gunnel caps
7) seat boxes and other non-structural components