Deck Plate options????

Bryan A. · #1 03-25-2006, 12:51 PM

I need to cut two holes in the deck of my boat to acess the tops of the tanks. I plan on going with the traditional pie plate stye. The deck is glass over plywood and I want to use the most watertite and less intrusive possible. What have people had experience with, screw in or pry out?
I have had both at one time or another on various boats. I am again, looking for opinions or suggestions or better solutions for this one. The tanks are totally sealed under the deck righ now and want to avoid intruducing water into that area. Thanks in advance.

Capt Chuck · #2 03-25-2006, 08:24 PM

Bryan

These Armstong type seem to be the way too go. They came standard on my Potter Bracket. I replaced them with (2) off-white in color. I have the original white ones you see in the picture below in my garage which are in perfect shape. They are for 8" cut out. Retail $24 each. PM me if your interested and I'll make you a deal you can't refuse

Here's the web site-----> Armstrong

warthog5 · #3 03-25-2006, 09:59 PM

While the Armstrong's are hand's down the best as far as watertite, they protrude from the surface and will be toe stubber's.

Bryan A. · #4 03-25-2006, 11:34 PM

Will they seal against the non-skid surface of my deck? The deck is plywood with glass so I guess I would have to seal the edge. How high do they stick up? I am interested. My plan so far it to go witht the screw out type and recess them slightly into the deck because they will be in a walking area. I figured I would check here for better ideas first.

strick · #5 03-26-2006, 03:32 AM

They stick up about 1/4 inch. They seal to the nonskid on my bracket fine. You can recess them like you were talking. I have one of their large hatches and it is recessed in a walking area.

strick

Capt Chuck · #6 03-26-2006, 10:02 AM

Quote:

While the Armstrong's are hand's down the best as far as watertite, they protrude from the surface and will be toe stubber's.

I walk all over mine on the bracket barefoot all the time without any toe stubbing. They do stick up 1/4" but are beveled downward.
As Strick mentioned you can always recess/countersink them like below

Bryan A. · #7 03-26-2006, 11:38 AM

What does the bottom look like? From the pictures on the site it looks like a plastic bar about 3"x8"x1/2" or so. I am not sure at this point how much clearance I have between the deck and the tank. Need to cut first but it should be fine. What would be an advantage of going with this rather than say the beckson type?

Chuck you have a PM.

warthog5 · #8 03-26-2006, 08:37 PM

You are correct. It has a T- bar on it. It also has a snap ring on the shaft so you can't turn the T to much and loose the T-bar on the bottom.

Quote:

What would be an advantage of going with this rather than say the beckson type?

They don't leak.