How to Build a Deck in a Small Boat
After fishing for a few hours while standing on the floor of a metal boat, you might begin to wonder if it is worth the discomfort. You might even think about putting in a wooden deck, or maybe some carpet. In addition to giving you a softer place to stand, the carpet and the separation between boat and deck will reduce noise.
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Things You'll Need
- 1/8-by-1-inch aluminum framing (one stud for each 8 inches of the width of the bottom of the boat, each as long as the bottom of the boat)
- Rivet tool
- Drill and bits
- Bondo polyester fiberglass resin
- Carpenter's chalk line
- Marine silicone caulk
- Circular saw
- Staple gun
- Marine carpet
Instructions
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1
Mark a line with the carpenter's chalk on the inside walls of the hull, 1/2-inch above the current deck. Measure along the chalk line to determine the length and width of the deck you want.
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2
Drill holes for rivets in the aluminum framing and corresponding holes in the bottom of the boat. Rivet the framing lengthwise on the bottom of the boat; the framing will serve as floor studs to support the plywood deck. Caulk the area over and around the rivets so they stay watertight.
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3
Cut the plywood sheet to the length and width necessary with the circular saw. Use two sheets of plywood if the boat is too large to be decked with a single sheet. Seal the plywood with Bondo polyester fiberglass resin.
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4
Cut the carpet so that it is 4 inches longer and wider than the length and width of the plywood decking. Cut square notches out of the corners of the carpet, apply the marine epoxy to the plywood, center the carpet over the plywood, then press the carpet into the marine epoxy. Fold the edges of the carpet over the edges of the plywood and staple the edges of the carpet to the bottom of the plywood.
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5
Set the deck in place on the aluminum studs.
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Tips & Warnings
Some people recommend using unattached plastic strips to separate the deck from the hull. That works reasonably well until until a strip shifts and the deck sags. The strips can be glued to the hull, but it would create a mess if you had to remove one.
