How to Build a Bow Deck on a Boat
Open boats are popular due to their ease of construction, low cost and high amount of available work space. Lack of decking leaves the maximum amount of room for crew, cargo and fishing operations but leaves no shelter or dry stowage. Bow decks (a raised deck on the front of the boat) close in a portion of the bow, creating a sheltered, dry area that can be used for dry stowage. The deck serves as an elevated platform for handling lines or for fishing operations, and will also reinforce and stiffen the bow of the boat, allowing it to handle heavier seas without suffering damage to the bow.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Treated lumber (1 x 4 inches)
- Jigsaw
- C-clamps
- Polyurethane marine caulk
- Caulk gun
- 3/4-inch treated plywood
- Exterior or marine-grade paint
- Paintbrush or roller
- Razor knife
Instructions
-
-
1
Measure from the inside of the bow or bow stem along the sides of the boat to the desired position of the rear edge of the bow deck. Mark this point on the hull and record this measurement.
-
2
Cut two cleats out of treated 1 x 4 inch lumber to reach from the bow to the rear deck marks with a jigsaw. Apply a heavy bead of polyurethane marine caulk to the back of each cleat with a caulk gun.
-
-
3
Hold one cleat in position on the bow and lower the cleat so that the top edge is 3/4 inch lower than the desired height of the deck. Clamp the cleat into position with large C-clamps set about 6 inches apart. Tighten the clamps just enough to hold the cleat in position without forcing the adhesive to squeeze out excessively.
-
4
Wait 24 hours for the caulk to cure. Remove the C-clamps from the cleats.
-
5
Measure the length of the deck from the bow or bow stem back to the rear edge of the cleats. Measure the width of the deck at the rear edge and two or three more points forward to aid in accurate cutting of the decking.
-
6
Mark out the deck measurements on a sheet of 3/4-inch treated plywood. Cut the plywood to the shape described by the measurements with a jigsaw.
-
7
Test-fit the deck. Ensure that the deck fits the shape of the hull with no large gaps at the edges. Make any necessary adjustments to the fit at this time.
-
8
Paint the decking and cleat material with exterior or marine-grade paint and a paintbrush or roller. Coat the parts well to protect the wood from water intrusion and allow the paint to dry fully before handling.
-
9
Apply a heavy bead of polyurethane caulk to the top edge of the cleats. Place the deck carefully on top of the cleats and press it firmly into position. Weigh the decking down with moderate weight to ensure good glue contact and allow it to cure for 24 hours.
-
10
Trim any caulk that may have squeezed out of the top of the hull/deck joint with a razor knife. Fill the hull/deck joint with polyurethane caulk using a caulk gun to seal the deck off from the inside of the boat. Allow the caulk to cure before stressing the components or getting them wet.
-
1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit bow of punt with oar and chain image by thomas owen from Fotolia.com
