Nado Jenkins83 LSU Fan Pittsburgh Member since Nov 2012 1320 posts
best choice for rebuilding decking in old bass boat (Posted on 1/29/13 at 7:49 am)
1977 Eliminator 15' Bass Boat. Made in Vivian, LA. I bought it from a guy in Dallas about 4 years ago. He had built a front and rear deck. Problem is I took it in Saltwater most of the time and the hinges on all the decking doors have coroded and rusted out. So I will be changing out all the decking surface. Should I go with some sort of man made material and hurculine it or go with the plywood and carpet again?
FelicianaTigerfan LSU Fan Baton Rouge Member since Aug 2009 10193 posts
re: best choice for rebuilding decking in old bass boat (Posted on 1/29/13 at 7:55 am to Nado Jenkins83)
I bought an old Duracraft from a guy once and he had rebuilt all the decks using road signs and then carpet on top of it. Light weight and never rust or rot. Not sure if that feasible for you but I thought it was one of the better rebuilt decks ive seen.
Nado Jenkins83 LSU Fan Pittsburgh Member since Nov 2012 1320 posts
re: best choice for rebuilding decking in old bass boat (Posted on 1/29/13 at 7:57 am to FelicianaTigerfan)
Thats a pretty good idea. Im driving down from PA next week to pick it up after I go to the Mardi Gras. Im just hoping the 2x4s he used for the structure is fine. Problem is all the screws for the lids rusted out and the hinges locked up. If the structure is good, I can probably fix the entire thing in a day. Use the old lids as templates to trace.
Nado Jenkins83 LSU Fan Pittsburgh Member since Nov 2012 1320 posts
re: best choice for rebuilding decking in old bass boat (Posted on 1/29/13 at 8:06 am to TexasTiger)
Yeah I don't want to. Thing is the hull is in great shape other than faded and the Outboard is a 1981 Johnson 70 horse. All Aluminum block, good engine. Runs like a top. Plus alot of the lakes in SW PA are 9.9 horse and under and small lakes so I would just drop the trolling motor and start fishing.
Rayvegas1484 LSU Fan Zebedee Member since Feb 2010 1626 posts
re: best choice for rebuilding decking in old bass boat (Posted on 1/29/13 at 8:16 am to Nado Jenkins83)
Marine grade plywood would be the best option but its about 60 bucks a sheet. If not that i used regular plywood and coated it with herculiner and never had any issues after that . and be dang sure to get marine carpet not indoor/outdoor if you dont you will be cutting hooks out of your carpet constantly .
Hammertime LSU Fan Hiding in your back seat Member since Jan 2012 8875 posts
re: best choice for rebuilding decking in old bass boat (Posted on 1/29/13 at 8:38 am to Rayvegas1484)
All I can say is, welcome to hell. I have started with simple jobs like that and have ended up rebuilding an entire boat(some stringers included). That has happened to me or someone who needed help 3 times already.
Do yourself a favor and just replace the doors and hinges and be done with it. Do not look any further than that.
Nado Jenkins83 LSU Fan Pittsburgh Member since Nov 2012 1320 posts
re: best choice for rebuilding decking in old bass boat (Posted on 1/29/13 at 8:40 am to Hammertime)
quote: All I can say is, welcome to hell. I have started with simple jobs like that and have ended up rebuilding an entire boat(some stringers included). That has happened to me or someone who needed help 3 times already.
Im not. Its just a little crap fishing boat. Im gonna try to get a Mokai jet boat to run the shallow rivers.
