Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

In my shopping for a boat I have noticed Suntracker and another brand (I forget which) offers an aluminum deck on some models. To me, I would think this would be the ultimate material to use not only thinking of the wood rot aspect, but also weight. Why is this not more common on pontoon boats?

I would think cost

Originally, just about every pontoon boat came with marine plywood decking. Then, many companies started using aluminum before switching back to plywood.

My Starcraft pontoon is 26 years old, and all of my decking is good--except for the small pieces on each side of my motor. The back end of my boat does get some blowing rain through the end of my boathouse.

If boats are kept out of the rain, marine plywood has a long, long life span. Also, plywood is much quieter and has less vibrations. The most important reason they're back using plywood is that it's much more structurally sound than aluminum sheeting--with much less flexing.

Bamaman wrote:Originally, just about every pontoon boat came with marine plywood decking. Then, many companies started using aluminum before switching back to plywood.

My Starcraft pontoon is 26 years old, and all of my decking is good--except for the small pieces on each side of my motor. The back end of my boat does get some blowing rain through the end of my boathouse.

If boats are kept out of the rain, marine plywood has a long, long life span. Also, plywood is much quieter and has less vibrations. The most important reason they're back using plywood is that it's much more structurally sound than aluminum sheeting--with much less flexing.

That depends on the amount of bracing, there isn't anywhere on our aluminum deck that has any flex...at all.

chill'nthemost wrote:

Bamaman wrote:Originally, just about every pontoon boat came with marine plywood decking. Then, many companies started using aluminum before switching back to plywood.

My Starcraft pontoon is 26 years old, and all of my decking is good--except for the small pieces on each side of my motor. The back end of my boat does get some blowing rain through the end of my boathouse.

If boats are kept out of the rain, marine plywood has a long, long life span. Also, plywood is much quieter and has less vibrations. The most important reason they're back using plywood is that it's much more structurally sound than aluminum sheeting--with much less flexing.

That depends on the amount of bracing, there isn't anywhere on our aluminum deck that has any flex...at all.

Same here. they don't use sheets but extruded locking pieces. It also doesn't rattle

There isn't any flex in our Party barge either.

lakerunner696 wrote:I would think cost

I harass my pontoon manf. buddies about this on a regular basis. They have the typical "saleman" spill about how an aluminum deck will rattle, screws will loosen, etc. but have admitted that it all comes down to cost. They don't feel that their "typical" wants to pay the additional cost for an aluminum deck. That, and it is easier to manf. a wood deck.

If I was buying a new boat it would definitely have aluminum decking - even for the extra cost since there is a significant weight savings.

When I rebuilt my deck I ended up with 5/8" Meranti 7 ply Marine plywood which does not flex on 16" centers - solid as a rock.

I also strongly considered using a plastic honeycomb composite which once again is a fraction of the weight of plywood:

Nice stuff, but out my my league cost-wise. I would love to reduce the weight of my barge but it ain't happening.

You can't beat Track Duradeck..the main reason why I didn't agree to total my boat was that the 2010 and 2011 Party cruisers have plywood decks. Zero flex due to it's design.