Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

I see that Veranda uses an aluminum deck design on there pontoon boats. It looks to be extruded planks that are welded to the pontoons. So the floor acts also as the crossmember. Pretty neat. Does any other pontoon manufactures have an aluminum deck?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zv1_FZlaYoE

[quote="willy13"]I see that Veranda uses an aluminum deck design on there pontoon boats. It looks to be extruded planks that are welded to the pontoons. So the floor acts also as the crossmember. Pretty neat. Does any other pontoon manufactures have an aluminum deck?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zv1_FZlaYoE[/quote]

Not sure on other makes, but when it's time to replace my floors, I plan on going aluminum, and will probably add a 3rd log at that point.

I am not yet sold on aluminum. Thopugh I do find Veranda's method intriguing. I am trying to decide what to do with my deck this winter. I simply can not decide. The main problem is it is tough to beat the stiffness of plywood. After adding enough additional crossmembers, there really isn't any weight savings. My marine plywood lasted 20 years, and that was with a boat that was stored outside in the snow uncovered. And with vinyl flooring and underskinning I do not believe the wood will get wet. As you can see, I was sold on using wood and then I saw that video! LOL

[quote="willy13"]I am not yet sold on aluminum. Thopugh I do find Veranda's method intriguing. I am trying to decide what to do with my deck this winter. I simply can not decide. The main problem is it is tough to beat the stiffness of plywood. After adding enough additional crossmembers, there really isn't any weight savings. My marine plywood lasted 20 years, and that was with a boat that was stored outside in the snow uncovered. And with vinyl flooring and underskinning I do not believe the wood will get wet. As you can see, I was sold on using wood and then I saw that video! LOL[/quote]

That's a good point. I imagine if you had a hook up, and could get a good deal on the aluminum, that would make the price comparable, or cheaper than wood, it would be worth it. Otherwise, ehh?

According to my design and calculations, I can do an aluminum deck for only slightly more than quality marine plywood. It would be more work though. A shit ton of riveting. Veranda's design looks to solve the labor issue. Since I am doing the work myself, I don't consider the extra riveting an additional cost.

I am concerned that aluminum might be noisier. Though Veranda claims that there design reduces noise over wood.

You do need to have a good source for aluminum. As the cost varies a lot from supplier to supplier. My aluminum design could easily cost way more if not purchased at the right price.

I'm installing new vinyl on my boat here soon, and will be sealing the top and bottom of the deck when I do so. I hope to get 7-10 more years of use out of it at that point. Then when it's time to replace, we will see the direction I want to go.

For a few years, there were many brands of pontoons with aluminum decking. I think it was a short lived trend.

It sounds as if pontoons with 8' or 8 1/2' marine plywood have less flexing than the aluminum decked boats. And if you've ever hit a wave on a boat and watched the front end flex, you'd appreciate the strength of plywood decked boats. And the life span of marine plywood is very, very long--especially with a vinyl floor. I would think aluminum decking would add substantially to the cost of a pontoon.

We were looking to redeck my uncles pontoon recently and looked for all kinds of options. We looked at aluminum, composite woods, plastic sheeting and everything was usually in the $175-$225+ range for an 8x4 section. I believe we've just settled on using outdoor plywood with some type of coating on top and just under skinning to prevent splashing the bottom.

My Sun Tracker came with an all aluminum deck . I understand they discontinued it a few years later because of cost . It has been great , much better then the wooden deck I had on the pontoon I had before .

My Tracker also has the aluminum deck. As far as I can tell it is still tight and solid as when new

[quote="Gearbanger"]We were looking to redeck my uncles pontoon recently and looked for all kinds of options. We looked at aluminum, composite woods, plastic sheeting and everything was usually in the $175-$225+ range for an 8x4 section. I believe we've just settled on using outdoor plywood with some type of coating on top and just under skinning to prevent splashing the bottom.[/quote]

The preservative in outdoor lumberyard plywood will dissolve your boat into swiss cheese in pretty short order.