How does Water Effect the Deck of a Boat?

[RLinNH]

How does water effect the deck of a boat? The reason I ask is that when I store my boat, I make darned sure that the cover is on. When I go fishing and I get caught in a rain storm, my heart breaks when I see how wet my deck gets. I have a 2000 16 Ft. Sylvan Explorer (Aluminum Hull) with a 40 HP Merc on it. I know that the deck is made of Pressure Treated wood, but I still hate it when the decking gets wet. I always let it dry out throughly in the sun after it gets wet without the cover on. Am I being to anal? Will the Pressure Treated wood take more abuse then I think? It's at the point where I don't even want to fish in the rain due to the fact that I don't want to ruin my boats decking.

[Skwerl]

It will rot about as fast as a boat dock or the front porch on your house.

[SFC Hall]

you can use epoxy resin to seal the deck... you can also add a bit of sand to it, so the deck isn't slick... just a thought.

[RLinNH]

I forgot to mention that the deck is covered from the factory with an all weather carpet.

[SFC Hall]

do you like the color? pull it off, and epoxy it (if it bothers you to much) then put down new carpet... If it were me, I'd just wouldn't worry about it, if it does rot in 5 to 8 years, replace the floor at that time... with treated plywood. A tip for you though, if you can help it at all, don't cover the boat when the carpet is wet, it'll act like a green house under there... then it will rot a lot faster, and you'll get mushrooms, mold and this green slimmy stuff growing (don't ask me how I know, jut trust me on this one) :-?

[RLinNH]

The cover never goes on when the carpet is wet.

[abelfisher]

Frankly, I wouldn't worry about it.  It sounds like you do a good job of keeping it as dry as possible.  It si going to get wet, it's a boat.  But if you let it dry out before covering, you should be ok.  The deck is treated because the manufacturer expects it to get wet.  You are not anal.  You are like me.  My wife thinks I am anal! ;D

[Cajun1977]

your not anal    we pay good money for our stuff and want to keep it in the best condition as possable    your boat will be ok   fishing in the rain  is not a severe issue      leaving it sit in the rain with no cover is an issue   youll be fine    happy fishing

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Go fishing man.  If it ever feels "squishy",..then do some investigating but until then, go enjoy her!

[KYbass1276]

I think your doing the right thing at least your concearnd about taking care of it,  I wouldn't call it being anul.  If you want to see abuse to a boat my wifes uncle bought a $25k boat last year and leaves it outside the majority of the time without the cover on in the sun.  It's already fadeing in some places.  He invited me to go fishing with him and I took him up on it.  I got to his house and when I put my tackle bag in the boat it splashed water on me from where he had left it sit outside with the plug stilll in the boat.  There was about 2 inches of water in the floor of the boat,  Needless to say I put my bag in the the truck with me.

[Nick_Barr]

With My deck I just took Plywood and Painted/Sealed it with Rust-o-leum all weather Paint and its Good to Go!!

[Madhouse27]

RL, have you started asking people to take off their shoes before they get in the boat? ;D

Just kidding, I'm as bad as you are. I've got a tarp to keep the rain off my waterproof boat cover

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

WHATEVER YOU DO,...don't get that boat wet!!...you guys are tapped!!,lol.

[Hot Rod]

Hey RLin,

You'll get over it with time.  I can rember being worried sick right after I bought my boat, which was in late winter.  I thought "man, what if it snows?  I'll have to tow it through all that salt spray".

Like anything else, once you have it for awhile and get used to it then you won't over worry about it.

I always think of this quote to put things in perspective when I'm overly concerned about my gear: "Do you own your stuff, or does your stuff ownt you?"

Of course, this is coming from a guy who had to cut three big trees down in his yard just so he could make the swing with his truck/trailer to get his boat in the garage.    

Yes, I'm a little anal retentive about my boat too, just ask my wife. :

[Cajun1977]

RL, have you started asking people to take off their shoes before they get in the boat? ;D

Just kidding, I'm as bad as you are. I've got a tarp to keep the rain off my waterproof boat cover

i was told not to double cover due to mildew build up

[RLinNH]

Hey RLin,

You'll get over it with time. I can rember being worried sick right after I bought my boat, which was in late winter. I thought "man, what if it snows? I'll have to tow it through all that salt spray".

Like anything else, once you have it for awhile and get used to it then you won't over worry about it.

I always think of this quote to put things in perspective when I'm overly concerned about my gear: "Do you own your stuff, or does your stuff ownt you?"

Of course, this is coming from a guy who had to cut three big trees down in his yard just so he could make the swing with his truck/trailer to get his boat in the garage.

Yes, I'm a little anal retentive about my boat too, just ask my wife. :

         I've had my boat now for going on 7 years. I doubt I'll get over it.