Water Sealer on underside of deck?

[clemsonfor]

I have a 20 year old Crest Pontoon. I trailer it and put it in the shed each time and then cover the boat once dry. A far as I know this is the original deck. Its in good shape, no soft spots or signs or rot really, but I was wondering if anyone thinks it would be of any benefit to use like a Thompsons Water Sealer or Olympic deck type sealers and coat the underside of it to help repel some of the water that splashes up onto the boat? Just thinking of a way to make that wood last as long as possible.

 

[Scott Danforth]

right now if the wood gets wet, it can dry. if you seal the bottom, it may promote moisture retention as the top has glue and carpet.

 

[ahicks]

Storing it like you are, I doubt seriously you'll ever have an issue - unless a tree falls on the shed or something. I'm with Scott on this one. Left untreated, it's not unusual for them to last 20 years or longer.

 

[bigdee]

right now if the wood gets wet, it can dry. if you seal the bottom, it may promote moisture retention as the top has glue and carpet.

Agree++++Let it breathe.

 

[clemsonfor]

Thanks guys that was actually what I was leaning too as well, the top is carpet so it obviously gets wet when we get in out of the water wet. But I put it in the shed and if it get really wet from rain or lots of people swimming I try to leave it in the sun for most of a day or something to dry before it goes in the shed then wait days under the shed before I put the cover on it so every thing can breathe. but other than really hard blowing rain very little moisture actually even makes it to the cover once its covered and then almost nothing would get under the cover. And usually we go out 2 days in a row max this week was an unusual one where I took 2 days off with the 4th and we went out each of the 5 days I had off for the long weekend. We had a blast and used the boat every day, returning to the shed each night.

I also use a piece of shag carpet in the front to help protect the worn original carpet and absorb some water in the front of the boat, but its pulled up after each use and hung to dry, it often keeps most of the moisture off the floor as well.

 

[Scott Danforth]

just keep doing what your doing. when the deck gets soft, pull the fence, pull the console and put down a layer of exterior grade plywood with new carpet on it, reinstall the fence, etc and go boating for another 25-30 years. Helped my buddy deck his Crest II about 20-24 years ago.

 

[clemsonfor]

just keep doing what your doing. when the deck gets soft, pull the fence, pull the console and put down a layer of exterior grade plywood with new carpet on it, reinstall the fence, etc and go boating for another 25-30 years. Helped my buddy deck his Crest II about 20-24 years ago.

This actually is a Crest II its a 22ft model I think they call it the 22-23 is their model number. Its a great boat, Its a 97. First toon the wife and I have been on since her parents sold theirs 11 years or so ago. This is more of the old school type, no overly cushy seats but still a great boat, plenty of room, has a 60Hp Evenrude motor on it, slow my center console standards but plenty fast for a pontoon and can pull an inflatable for my son when we get around to getting one for him and one of us, he is only 4 now. I love the fuel tank in the motor pod, frees up some space and keeps the fuel in the center of the boat for better load distribution. Its a 24 or 25 gallon tank and the boat seems pretty good on fuel if you keep it 80% or less throttle. The previous owner had all the seats redone so they look perfect still. We absolutely love the boat. Has got me really re energized about boating again.

 

[Scott Danforth]

my buddy's Crest 2 is on its 3rd motor, only a storage bin remains within the fence that houses 2 batteries, two fuel tanks and the largest stereo on the lake. found that folding camp chairs work best for him as the boat does duty as the following:

fishing boat
party barge
swim raft
anchor point for jet skis and ski boats
golf platform (we hit about 100 balls off the boat, then go get them with snorkel and fins)
lake maintenance (he is the most active member of the lake association)
buoy deployment and retrieval
dock installation foundation

his boat used to put on about 600 hours a year. i think he is down to about 300 per year now since he got the Harley. its the first boat on Clark Lake in Sturgeon bay in the spring about 3 days after ice-out and the last boat off the lake

 

[dls322]

I completely re-decked a 1997 Crest 22' pontoon about 5 years ago. I have pictures if you have any questions.

 

[clemsonfor]

I completely re-decked a 1997 Crest 22' pontoon about 5 years ago. I have pictures if you have any questions.

I will have to keep that in mind. I hope to never have to do it, but never is a long time!!! This one hopefully will need carpet at some point but not a deck.