Replacement Teak platform

TREX may be called a lumber but it is by no means structrual. It will sag, especially in the heat. If you didn't want to go with the teak again, take a look at Ipe. It was also known as ironwood. It is really rot resistant and holds up in outdoor environments for many years. The only problem is it is so dense, it doesn't float, if your platform comes off it will sink. But it really shouldn't come off.

Do a search under my user name, there are some pictures of the platform that I made out of Ipe.

I used 4/4 that I had left over from my Ipe deck. I don't think that 6/4 would be needed. That's pretty thick. Unless the original platform uses 6/4. I don't know as I didn't have an original to compare.

This model has 2 layers of (measures 7/8) wood in the platform, I am sure the plastic would be ok, based upon some of the TREX docks on the lake..... plus, for $28 in materials, if I decide it was a mistake.....oh well.

If you are keeping the boat I think you would be much happier with wood. Teak will hold up remarkably well with proper care every year.

But, whatever floats your boat.

Tom, Southeast Correct Craft told me a new fiberglass boarding platform is about $1500 for a new board. Mark

Here's what I did for my platform, and it may also work for you. I have an older boat and a limited budget, so I wanted to be cheap but still have a good platform. So, I watched eBay for swim platforms, of all sizes. Eventually, one came up that was huge, from a large sailboat. It was 8' long! It was only two hours away, and the seller was requiring local pickup. It didn't sell, so I contacted him and got the platform for $160, below his asking price.

Typically, platforms are not glued together, only screwed. This is so you can take it apart and oil it every year. This was the case with my platform. So, I took it apart and cut it down to size for my boat, then put it back together. The end result is a pretty nice platform that only set my back $160. Plus, I have plenty of left over pieces for repairs later on since the original was so big.

Here's a picture of my boat with the platform on. I think it turned out pretty well.



If you decide to go with trex, keep in mind you'll have to support it like a deck, every 16" at a minimum. Anything more than that and it will sag noticeably when you put weight on it. It may not show up much in the water, because the whole boat moves to compensate for the weight, but I'd be curious to know how it turns out if you try it.

If I were to try trex, I would get four swim platform brackets (to give it the support trex would need) on the back of the boat and then through bolt (not screw) the trex to the brackets. Basically, you would have a permanent structure with a disposable decking. If you put four 6" wide pieces of trex lengthwise on the brackets, then put similar pieces crosswise, it might work out okay. But you would definitely need the additional brackets in the middle to make it work. The brackets would drive up the initial investment, but then you could just toss out the trex every season instead of oiling or refinishing wood.

I've heard that iroco is a poor man's teak as well. It doesn't have the rich brown color, but does darken with oil. It's also murder on saw blades and I haven't seen a recent price, so this may not be good info.

I have used iron wood on exterior decks of super high end houses and is is really heavy, it can span 2ft, and is beautiful. I dont know how it holds up sitting in the water, but it seems like a good choice of material, 100 times better then trex.

Sorry to start up an old topic, I was searching for teak restoration and started to read this post and I responded before realizing it was from June of 07.

Just for future referencing on this site, I found teak on a site called hardwoodtogo.com. You can buy 6/4 and they fave strips of teak also, it is spendy!

Call these guys for teak products:Teak World
615-444-7269.

Pete, you're just around the corner from Owl hardwood aren't you? That's where I get the majority of my lumber and although I haven't been there in a while they always had a good stock of Ipe and Teak. This will sound strange to a non woodworker but I've spent several hours looking through their racks many times.

you guys are to funny - and Alan, I can relate, I'm a carpenter and love nice material.     
    
Greg

8122pbrainard wrote: 81nautique wrote: Pete, you're just around the corner from Owl hardwood aren't you? I've spent several hours looking through their racks many times. Alan, I'm surprised we haven't run into each other! I hit Owl on my way home from work.

I hit the Lombard store Pete, much closer for me although not as big as the one near you.