how to put a deck on a 15 ft tracker topper

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reedjj said:
What kind of deck?

Front fishing/casting deck? Flooring? Rear casting fishing deck? Raised bowfishing deck?
I want a deck made out of wood I no that but the design I dont
 
Im guessing you are talking about the Tracker 1542?

Baitcaster has that boat and used some rubber matting between the ribs for his flooring. https://www.tinboats.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=14160&hilit=tracker+1542


I have an Alumacraft 1542 with a wood floor. This is how I did mine
https://www.tinboats.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=17299&hilit=swamp+sled

Hope that helps a little.
 
reedjj said:
Im guessing you are talking about the Tracker 1542?

Baitcaster has that boat and used some rubber matting between the ribs for his flooring. https://www.tinboats.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=14160&hilit=tracker+1542


I have an Alumacraft 1542 with a wood floor. This is how I did mine
https://www.tinboats.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=17299&hilit=swamp+sled

Hope that helps a little.
Yeah the one that is really wide
 
https://www.trackerboats.com/boat/?boat=3300

Currently the biggest riveted (Topper series) boat that Tacker makes is the Tracker Topper 15. Its 15 feet long and has a 42 inch floor. See link above.

Any bigger than that from tracker and you are going to have a welded Modified V hull boat. Like the tracker grizzley 1448, 1648,1754, an on up to the 2072.
 
It doesn't matter which one it is.........15/32nds or 1/2" plywood coated with at least 3 coats of Spar Urethane will do the trick. Some have used 1/4 inch with no problem but I have had trouble with it warping and curling up when it gets wet. 3/4 is just too heavy and not needed in my opinion.

I coated mine with 3 coats of Minwax helmsman spar urethane in a spray can. paying special attention to the edges and where cuts where made. I also put another coat on after assembly or any additional cuts or screws were installed. I then painted mine OD green. But you can just glue carpet on or whatever you want for a deck surface.

DO NOT use treated Lumber it will corrode aluminum, and don't waste your money on marine plywood. Regular exterior sheeting will work fine. Just make sure you seal it up good. Like I said above I (and many others) used spar urethane, some just use thompsons water seal (but just like with a deck you need to reapply it every year or so) or you can go all the way and completley encapsulate the wood with Fiberglass resin (too much work in my opinion)

Myself and some others put foam under the floor between the ribs to support the wood and to help keep it quiet. Be sure to use closed cell foam so it does not soak up water and get heavy over time. Also be sure to use stainless, brass, or glavanized hardware. Regular steel screws will not last long in the elements.
 
clarkbre said:
With wood and screws.

hahaha yea! Simply stated!


I wanted to be able to get mine out easily for cleaning so I put self adhesive Industrial strength 2" wide velcro strips along the tops of the ribs and put the flooring down on top of it. The adhesive holds one side to the top of the rib and the other side to the bottm sided of the plywood floor. It holds it down really well. If I want to pull the floor up I have to get help to do it becuase it holds it down so good. But I am able to get it out, and I didn't have to drill any holes or screw anything into my hull.

It was cheap and easy (the way I like it) and I don't have to worry about corroding screws or galvanic corrosion or whatever its called when two different metals touch.
 

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