DIY TRITOON BUILD - Episode 2 - PONTOON VINYL FLOORING INSTALLATION

[@BBKConstruction]

Can’t wait to try this puppy out! “That blade just wasn’t cutting it!” 😂😂😂

[@tomspontoons]

I can’t wait to share how it performs on the water!!!

[@wish2fish]

Wanted to comment that the Deckmate flooring is awesome. I bought from pontoonstuff using your code. The boat has been outside in the month since it has been installed. The rain, leaves and tree flowers just dry and blow off. It is going to be so much better than carpet.

[@tomspontoons]

Love when people share their results too for others to see. By far the biggest item that makes my customers happy is their new vinyl flooring. They can't believe how comfortable it is, how good the traction is on it, and how easy it cleans. Plus it dries so fast that there'll be no more mildew and moss!

[@Pjw350]

Awesome video!

[@tomspontoons]

Thank you so much!!

[@davidharmon4497]

Where are you located? I would love to have you do my tritoon! I cannot find anywhere around me to touch it!!

[@tomspontoons]

Grand Rapids, MI www.tomstoons.com

[@jdthebluecollarconservative]

where do you source your tar tape? Is butyl tape the same? I found butyl tape on the grainger site.

[@tomspontoons]

99.9% of our parts come from PontoonStuff.com/tomstoons . You can search "Pontoon Deck Seam Tape" on their site to find it by the roll. And enter "TOMSTOONS" at checkout to save 5% on your whole purchase!!

[@larrymorris7112]

Is it ok to polish the aluminum pontoons

[@tomspontoons]

Absolutely fine to do so! However, they will fade quickly as aluminum naturally oxidizes and fades. You may want to seal them, but that adds work the next time you want to polish them!!

[@jasona6222]

If you want to replace a floor on a pontoon..use MDO plywood and never replace it again. I glued textured vinyl over my floor but wet carpet won’t hurt it. MDO or sign board…same plywood used to make road signs for years. Does not separate when left outside or when it gets wet. Expensive but I plan to keep the renovated center console pontoon.

[@tomspontoons]

Good to know!! We simply use the same materials readily available and that pontoon manufacturers have used for the last 20-30 years. I have a feeling that plywood is going to last longer than ever with the new vinyl flooring products we’re using now instead of carpet! Aluminum and Poly decks have grown in popularity too lately.

[@ianmacleod1124]

I'm hoping to do my boat in the spring. Can I do it while it is sitting on my bunk trailer or should I remove it from the trailer somehow and set it on blocks?

[@tomspontoons]

There are pluses and minuses to both…but I would say leave it on the bunk trailer to avoid the headaches of getting it in and off the trailer. It makes it much easier to work on wiring and underside stuff when up on a bunk trailer.

[@coreywhite30]

What size is that flooring how can I find a roll that covers my whole flooring everything im finding is long enough but not wide enough can you please help me out I have a 20 foot pontoon

[@tomspontoons]

This flooring is from PontoonStuff.com, and it’s about 8’10” wide. It covers an 8.5’ wide boat with a couple inches to spare on each side.

[@anthonybass7851]

Hey Tom I picked up some marine vinyl flooring that has a thicker backing pad. looks like 1/4” foam, different than the vinyl back from pontoon stuff. Do I use the same adhesive? If not what do you recommend? Is there a way I can send you a picture? Thanks

[@tomspontoons]

You’ll need to reach out to the flooring manufacturer to find out for sure, but I believe I know what you’re referring to…and it should use the same adhesive as long as you’re gluing to wood and not aluminum or other material.

[@tomspontoons]

My email is [e-mail] if you want to send a photo

[@MichaelaMink]

Do you make Tritons to order? Custom with above deck?

[@tomspontoons]

I do not, we just stick to restoring pontoon boats for our customers. We have restored quite a few double deckers though!

[@Justamedic77]

I'm going to be redoing my boat in the off season. Have you ever used composite decking? I've found Coosa board and am considering it

[@tomspontoons]

I’ve heard of lots of folks using it, and I think some manufacturers use it now. However, the majority of boats for the last 50 years have used marine grade treated plywood, which is what we use exclusively. With carpet, that allows water to soak through to the wood and stay wet for long periods of time, most treated ply lasts 20 years or more. Vinyl should improve that significantly because it is waterproof on top meaning your boards stay dry. Big factor with composite or aluminum decking is the adhesive used. Be sure to check with the manufacturer of the vinyl you lay before using solvent based adhesive on their product. It’s the necessary adhesive for non-porous surfaces like Coosa and aluminum. The glue processes is quite different too!

[@awakenedtotruth8419]

Greetings Tom, are the runners positioned in a manner to take full sheets of plywood perfectly for two to meet at the tar tapped runner, or did you have to cut any of the boards?

[@tomspontoons]

Happy New Year! It all depends on the boat. I’ve had some boats that take whole pieces of plywood perfectly, and others that we have to rip down the front, back, or even middle sheets. On this boat in the video the spacing was all sorts of goofy, so I think we had 3 whole 4’x8.5’ boards and then 3 awkward sized…like 43.5”x8.5’…real odd!!!

[@alexchliwnyj5941]

How long will vinyl flooring last on a pontoon boat? The carpet on my 1998 Sun Tracker is finally wearing out and I attribute the long life to an aluminum deck and the quality of pre 2000 products. Everything in the modern disposable world seems to be made cheaper and cheaper. I recovered the battery and fuel tank covers with marine carpet a few years ago and it is starting to wear already. It is too much effort to re carpet to use cheap material that doesn't last. What floor covering will last over 10 years?

[@tomspontoons]

Great question…the vinyl products we install have a 3,000 hour UV stability rating. That’s direct sunlight for 3,000 hours. At that point colors may fade, but the break down structurally like what carpet does shouldn’t be an issue because the material is so different on the surface. I’m hoping vinyl floors offer twice the life of the flooring and the plywood underneath because of the waterproofing capabilities compared to carpet!

[@henrycole8705]

Use only roadway sign Material for deck. M.D.O, and paint it with a marine grade paint. before install. 7 ply plywood like that wont last

[@tomspontoons]

30 year warranty on this plywood…we build and restore them just like the new manufacturers who put lifetime warranties on their plywood decks. Any boat that I’ve seen the plywood outlasts the flooring that’s on top of it.

[@seanburd256]

Are we going to be getting a part 3 or final part

[@tomspontoons]

Yes!! Been super busy getting the boat finished and on the water…will be getting it edited and posted soon! Lots of great stuff to share!

[@richmac918]

I was a little surprised that the cross members didn't allow for full sheets of wood to be used without cutting them but I guess that might not always be the situation. You didn't mention breaking the plywood on top of the crossmembers which you absolutely need to do. I've seen people splice the plywood in between them which makes for a soft and saggy floor and most likely apt to break at some point. Have you ever considered anything other than plywood like cosa board or MDO? I think if I were doing this I'd consider something more permanent and rot resistant than plywood.

[@tomspontoons]

We simply use the same process and materials that most of the pontoon manufacturers have used for the last 30 years…including the same CCA treated plywood that boat brands offer a lifetime warranty on. I think Coosa and other materials will continue being used by some, but the adhesive process is very different and some vinyls and carpet don’t do well with solvent based glues. If folks get 20+ years out of their plywood and vinyl I think it’s well worth the investment.

[@pete6173]

what do you mean by breaking the plywood on top of cross members. thanks

[@tomspontoons]

@@pete6173 if I’m understanding your question, it just means the full 48” sheets of plywood didn’t fall perfectly on the crossmembers like most boats, so we had to rip them down to make the seams line up on crossmembers for support.

[@richmac918]

@@tomspontoons That's exactly what it means Pete

[@richmac918]

@@tomspontoons All good points

[@carsoncarter2349]

Can you put the Vinyl over the old carpet?

[@tomspontoons]

Definitely would not recommend doing that. Not sure how it would stick, it would be adding weight to already heavy carpet, and the wood under most carpet is rotting from the top down.

[@carsoncarter2349]

@@tomspontoons Thanks for the quick reply and answer. I guess all that is left to do is grab it and growl!

[@rafaelgibson3831]

so i have a question why not fold over the extra and glue or staple it down

[@tomspontoons]

It’s not necessary when using deck trim to cover the outside edges, but also it’s very difficult to fold that vinyl because of the thickness. There are other vinyls that are better for wrapping like fishing vinyls, but I’d still want deck trim on the protect the plywood over time!

[@jone4448]

I’m not sure what plywood you’re using ,but pressure treated plywood is corrosive to aluminum. Just looking out for yea.

[@tomspontoons]

We do use CCA treated marine grade plywood. In freshwater it has been used by manufacturers for the last 30+ years with no significant issues. In the wrong environment it could certainly have issues. We have stripped close to 50 boats in the last year or so and have not seen any damage other than very minor pitting (hardly an indent) and some powdery residue on the aluminum. I’ve heard of people having problems, but it’s not something we’ve seen to date!

[@billsales3235]

wood-rot protection on underside of plywood?

[@tomspontoons]

No need to do anything to the bottom when using this plywood. It’s Marine Grade CCA treated. It’s the same plywood that boat builders have been using for decades…and the same stuff that boat brands have put lifetime deck warranties on!

[@billsales3235]

@@tomspontoons ok. cool

[@tomspontoons]

@@billsales3235 Happy to help!