Decks
A lot of people don't realize that a seawall company that also focuses on boat docks, lifts, and davits can also help with boat decks. We know people in the marina business, so if you have some work you need done on your own boat deck in Sarasota FL, then give us a call. No job is too big or too small, as the old cliché goes!
A deck is that part of the ship where there is a covering or ceiling above a compartment or room. Decks are usually the highest platforms in a ship, they are also mostly made of fine wood. Decks can’t only be built on boats or ships, they can also be built-in personal homes; they are usually flat platforms attached beside the home to provide extra room for occupants. These platforms are usually elevated from the ground and can serve different purposes like being an outdoor patio. Sarasota Seawalls are experts are deck construction. We have the experience and skill to construct a well-finished deck for you. We specialize in giving a ship the beauty they deserve by constructing the best and most durable decks available in the market. Here are some deck types available. Poop Deck This deck is a small area meant for vessel commanders to monitor and observe navigations and make directional changes when necessary. Poop decks are usually located at the rear end of the vessel, mostly used as the roof of a cabin. This part of the vessel gives superior ship crew the space to properly navigate through the sea. This relatively small deck is built with proper attention to detail in order to avoid damages that could cause serious problems in motion. Main Deck The main deck is the primary and usually the most important deck in the vessel. These decks usually serve as the main roof to almost every cabin in the ship. It spans throughout the entire vessel and below and above, we may have other supplementary or smaller decks. It could also be considered as a structural beam holding the dorsal part of the ship together. However, you shouldn't get confused, this deck is not the highest or topmost deck on the vessel. It just happens to be the central, most important deck in the vessel. Upper And Lower Deck As the name suggests, upper decks are located at the topmost part of the ship. They are the “floors” at the top of the ship and they are usually the widest. Upper decks span from the fore down to the rear part of the vessel and are made with really strong and polished wood; this is important as this part of the ship could be exposed to weather elements. Lower decks are usually below the main decks in a vessel. They are made to serve as supplementary decks to the main deck, usually put above cabins and rooms. In vessels, lower decks are usually more than one; depending on how big the vessel is, they could be between three and ten. Bridge Deck This part of the vessel is where the navigation gadgets are kept. Commanders and high ranked navigation officers route and re-route the vessel when necessary. This decking is similar to a cockpit in an airplane, this is where communications, sailing, and navigation takes place. Bridge decks are usually small and built with a transparent windshield where the sailors can see through. |
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Enjoy Your Property View with a Custom Deck
We at Sarasota Seawall Services will advise you on material selection, custom design, maintenance service, and cleaning tips whether you are updating or building a custom deck. Following the selection of design materials, we will build or install your new deck, which will include ongoing maintenance and a manufacturer's warranty. Decks offers high-quality marine construction. Fortunately for you, we only use the best materials available, which have been hand-picked for quality and durability. Our fasteners are all 316 stainless steel and are installed in a professional pattern. For each client, we will only use the highest quality products.
Not only are we your go-to seawall contractors, but we also provide a one-stop shop for everything needed to build and outfit your deck. We have everything, including ladders. To name a few, luxury amenities include outdoor showers, fish cleaning tables, dock fenders, piling caps, and dock boxes. We also have stainless steel outdoor grills, seawalls, piling wrap, custom cable stainless steel handrails, custom boat lifts, and walk planks that will outlast any competitor! Remember to inquire about our boat lift services as well. We invite you to contact us with any questions you may have and to set up a consultation to begin designing your dream deck.
Teak Wood Decks
Decks on large or high-end boats are often finished with traditional teak wood decks. Teak has excellent non-slip properties, and no one can deny how beautiful it is. However, teak is more expensive, more easily damaged, and requires more maintenance than fiberglass.
Closed-Cell Foam Deck Padding
Many of the top boat builders have finished their decks or portions of their decks with stick-on high-density closed-cell foam padding in the last decade or so. Standing on a foam cushion is far more comfortable than standing on hard fiberglass, and it can even reduce the amount of physical wear and tear a boater feels at the end of the day. And when it comes to kneeling down, the difference in comfort is enormous. The foam decking also looks great, can be customized with patterns and logos, and is no more difficult to clean up than an aggressive non-skid. Moreover, foam decking has excellent non-slip properties, possibly the best of all these different options.
However, there are some potential drawbacks to a foam-padded finish. Most foam decking has a shorter lifespan than fiberglass, lasting only five to seven years if left exposed to the sun. The sticky backing may peel away, necessitating repair. In some cases, the interior design of the boat can reflect sunlight at angles that concentrate it and melt or burn a section of the foam.
Not only are we your go-to seawall contractors, but we also provide a one-stop shop for everything needed to build and outfit your deck. We have everything, including ladders. To name a few, luxury amenities include outdoor showers, fish cleaning tables, dock fenders, piling caps, and dock boxes. We also have stainless steel outdoor grills, seawalls, piling wrap, custom cable stainless steel handrails, custom boat lifts, and walk planks that will outlast any competitor! Remember to inquire about our boat lift services as well. We invite you to contact us with any questions you may have and to set up a consultation to begin designing your dream deck.
Teak Wood Decks
Decks on large or high-end boats are often finished with traditional teak wood decks. Teak has excellent non-slip properties, and no one can deny how beautiful it is. However, teak is more expensive, more easily damaged, and requires more maintenance than fiberglass.
Closed-Cell Foam Deck Padding
Many of the top boat builders have finished their decks or portions of their decks with stick-on high-density closed-cell foam padding in the last decade or so. Standing on a foam cushion is far more comfortable than standing on hard fiberglass, and it can even reduce the amount of physical wear and tear a boater feels at the end of the day. And when it comes to kneeling down, the difference in comfort is enormous. The foam decking also looks great, can be customized with patterns and logos, and is no more difficult to clean up than an aggressive non-skid. Moreover, foam decking has excellent non-slip properties, possibly the best of all these different options.
However, there are some potential drawbacks to a foam-padded finish. Most foam decking has a shorter lifespan than fiberglass, lasting only five to seven years if left exposed to the sun. The sticky backing may peel away, necessitating repair. In some cases, the interior design of the boat can reflect sunlight at angles that concentrate it and melt or burn a section of the foam.
Boat Deck ConstructionToday's boat decks are typically made of cored fiberglass and rest on top of the stringers and bulkheads of the boat. Most decks were traditionally cored with marine plywood, and some still are today. Unfortunately, older boats with old-tech ply cores frequently suffer from rot damage at some point in their service life, resulting in spongy or flexing sections that must be repaired. Despite the fact that more modern marine ply is rot-resistant and often comes with long-term or even lifetime warranties, many builders have shifted away from it and instead core the deck with light but rigid foam composites. In either case, a well-built deck requires that both the construction and the structural support remain completely flat and rigid rather than flexing. For that, trust Sarasota Seawalls on your next boat deck construction in Sarasota FL!
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Basics of Boat Deck Design
While it may appear that a boat deck that is structurally sound, has good non-slip properties, and looks and feels good underfoot is ideal, design also plays a significant role in how well or poorly it serves you. It's important to remember that most modern boats have seat bases, coolers, and fishboxes built right into the deck. Their location and functionality may not appear to be related to the deck, but because they're physically a part of it, they are — and how they're designed can have a significant impact on how functional the deck is.
Drainage
The importance of drainage cannot be overstated. Boat decks must be built in such a way that they drain when the boat is at rest, whether fully loaded, partially loaded, or unloaded. A slope or crown in the deck is commonly designed by a builder to shed water to the sides and aft towards the scuppers. A poorly designed deck, on the other hand, may have areas where water becomes trapped in corners or pockets created by seat bases or other molded-in furniture. Water may run into the boat from the scuppers or pool forward where it cannot drain in an extremely problematic design. Other issues can arise if fishboxes or hatches built into the deck lack gutters and/or drains that direct water overboard. This can result in flooded stowage compartments or allow water into the bilge, where pumps must be used to evacuate it. On the other hand, the best boat decks can shed large amounts of water regardless of where or how it enters the boat. Access hatches and integrated fishboxes are watertight, and any gutters that may exist channel water to dedicated drains that direct it overboard.
Casting Decks
Casting decks on fishing boats are another aspect of boat deck design that is frequently overlooked. Forward and/or aft casting decks are built into many different types of saltwater fishing boats (such as flats boats and bay boats) and freshwater fishing boats (such as bass boats). However, different fishing styles have different needs, and some casting decks serve anglers well while others fall short. Fly fishermen, for example, require perfectly smooth decks with no obstructions or their line will get snagged in the middle of the cast. Items like chocks and cleats must be pop-up or pull-up in order to be smooth when collapsed. Live bait anglers frequently prefer casting decks with built-in livewells so they don't have to travel to the opposite end of the boat to freshen up their bait. Casting decks with integrated foot controls for their bow-mounted electric trolling motor are also popular among bass anglers.
How will you know which boat deck is best for your specific needs when you're looking at options? Construction can be researched, finishes are mostly a matter of personal preference, and design can be evaluated and tested on the water. What's most important is that you recognize how important the deck is when judging any boat as a whole. And, rather than simply standing on it, conduct a thorough examination of the deck from stern to stern.
Drainage
The importance of drainage cannot be overstated. Boat decks must be built in such a way that they drain when the boat is at rest, whether fully loaded, partially loaded, or unloaded. A slope or crown in the deck is commonly designed by a builder to shed water to the sides and aft towards the scuppers. A poorly designed deck, on the other hand, may have areas where water becomes trapped in corners or pockets created by seat bases or other molded-in furniture. Water may run into the boat from the scuppers or pool forward where it cannot drain in an extremely problematic design. Other issues can arise if fishboxes or hatches built into the deck lack gutters and/or drains that direct water overboard. This can result in flooded stowage compartments or allow water into the bilge, where pumps must be used to evacuate it. On the other hand, the best boat decks can shed large amounts of water regardless of where or how it enters the boat. Access hatches and integrated fishboxes are watertight, and any gutters that may exist channel water to dedicated drains that direct it overboard.
Casting Decks
Casting decks on fishing boats are another aspect of boat deck design that is frequently overlooked. Forward and/or aft casting decks are built into many different types of saltwater fishing boats (such as flats boats and bay boats) and freshwater fishing boats (such as bass boats). However, different fishing styles have different needs, and some casting decks serve anglers well while others fall short. Fly fishermen, for example, require perfectly smooth decks with no obstructions or their line will get snagged in the middle of the cast. Items like chocks and cleats must be pop-up or pull-up in order to be smooth when collapsed. Live bait anglers frequently prefer casting decks with built-in livewells so they don't have to travel to the opposite end of the boat to freshen up their bait. Casting decks with integrated foot controls for their bow-mounted electric trolling motor are also popular among bass anglers.
How will you know which boat deck is best for your specific needs when you're looking at options? Construction can be researched, finishes are mostly a matter of personal preference, and design can be evaluated and tested on the water. What's most important is that you recognize how important the deck is when judging any boat as a whole. And, rather than simply standing on it, conduct a thorough examination of the deck from stern to stern.