Thread: what do i seal my platform with?

When I have replaced wood decks, I used pressure treated ply. Let it dry real good. Usually straight from store it will not be dry thru and thru because of pressure treating. If it is good and dry I coat with Marine Spar Varnish. Let it soak in. I put 2-3 good coats with 24 hrs between coats. Then covered with indoor out door carpet from Lowes or Home Depot. Has held up well. Would think any of your better oil based sealers would work well. Water base just seems not to stick well to pressure treated. Or just use a good oil base primer. You could also go to a paint store and see if they have a nonskid paint with the sand in it for commercial use. They now offer some of those in a single part water based epoxy.

I have always heard that treated wood would eventually cause problems in aluminum boats.....heard the chemicals used in treating would react with the aluminum and cause pin holes etc.

I have heard the same thing as G

Correct on the pressure treated lumber and aluminum boats (with the old treated lumber with arsenic in it). The new AC2 lumber doesn't use it but there isn't enough data on it in regards to what it will do to aluminum. Regardless, he isn't putting it on his boat, it is on his trailer as a step platform.

I would do what Cray said however, I would not cover it with carpet. I would use Stick on safety tread. The kind that looks like asphalt shingles. It can be bought in strips or can be bought in larger pieces. Menards and other stores like that carry it. It has a sticky back to it however I would affix it with a good non water salable adhesive. I know they sell these treads in many of the box style stores (can be expensive) however, most of the ones I have seen are built out of thick steel grate material and affixed to the trailer with "U" bolts. Carpet is going to hold moisture and mildew and can be slippery at times. Just my

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll just go with the oil based paint suggestion and maybe a coat ort two of poly over that At a later time I might use some contact cement and glue some foam exercise matting over the top. I have already done that to the floor of the boat . Walmart had rolls of it in sporting good for $20 a roll and it covered the whole floor. It seems to be holding very well and I did seal it on the edges with black silicone. Water just beads up on it and rolls right to the drains. it was also an easy way to cover the spider cracking and feels great under your feet!

Take it to a business that sprays truck beds-this coating is tough,non-skid,and long-lasting!

I would use untreated wood. Use a 50/50 mix of polyester fiberglass resin and acetone. This thins the resin. Put thin coats on it and allow to soak in. I've built decks this way with OSB and had really great results. You would be amazed at how well the resin works after thinned.

I like the rubber mat idea or the bed liner. Whatever way you go with the treating of the wood. I use burnt motor oil and diesel on our flatbed trailer floors. Untreated wood. Thin coats allow to soak in. Will last forever. Just my .02 cents. Even adds a neat coloring to the grain.

I am a fan of epoxy and have used a couple different versions of the penetrating epoxies. Some of which have been in service for over 20 years and still no sign of deterioration. Do some research on marine grade penetrating epoxy.