Re-Decking Your Pontoon Boat: What You Need to Know

We've been re-decking pontoon boats at Charles Mill Marina for over 30 years. Our re-decking experts have seen every shape, size and variety of pontoon or pontoon houseboat imaginable and we have redecked them all! Whether you have a soft deck on your pontoon boat or if you just want new flooring, a re-deck is a great way to make even the oldest pontoon boats look brand-new.

Check out this video to see us transform a boat with old, deteriorated carpet into a beautiful boat that looks like new:
 

 

 

Get Re-Deck Estimate

Charles Mill Marina is the leading provider of all of the materials you need to redeck your boat yourself. We sell everything you need to re-deck your pontoon boat, including:

• Marine-Grade Plywood (8' and 8.5' sheets, includes lifetime limited warranty)
• Stainless Steel Hardware
• Self-Tapping Screws
• Premium Marine Vinyl Flooring
• Marine-grade glue
• Lights, wiring and marine electronics
• New furniture
• New motors
• Steering and Throttle Cables

Re-Deck FAQ

1. When do I need to contact Charles Mill Marina to make sure my re-deck spot is reserved?

We typically do around 20 re-decks in the winter, starting in December. We do fill up our list of re-decks quickly, so it's highly recommended to contact us in the late-summer in order to guarantee your spot for the coming re-deck season.

2. How is marine-grade plywood different from treated plywood?

Treated plywood, like the kind you might find at your local home improvement store, is only treated on the two outer most plys. There are 7-plys that are compressed together, meaning that the inner 5 plys are just regular plywood and susceptible to mildue and rot. When this happens, the deck will soften and you will notice weak spots in the flooring.

Marine-grade plywood is treated on all 7 plys, and then compressed into a single 3/4" sheet. This provides a superior level of protection to water damage and ensures the longevity of your deck.
 

3. I only want to replace my carpet with vinyl. Why do I need new plywood too?

So your decking is solid, and you just want to replace the carpet with vinyl? Unfortunately, when you go to remove that carpet it's likely that you'll be pulling up pieces of the deck with it. Marine-grade glue adheres very hard, and does not come up easy. That's why we always recommend replacing the entire deck with new plywood and hardware to ensure that there aren't issues down the line. 

4. Should I try to redeck my boat myself?

It really depends on the tools you have at hand and your experience level with these types of projects. It may seem simple, but there are a lot of factors that can complicate the process, such as:
 

• It can be challenging to remove the carpeting, especially boats that were made in the last 25 years
• Furniture can be challenging to remove because of how some manufacturers bolt the furniture to the deck
• Hardware can rust out, meaning you'll need to remove them with a sawzall or other type of saw
• Laying down the new flooring requires a heated, inside area to ensure proper adherance of the marine-glue. If it's too cold the glue will not adhere. If you get debris (like leaves or dust) on the glue, it will not properly adhere.
• You will need a weighted roller to ensure that the new flooring adheres uniformly
• Re-wiring a boat can be very challenging, as you'll need to remove old wires when taking the panels off
• Re-running steering cables and motor controls can be very tricky, especially if they aren't new

It's certainly not impossible, and we're happy to provide any guidance you will need if you choose to re-deck your own pontoon.