PVC board for boat deck

[Capt.Joe]

Has anyone had experience using PVC board for the deck? I came across a thread where she mentioned using this material for her deck. If not for the deck, what are some other common uses?

[boatnamesue]

High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is what ur referring to....in the marine world it's most often called starboard.  Never heard of it being used as deck material (would def cost an arm and leg for amount required to lay deck).  Many applications it's used for bc it can easily be cut/shaped, holds hardware, resistant to exposure, etc. 

[mshugg]

I don’t recall seeing anyone use PVC board for a deck.  It could be a lower cost alternative to some of the more specialized foams.  I used some to build out my shear.  I wanted something a little denser (for screw retention) than the typical foams.  I think the most common use in boat building is backing upholstery.

The chief limitation for a deck would be that it is molded with smooth surfaces (or wood grain on 1face if you’re buying at big box lumber store).  You would need to sand the surface to open up the cel structure before laminating.

[dirtwheelsfl]

Kinda heavy for a deck, its 20# density. More suited for a transom or somewhere hi density is needed. The homie depot variety is different than the stuff fiberglass supply places sell too.

[wingtime]

You talking about using it as a core material? Or just as a deck by itself?

[Capt.Joe]

You talking about using it as a core material? Or just as a deck by itself?

I was looking at using it as a core material. Just trying to think of other options for the deck.

[wingtime]

Yeah won't work for a core material. Glass won't bond to it. Plus HEAVY.

[boatnamesue]

Forgot to mention in my last...and to add to wingtime last....drawback w/working w/starboard is it's resistant to every bonding substrate i know of except epoxy....not even 5200 will bond. 

[mshugg]

Forgot to mention in my last...and to add to wingtime last....drawback w/working w/starboard is it's resistant to every bonding substrate i know of except epoxy....not even 5200 will bond.

They’re not talking about Starboard.  Starboard is polyethylene.  PVC is polyvinyl chloride, 2 completely different chemistries, 2 completely different sets of working properties.

You can laminate to PVC, but not to starboard.  All those PVC drains we make using PVC pipe prove that point.

[mshugg]

Here’s an example of a lamination with PVC board:



Here’s another one:





As dirtwheels mentioned it is heavier than the typical deck cores like divynicel or NidaCore, but at 20 pounds, it’s still lighter than wood or 26 pound Coosa.it works a lot like wood and you can use heat to bend it.