Decks

Discussion in 'Construction' started by Anachronus, Aug 29, 2007.

  1. Anachronus

    Anachronus Well-Known Member

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    Has anyone attempted using something other than wood for the decks of their boats? I have no plans to use another substance, but it was a thought that tickled the back of my mind today. Seems to me a sheet styrene would be just as durable...though maybe tougher to work with?
     
  2. JohnmCA72

    JohnmCA72 Member

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    I used 0.030" ABS sheets for my last project & loved it! Entire ship, no wood used at all except that mandated by rule (i.e. balsa skin). Besides being easy to work (can't run a saw too fast, though, or the stuff starts to melt), it absolutely will not warp (unlike plywood) or splinter. Also, it's very flexible so it's easy to install/remove large deck sections over guns, without even needing to aim them some particular way for clearance (which is often necessary with even smaller deck sections of plywood).

    JM
     
  3. Tugboat

    Tugboat Facilitator RCWC Staff Admiral (Supporter)

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    I tan the skins of defeated enemies in sake, and use that. Banzai!
     
  4. bb26

    bb26 Well-Known Member

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    I am currently uning a Sintra deck for my SoDak and it seems to work fine.
     
  5. Anachronus

    Anachronus Well-Known Member

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    For that taught drum like hull. ;)
     
  6. DarrenScott

    DarrenScott -->> C T D <<--

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    I use sheet fibreglass for decking, and am looking at moulding reinforced gun barbettes directly to the deck.
     
  7. JustinScott

    JustinScott Well-Known Member

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    I like the idea of plastic.... that sounds like it would work quite well! Ofcourse you loose that nice "wood deck look". But you could always go over it with three thousand popsicle sticks.
     
  8. Tugboat

    Tugboat Facilitator RCWC Staff Admiral (Supporter)

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    My friend Pete Dmitri uses plastic from "for sale" signs. The ones he uses are reasonably thick, not the flimsy ones. But he swears by them. I'm contemplating giving them a try on my next project.
     
  9. Anachronus

    Anachronus Well-Known Member

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    I think that the flexibility will be handy. I am looking at doing some WWI destroyers with a bit of a curve to the main deck. Much easier to do in a flexible material.

    j.
     
  10. Tugboat

    Tugboat Facilitator RCWC Staff Admiral (Supporter)

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    Ditto for the long sloping deck on the front of most Japanese cruisers :)
     
  11. bb26

    bb26 Well-Known Member

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    To get the wood look on a deck you could use wooden match sticks :)
     
  12. Anachronus

    Anachronus Well-Known Member

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    An excellent example...those bend every which a way.