EVA foam decking

Fly'n Family said:
Used it today.....we'll see how it looks when dry, but it looks like it did a great job. A couple of small spots (spider crap) left a bit of a stain which I'll have to use a brush and soap on - but it freshened everything up quite nicely. We're just getting to where we can go barefoot onboard, so it was a couple of months of everyone onboard wearing shoes as the main contributor to the dirty aspect.

I read somewhere online to use a lower PSI and keep 8+ inches or more away, and don't spray directly on the edges. I turned mine down to is lower setting of 1300 psi, and followed the above with very good results using a 15 degree width spray pattern. I'll see the final results tomorrow when everything is completely dry.
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So checked it this afternoon, all dry - and the power washing at a low setting did a real nice job. Got everything except a couple of spots that will require soap and a brush. I'll be doing it this way moving forward......a KISS theory approach with good results.
 
The decking can fail from high heat, especially from concentrated sun reflection straight off of gelcoat. In fact in their literature, they don't warranty that type of failure.
 
douglee25 said:
The decking can fail from high heat, especially from concentrated sun reflection straight off of gelcoat. In fact in their literature, they don't warranty that type of failure.
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Dumbest thing I ever heard of. Let's make a product. Market it for boating. Charge close to 4 grand. Oh yah, just don't use it near shiny gelcote I the direct sun. Way to go seadek! Next time I'll read the fine print.
 
Riptide III said:
Dumbest thing I ever heard of. Let's make a product. Market it for boating. Charge close to 4 grand. Oh yah, just don't use it near shiny gelcote I the direct sun. Way to go seadek! Next time I'll read the fine print.
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Isn't it. Horrible if you ask me.
 
Riptide III said:
Dumbest thing I ever heard of. Let's make a product. Market it for boating. Charge close to 4 grand. Oh yah, just don't use it near shiny gelcote I the direct sun. Way to go seadek! Next time I'll read the fine print.
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You guys really think this stuff fails under typical reflections coming from some well polished gelcoat? Come on now....let's be realistic. Sea Dek is everywhere. If it were failing in this manner I think we'd all have heard about it.

Out of curiosity I read the warranty this AM. It specifically states it does not warranty the product at temps exceeding 165 degrees F. Unless the sunlight is being focused by a convex surface or some other optical feature on the boat you're not getting to 165 degrees F. You may be really good at waxing but this would be pretty extreme. :)
 
Stee6043 said:
You guys really think this stuff fails under typical reflections coming from some well polished gelcoat? Come on now....let's be realistic. Sea Dek is everywhere. If it were failing in this manner I think we'd all have heard about it.

Out of curiosity I read the warranty this AM. It specifically states it does not warranty the product at temps exceeding 165 degrees F. Unless the sunlight is being focused by a convex surface or some other optical feature on the boat you're not getting to 165 degrees F. You may be really good at waxing but this would be pretty extreme. :)
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I'm sorry to say but your assumptions are false. There are many documented cases of it failing from normal use. I've been using EVA foam for over 20 years now. SeaDek is not proprietary. They just do a good job at marketing. Even back then it failed starting at the edges. It gets hard, shrivels, and peels away from the surface. It was so cheap back in the day that no one gave a shit. Peel it up, pattern a new piece, and contact cement the piece down, silicon the edges. Done. Now that that SeaDek is in the market, they charge somewhere between $30-$40 per square ft installed. It used to be priced at $2.50/sq ft. How is that for mark up? And SeaDek won't stand behind it because they can't. It's truly not the best material for high temperatures but everyone uses it regardless. It's a gamble but it sure does feel good on your bare feet.
 
douglee25 said:
I'm sorry to say but your assumptions are false. There are many documented cases of it failing from normal use. I've been using EVA foam for over 20 years now. SeaDek is not proprietary. They just do a good job at marketing. Even back then it failed starting at the edges. It gets hard, shrivels, and peels away from the surface. It was so cheap back in the day that no one gave a shit. Peel it up, pattern a new piece, and contact cement the piece down, silicon the edges. Done. Now that that SeaDek is in the market, they charge somewhere between $30-$40 per square ft installed. It used to be priced at $2.50/sq ft. How is that for mark up? And SeaDek won't stand behind it because they can't. It's truly not the best material for high temperatures but everyone uses it regardless. It's a gamble but it sure does feel good on your bare feet.
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One of the things the MarineMat dealer that I spoke to recently pointed out was that they use a primer around the edges. He didn't specify what that was, but he indicated it made a more robust seal, minimizing the edge peeling, shriveling. That's the only person I've heard make mention of taking an additional step when installing for securing the edges. And that includes a lot of reading on line (here and other forums).

Does anyone know about the install process? Everything I read is simply "peel and stick".

MarineMat also has their snap-in option, where they actually hem/bind the edges. That would certainly protect the edges, and it may help stop them from curling. But you'd have to be OK with a snap-in solution...
 
The primer may be some sort of wax/grease remover to promote adhesion (something every installer should be doing anyway). The silicone we used prevented water from getting under the seams.

I can't comment specifically on the snap in option. What I will say is that I'm not really sure how they would offer this type of solution because the foam tears very easily. Up until recently all installations were done with weldwood contact cement. It wasn't until lately that manufacturers started offering peel n stick options. Previously as soon as a side lifted, it would tear with any foot traffic. To have an entire install done with snaps where it isn't glued down is beyond me?
 
douglee25 said:
The primer may be some sort of wax/grease remover to promote adhesion (something every installer should be doing anyway). The silicone we used prevented water from getting under the seams.

I can't comment specifically on the snap in option. What I will say is that I'm not really sure how they would offer this type of solution because the foam tears very easily. Up until recently all installations were done with weldwood contact cement. It wasn't until lately that manufacturers started offering peel n stick options. Previously as soon as a side lifted, it would tear with any foot traffic. To have an entire install done with snaps where it isn't glued down is beyond me?
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I don't know, either. But apparently MM has figured out a way to do it... reliably. And it's unique enough (?) that they've filed patents on it:

https://www.tradeonlytoday.com/industry-news/marine-mat-close-gaining-patent-eva-foam-traction-mat

This is an older article, but I believe several new boat mfrs have been installing this from the factory. We saw several at a show over the weekend - Monterrey was one I remember by name.
 
I saw some snapped in at a boat show.
snap in .jpg
 
Looks like they applied a different backing to the snap on version of SeaDek. Perhaps to strengthen it. I was surprised how thin this EVA stuff really is. That said, it sure looks great and feels comfortable on the feet.
 
Bridog said:
Looks like they applied a different backing to the snap on version of SeaDek. Perhaps to strengthen it. I was surprised how thin this EVA stuff really is. That said, it sure looks great and feels comfortable on the feet.
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I am pretty sure that’s Marine Mat, not Seadeck. I think that’s the thing they (MM) have the patent on.
 
Stee6043 said:
You guys really think this stuff fails under typical reflections coming from some well polished gelcoat? Come on now....let's be realistic. Sea Dek is everywhere. If it were failing in this manner I think we'd all have heard about it.

Out of curiosity I read the warranty this AM. It specifically states it does not warranty the product at temps exceeding 165 degrees F. Unless the sunlight is being focused by a convex surface or some other optical feature on the boat you're not getting to 165 degrees F. You may be really good at waxing but this would be pretty extreme. :)
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It is failing! Do I need to take pictures of mine to show you? As I stated earlier, if you bothered to read, there is a line at the transom door where the sun reflects down off the gelcote that has shrunk the material and hardenned it, or maybe you think I am just talking out of my a$$
 
Light grey with white "caulk" lines. Easy on the feet and no heat, even in Florida. Wash with a wide spray Harbor Freight pressure washer. 8 months, and still looks new. So cheap, that I can pull a section up and replace at any moment if it gets damaged. 370 Sundancer full cockpit and dive platform done. Doing the AB Nautilus next, and then pull the Sea Dek off of the Yamaha AR190 swim platform, and do it over, and then the cockpit. Search my username for pics in other posts.
 
370Dancer said:
Light grey with white "caulk" lines. Easy on the feet and no heat, even in Florida. Wash with a wide spray Harbor Freight pressure washer. 8 months, and still looks new. So cheap, that I can pull a section up and replace at any moment if it gets damaged. 370 Sundancer full cockpit and dive platform done. Doing the AB Nautilus next, and then pull the Sea Dek off of the Yamaha AR190 swim platform, and do it over, and then the cockpit. Search my username for pics in other posts.
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Saw your info here - https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xduzf8tggrg7xz0/AAAvQ8S0BiAI47Hu67fJ0DLra?dl=0

Can you post some more details about the way you patterned it?
 
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