EVA foam decking

I'm getting ready to pull the trigger on this product, looks like you can't beat it for looks, price and comfort. However, I noticed that on most eBay ads, they show a border around the custom cut pieces. Seems impossible, right?

For example, this swim platform: https://www.ebay.com/itm/113153673698?ViewItem=&item=113153673698

No one on this thread has shown anything like this? At first I was concerned about this deception, but all of the photos posted here look great, even without the border!
 
Gunn said:
I'm getting ready to pull the trigger on this product, looks like you can't beat it for looks, price and comfort. However, I noticed that on most eBay ads, they show a border around the custom cut pieces. Seems impossible, right?

For example, this swim platform: https://www.ebay.com/itm/113153673698?ViewItem=&item=113153673698

No one on this thread has shown anything like this? At first I was concerned about this deception, but all of the photos posted here look great, even without the border!
Click to expand...

yeah, they're just stealing seadek or other manufacturer pictures lol
 
2 rolls of 6mm off ebay, pattern made from clear plastic, cad file and water jetting done by local shop. I have the file now if anyone wants it. Cost about $400. there are three sections and the cover for the boarding ladder. One on left is dry and looks lighter. Much better than the $900 I was quoted from Aqua Deck. Material was only $150. The hard part is the pattern file and you don't get outlines or logos.
 

Attachments

  • Foam Decking.jpg
    Foam Decking.jpg
    143.1 KB · Views: 753
Cocktail Time said:
2 rolls of 6mm off ebay, pattern made from clear plastic, cad file and water jetting done by local shop. I have the file now if anyone wants it. Cost about $400. there are three sections and the cover for the boarding ladder. One on left is dry and looks lighter. Much better than the $900 I was quoted from Aqua Deck. Material was only $150. The hard part is the pattern file and you don't get outlines or logos.
Click to expand...

That's a great idea, never even thought of having it cut. Nice job
 
Also, I don't know why, but we were all tied up last weekend and several boats by me had Aqua Deck and this stuff off ebay was much cooler than theirs both the grey and black and brown and black. Have no idea why.
 
Strecker25 said:
That's a great idea, never even thought of having it cut. Nice job
Click to expand...
They originally quoted me $100 to make the file and cut it but it was alot more work than they thought. You should be able to find a water jetting/laser cutting company to cut this stuff perfectly for about $150. They ended up charging me $250 for the job. It took an hour to install at most. I think it looks great and it saved me half a boat buck.
 
Cocktail Time said:
2 rolls of 6mm off ebay, pattern made from clear plastic, cad file and water jetting done by local shop. I have the file now if anyone wants it. Cost about $400. there are three sections and the cover for the boarding ladder. One on left is dry and looks lighter. Much better than the $900 I was quoted from Aqua Deck. Material was only $150. The hard part is the pattern file and you don't get outlines or logos.
Click to expand...

About that plastic...what exactly do you use to make the template? I was thinking to use that heavy brown paper, but the clear plastic sounds much better. Where might I find it?

Thanks,
 
So I'm going to post a somewhat contrarian review to the rest of the content in this thread.

I bought two rolls of the eBay EVA foam discussed here in this thread for the platform and step on my 400. The quality of product is good and the seller is amazing. I received one roll with a permanent black horizontal line through the last 2' +/- rendering that material unusable. The seller quickly refunded the full roll and I bought another to replace it. GREAT service. Quick delivery, even from China. I was impressed. Zero complaints.

Amazing service aside - I'd spend the $900 on the SeaDek pre-cut swim platform kit in a heartbeat if I had to do this over again. I believe I have 3-4 hours of labor invested in the creation of templates (I used wax/butcher paper) and then another 1-2 hours to cut the EVA and apply it to for the lower platform. Another 2-3 hours for the step, maybe 4 hours if I include bathroom breaks.

I would have never imagined it would take this much time. This might be a fun winter layup project but man alive...this is no way to spend two summer days chained to your swim platform.

By the end of this thing I was seriously considering just cutting it on the platform. Get it over with. Spare myself the pain of another template, another razor blade swap, another hour of staring at the gray and black lines.

Also in case you are wondering....if you spill a little gas from you dinghy outboard and fail to clean it up for, lets say, a week - it will leave a mark. A mark that doesn't come off. Bird crap, however, cleans off magically. So there's that.
 
Stee6043 said:
So I'm going to post a somewhat contrarian review to the rest of the content in this thread.

I bought two rolls of the eBay EVA foam discussed here in this thread for the platform and step on my 400. The quality of product is good and the seller is amazing. I received one roll with a permanent black horizontal line through the last 2' +/- rendering that material unusable. The seller quickly refunded the full roll and I bought another to replace it. GREAT service. Quick delivery, even from China. I was impressed. Zero complaints.

Amazing service aside - I'd spend the $900 on the SeaDek pre-cut swim platform kit in a heartbeat if I had to do this over again. I believe I have 3-4 hours of labor invested in the creation of templates (I used wax/butcher paper) and then another 1-2 hours to cut the EVA and apply it to for the lower platform. Another 2-3 hours for the step, maybe 4 hours if I include bathroom breaks.

I would have never imagined it would take this much time. This might be a fun winter layup project but man alive...this is no way to spend two summer days chained to your swim platform.

By the end of this thing I was seriously considering just cutting it on the platform. Get it over with. Spare myself the pain of another template, another razor blade swap, another hour of staring at the gray and black lines.

Also in case you are wondering....if you spill a little gas from you dinghy outboard and fail to clean it up for, lets say, a week - it will leave a mark. A mark that doesn't come off. Bird crap, however, cleans off magically. So there's that.
Click to expand...

It’s definetly a lot of work. I agree that if all I was doing was the platform seadek is worth it. I saved a ton because we did the whole cockpit, which was a lot more.

Did you try a little acetone go clean the gas? I tested scrap with both oil stains and sharpie and the acetone cleaned it off. Wouldn’t want to do it often, but it worked
 
Strecker25 said:
Did you try a little acetone go clean the gas? I tested scrap with both oil stains and sharpie and the acetone cleaned it off. Wouldn’t want to do it often, but it worked
Click to expand...

Acetone, no kidding? I would have never guessed to try that. I happen to have some in my dock box from a prior pinstripe project. Nice. Thank you for the tip!

Your boat looks amazing, by the way. I do agree with your assessment. If you're going to cover a lot of flooring and save some real money this project is a great investment. But to save a few hundred with a pretty steep learning curve....I think it's pretty low on the ROI scale. :)
 
I’m thinking of doing this to my old sea ray 92 330. What I’m curious about is how it would look with all the hatch cuts? There are three aft to get to motors and one on the port side where the batteries are. Would I just cut it right around those hatches? Would it look funky? Anyone got any better pics of their cockpit area around hatches?
 
Stee6043 said:
Acetone, no kidding? I would have never guessed to try that. I happen to have some in my dock box from a prior pinstripe project. Nice. Thank you for the tip!

Your boat looks amazing, by the way. I do agree with your assessment. If you're going to cover a lot of flooring and save some real money this project is a great investment. But to save a few hundred with a pretty steep learning curve....I think it's pretty low on the ROI scale. :)
Click to expand...

Thanks! Let us know how the cleaning works out
 
Almightys said:
I’m thinking of doing this to my old sea ray 92 330. What I’m curious about is how it would look with all the hatch cuts? There are three aft to get to motors and one on the port side where the batteries are. Would I just cut it right around those hatches? Would it look funky? Anyone got any better pics of their cockpit area around hatches?
Click to expand...

I can get better ones, but below is right after I laid mine down. The edges are a little jagged and not quite straight. I am going to trim it back with a 3’ level tomorrow to get them straight and even, but I don’t think the seams look bad. Lay it all out ahead of time and try to plan for where the seams fall on the hatch.
 

Attachments

  • 5E117924-F664-4682-AA77-37B714E4AB48.jpeg
    5E117924-F664-4682-AA77-37B714E4AB48.jpeg
    154.1 KB · Views: 791
Strecker25 said:
I can get better ones, but below is right after I laid mine down. The edges are a little jagged and not quite straight. I am going to trim it back with a 3’ level tomorrow to get them straight and even, but I don’t think the seams look bad. Lay it all out ahead of time and try to plan for where the seams fall on the hatch.
Click to expand...

Ok I see what you did which answered my question. You kept a very minimal space between pieces and hatch lines
 
Almightys said:
Ok I see what you did which answered my question. You kept a very minimal space between pieces and hatch lines
Click to expand...
I did, I actually applied it in one full piece then cut the seams. I’m going to trim it back a little bit which will open the seams slightly but not much
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,112
Messages
1,426,275
Members
61,025
Latest member
jralcorn
Back
Top