My SeaDek Has Arrived!

[Rono007]

Once I bought my boat last December and saw the swim platform and felt how slippery and uncomforatble it was standing, kneeling, lying, sitting and climbing back onto it, I knew I had to do something with it.

My girls are, as of last week, 5 and 7 years old. I know for a fact that they will use that platform and it's steps to the sunpad and into the cockpit more than anything else on the boat. I know my wife will sit on the platform and dangle her feet in the lake as well (she's not a big swimmer, but a lounger).

I looked at a LOT of options over the next few months and after talking with the people at the company, I setteled on SeaDek (they also have a Facebook page). They make a lot of swim platform pads for Sea Ray in many different materials and colors. Knowing what my wife likes and by the interior of our boat, we opted for the faux teak. They sent templates so the custom pads could be made, and a few weeks after sending the templates back, I have the final product!

It's non-slip, comfortable, and looks great! The install should be a breeze as well. Below is the swim platform pad(s), and I also got pads for the lower and upper steps off the swim platform and for the gunwales (so stepping into the boat won't be slippery and it will add to the boat plus keep all non-skid surfaces covered with this product).

I will post the before and after pictures once I start the install on Thursday night and I hope I can do it while the boat stays in it's slip!

More to come.

 

[capecodcruiser]

Thanks, I will be watching this thread as I am considering using the same product. Lot's of pictures would be great!

 

[Tonka Boater]

Looks great! I've heard good things about SeaDek. If it were me I would install it on land where its more stable...and drier. Maybe clean the platform really good one day and let it dry overnight before installing the next. Just me though.

 

[Rono007]

Looks great! I've heard good things about SeaDek. If it were me I would install it on land where its more stable...and drier. Maybe clean the platform really good one day and let it dry overnight before installing the next. Just me though.

It's a great idea, I just don't know if I could do all that by myself. The ramp is a half mile away and to pull the boat is a huge deal to do by myself.

I was thinking I could back the boat into the slip so I can access the platform from all 4 sides. Clean it tonight, cover it, and let it dry until tomorrow night and install it tomorrow night.

I may see if there is someone who can help me pull the boat.

 

[avguy]

I've considered doing the same thing but was a little unsure how it would work on our non-skid platform.

 

[Rono007]

I've considered doing the same thing but was a little unsure how it would work on our non-skid platform.

From what I have seen and heard from others and the people at the company, this is designed to adhere to non-skid. Yoy should go to their blog or Facebook page and see some of their work. It's nice stuff and priced reasonably.

For my swim platform, the back steps and gunwales in faux teak it was around $500. Fit my budget nicely and it just sticks on. I will install tomorrow and let you know.

 

[Rono007]

I went to the slip today to ensure the pieces from SeaDek, taken from the templates I created, would fit properly and to see what they would look like once installed on the boat.

To say I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement.

Here are the BEFORE and AFTER pics and I am still set to install late tomorrow afternoon.

If there's an issue of any sort, it's the way the platform pad was shipped. It was folded lightly in third's. As a result, some of the adhesive backing is coming up and is now exposed to the air. I'm worried it may lose some of it's tackiness, but the people at SeaDek assure me it won't be an issue.

More to come....

 

[Pietro]

It looks very nice Ron, but....I do not know if I like it on the gunwales.... :smt017

..

 

[Rono007]

It looks very nice Ron, but....I do not know if I like it on the gunwales.... :smt017

Thanks for the honesty. You know, I'm not sure either, but I had them made anyway while I was placing the order.

My thoughts here were that all the other non-skids were covered, so why not the gunwales. Also, when we (and guests) are boarding and disembarking, this is the place where the foot meets the boat for the first time, and it's slippery on a dewy morning or after being out all day. This would make it a bit safer for weary feet at the end of the day.

 

[billnpat]

Thanks for the honesty. You know, I'm not sure either, but I had them made anyway while I was placing the order.

My thoughts here were that all the other non-skids were covered, so why not the gunwales. Also, when we (and guests) are boarding and disembarking, this is the place where the foot meets the boat for the first time, and it's slippery on a dewy morning or after being out all day. This would make it a bit safer for weary feet at the end of the day.

Good Point......The swim platform looks good with the application...:thumbsup:

 

[Bucit]

I agree. I like it on the swim platform. I looked at their website the other day and it looks like a neat product. How hard is it to remove if you don't like it or it fails down the road?

 

[Rono007]

It is a good product thus far into the process.

I'm not sure about removal. I think with a heat gun and a dull blade you can probably remove it with some work. I gave the company the URL for this thread, so maybe they can answer that if they read this. I do know of some customers and stories where they have had it on for a few years and it's still good as new.

As for the gunwales ... any other opinions on whether I should install it there? I'm leaning towards Yes at the moment.

 

[avguy]

I like it :thumbsup:

 

[billnpat]

It is a good product thus far into the process.

I'm not sure about removal. I think with a heat gun and a dull blade you can probably remove it with some work. I gave the company the URL for this thread, so maybe they can answer that if they read this. I do know of some customers and stories where they have had it on for a few years and it's still good as new.

As for the gunwales ... any other opinions on whether I should install it there? I'm leaning towards Yes at the moment.

Mmmmmm thats a tough one...good for safety i guess, but looks???:huh:

 

[Rono007]

Mmmmmm thats a tough one...good for safety i guess, but looks???:huh:

Yea, I know. I may tape them down and take a long look at them in place.

 

[billnpat]

Yea, I know. I may tape them down and take a long look at them in place.

Good idea! And when you do, post more pictures of it.....

 

[shinsr]

Looks great on the steps and platform - my vote is to leave it off the gunwale however. Let us know how the install goes.

 

[KeithD]

I think for the gunwales you should order new pieces in white - gives you the stability, but much less noticeable. Otherwise it really looks great. Can't wait to see finished pics and how they work out over the season. Keep us posted!

 

[Rono007]

I think for the gunwales you should order new pieces in white - gives you the stability, but much less noticeable. Otherwise it really looks great. Can't wait to see finished pics and how they work out over the season. Keep us posted!

I was thinking of seeing what they'd chatge me to do them in the "Beach Sand" color - that might be the ticket!

 

[skibum]

I think the gunwales might look ok when the boat is uncovered. Having the cover partially draped over the rest of the boat doesn't really allow us to get the actual look of the boat and the product as it would normally be seen.

Its kinda like lookin' at a woman when she only has half of her makeup on and her hair up in curlers. If you didn't already know she was gonna look hot in the end, you might go bolting out the front door like your hair was on fire.