Diamondplate question

[TundraIII]

Help! Anyone out there who has a boat with alot of diamondplate, what product is the best
for cleaning and maintaining it. I have been using "Mothers" paste, it works great on chrome
but is labor intensive for diamondplate. Is there something easier to use? Since I'm asking
questions...I need to get some minor repairs done to my boat top but the guy who made
my top wont return my phone calls (too busy?) so if someone out there knows of a good
place let me know. Thanks alot

[Bait O' Eggs]

As long as you mentioned diamond plate.

I took out a piece of my carpet over plywood floor this weekend to check out the hull for any damage in the boat, I may have lurking like cracked welds etc... One piece of plywood that was about 4 ft by 5 ft had to weigh at least 100 pounds due to the plywood being very water logged. I had a couple soft spots in the flooring and knew I would have to replace it one of these days. I spent most of yesteday putting in 1/8 aluminum diamond plate floors in my boat. :smile: It sure is shiny right now. :grin: I washed the drill shavings out of the boat and the diamond plate is a little slicker than I had thought it would be when wet. Does anybody that has diamond plate floors have the following problems: (I was told yesterday I would have these problems)
1. Is the floor to hot to stand in barefeet on a hot summer day?
2. Is the reflection to bright on sunny days?
3. Is the floor slick when it gets wet and you end up with sea weed from crab pots on the floor of the boat?
4. Any other things I should be aware of with this flooring?

I found no damage to the hull and was happy with all the reinforcing I found under the floor of the boat. It was the first time in 6 years I ever looked under the floor of my boat to see how it was put together.

I am hoping it will oxidize a little and get rid of that super shine it has right now. So I guess I wont be using any mothers paste on it for a while.

I have always hated trying to wash the carpeted floors out after a crabbing trip. :depressed: So much stuff gets ground in the floor it is difficult to clean. I loved the carpet on those nice summer days. I guess my boat might not smell like shad with the carpet gone.

[NAUTI-NOTIONS]

TundraIII-
I use a acid base cleaner called ALbright. its used on stainless and alumi. you will lose the mirror finish. it cleans to the effect of looking almost white. i buy it from a truck supply company,"MOBILE FLEET" its main use is to wash tanker trucks. spray it on , hose it off, done,,,

[jet]

Hey Roy

I have an idea... You might use those large dark grey mats found at Costco. When they stink beyond cleaning toss em. I think they are 3'x5' 2 should cover the back of the boat. I bet they will provide some traction.

Jet~~

[will_e_fish]

BOE -I have questions on that diamond plate. Where did you get it? How much was it? I am (by hobby) fixing something and may have need for some in the near future.

I would would bet you would have all the challenges you mentioned. Slick when wet or seaweed covered,reflective like a mirror evenon some overcast days, and gets hot as easy as it gets cold.

One of those 3M mats that are like a loose srub pad. Take them out hose them and turn them a coulpe times seaweed and stink gone well least most of it.

Why were you expecting hull damage or was it just prevention? Do you have leaks? What kind of stingers do you have to attach it to? What kind of carpet did you have, and was there anything between the plywood floor and carpet ? Just curious.
Thanks will_e_fish

[Bait O' Eggs]

Will-e-fish - I was looking under the floor for a couple reasons. First I had never seen what was down there and wanted to see what it looked like so I could determine how I would replace the floor when I got around to it. And I have heard of some boats (another brand) with leaks and cracks in welds and wanted to see if I had the same problem.

My diamond plate didnt cose me anything :grin: I did have to buy $13 in screws to attach it. Not bad for a price on a new floor that should last forever. We buy a lot of diamond plate at work and have drop pieces off projects and I have been saving it for quite a while. I have given several pieces to people for small projects. I am almost wiped out on stock now. How much are you looking for? I might have some s***** that will do what you need done. shoot me an email, maybe I can bring it to the jetty fishing trip for you. rjackalope@aol.com

edit: S-C-R-A-P_S is a bad word?

[ 02-04-2002, 10:23 AM: Message edited by: Bait O' Eggs ]

[T-Jet]

Tundra, I use a product called Heavy Metal. Get it from any Les Schwab. They have different formulas, get the green one. It applies easy and with a little elbow grease you can get a mirror finish. I use it on all my diamond plate and railings on my sled. It works great!

[Ocean]

BOE:

About two years ago I replaced the floor in my 20' Koffler with diamond plate. I had the same concerns: heat, reflection, slippery, additional weight.

None of these concerns turned out to be true.

I have found diamond plate to be a great flooring material. It provides good traction and is easy to stand on in pitching seas. I've never had any problem with heat or reflection.

I too do a lot of crabbing and it's great to have tough floor you can drop the pots, anchors and gear on without tearing up a vinyl or wood deck.

It also cleans up easily. I use a deck brush and simple green or similiar cleaner/degreaser. I use an engine cleaning product and a power washer a couple times a year.

Enjoy it!

Regards,

Mark

[TundraIII]

Hey T-Jet thanks for the advice. I'll stop by Shwaby's tonight and pick some up.
:smile: Still waiting to hear from anyone who knows where a good place to get my
boat top repaired. Thanks

[Firedog]

Gotta agree with the Heavy Metal Polish. We have been using it on our rigs lately and th eDiamond palte come out looking like new. Great shine, take a bit of elbow grease the first time but after that it is pretty easy to maintain. If your diamond plate is in bad shape start with the Red polish then go to green then the white for the finishing touch. We have used ll the other pruducts that have been mentioned and the Heavey Metal has been the best by a long ways.

[ 02-04-2002, 08:29 PM: Message edited by: firedog ]

[Tilla]

There is a product out there called X-treme that is supposed to be better than Mother's. I use the pretreated swabs called Nevr Dull.

[Gobbaworms]

TundraIII
"Good" and "reasonably priced" are two conflicts I always run into. But I use Earps in Tigard. It's an old guy that works in a shop in the back of his home. He used to work for one of the shops in town for years. Generally does very good work at a nice discount. I say generally because I've had him pinch a stitch once. He's a good enough guy that he would have fixed it, but it was such a minor goof it wasn't worth bringing up. In case you're wondering his doing my seats for about 30% less than B******'s quoted me. Quicker too. Sells sea anchors too, $12-15 last time I bought some, depending on the size.