Building a rear casting deck

I am trying to save a little dough and was wondering if any of you have built a rear casting deck?
I have a Ranger 618vs and I am just wondering what kind of wood to use? How thick it should be? If I need to splurge for marine grade plywood? I am assuming I can buy the carpet through Ranger. Not sure where I would buy the base for a pedestal seat. Also wondering if there are any tricks in getting a good finish with the carpet? I am new to this so any advice you have would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

not for sure about the wood and carpet… by buddy is doing his front casting deck right now and he used a type of composit wood like you can get for decks now not sure the exact term just no its water proof dosnt rot ever made of like plastic or something….. it seems like it will work pretty good and for the carpet i think you can by marine carpet at many places like fleet farm maybe and youcan get a pedestal base there for sure. hope i was a little help

jbradley,
Just finished totally refurbishing a 87 Lund Rebel project boat.
You have several options.
– One is use marine grade plywood,
(Expensive & hard to find in some areas)
– Two is to use ACX Exterior Plywood
(One side is smooth the other a little rough but the glue used in the plys is weather rated)

What I did was to fully cover all sides with a marine epoxy & then carpeted over that.
I would suggest 3/4 to 19/32 thickness for a casting deck like you are making.
Let me know if you have any other questions.

Good Luck,
walleyejohn

Here is a link to a post from a couple years ago where a guy used plastic plywood. I sent him a PM later in the summer to see if the stuff may have warped and he said that he didn’t have any problems or regrets using the plastic.

Any place that sells boating items should have a pedestal, post, and seat. Four years ago I put a front deck in my Lowe 1648 and used cedar 2 x 4s as floor joists and 1/2″ CDX plywood, first I cut it all to size then painted everything with three coats of oil base paint before assembly. The floor joists were connected to the gunnel ribs by screwing galvanized sheet metal to both sides of the 2×4 and on the gunnel rails I used bolts with lock nuts.

I just built a front deck extension on my 618vs. I used 3/4 inch exterior plywood. Primed/painted a few coats of oil based paint. That with a good coating of rubber based carpet glue should be good for as long as I need it to. I used the tan boat carpet from the Maplewood Fleet Farm. Matched up pretty good!

Here are some pics jbradley requested. This first set is the front deck extension. This basically covers a set of batteries for the bow mount. Why you ask? I add these 2 batts for trolling. I have a Minkota EM80 on the back and a Powerdrive 80 lb on the bow. Between the two, I can troll all day at a pretty good clip if I need to. I did not want to add a kicker to this boat. And this alternative has worked out well over the last couple of seasons! Real easy to remove when not needed.

-J.

Here are pics of the stock Ranger 618 rear casting deck. I have added a set of speakers on the underside. This deck is wood surrounded by fiberglass. 16 inches deep 44 inches wide. You could make one similar to the deck I made for the front. But the Ranger deck is pretty nice! I use the space under the deck to store an anchor and my rod holders.

-J

Ranger Forum Group. I thought I would share some photos for your review. I’ve been building Just Encase Deck Boxes for many Ranger models including: 195VX, 200C, 618T, 618VS, 619/620VS, 620T. Soon will also have done 621, 680, 682 as well. Deck boxes fit flush with outside storage areas and in the 1″ lip. Made from polycarbonate (Lexan). The material blocks UV rays from entering the box and keeps baits from fading. Holes in bottom for drainage and air circulation. Use a 3M Non-slip product on lids.








<img src="

Jon, your drivers seat looks like the same one I had on my 681VS molded in. Does your swivel? If not add a swivel under the seat. Makes it 100% better!!

Here’s a link to a deck project that was done for the rear of a 619. I used 3/4″ treated and covered with marine adhesive and the closest color carpet I could find at Menards.

http://muskie.outdoorsfirst.com/board/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=33605&posts=3&highlight=casting%20deck&highlightmode=1#M248138

Justencase – do you have a photo of what you have done for a 620T?

-Ted

Ted – 1st photo of 2nd row is a 2003-620T. Step Box – approx. 4″ tall for tools, etc. plus tandem boxes – Customer wanted to come out 16″. The plan is to do Kevin Cochran’s (www.kevincochranguide.com)2003 620T this weekend – he’s coming out a whopping 32″ (may a single box rather than tandem side-by-sides)plus the Step Box fill-in. Have also done Jack Morris’s (of 1991 World Series fame) 620T last fall. Don’t have pictures of his – got out the door without photos! http://www.justencase.com