www.iFourWinns.com

Hey guys,

I am thinking about adding Flexiteek to possibly the entire cockpit, but definitely at least the swim platform, of my 2000 328 when my season starts again in April.

Questions:

1) Has anyone here added Flexiteek, and if so was it to the entire cockpit, or just the swim platform?
2) The only negative comments about Flexiteek I've seen is that it gets too hot, which is not a problem for me and my Number One as we don't go barefoot, but are there any other issues about the product itself I should consider?
3) I'm planning to have the boat at most another 2 seasons before trading up, possibly just next season, so I'm not planning to keep the boat long term. Will the addition of Flexiteek increase the boat's value, or make it more attractive to a prospective buyer? In other worrds, is it worth it to add Flexiteek to a boat I'm planning to sell?
4) Once the templates are done is it worth it to try to install myself, or should I just pay the extra cash to have it professionally installed?

Thanks

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Insane Desire - My 2000 328 Vista...and my state of mind

Ono,

I plan to add Flexiteek to my ESP. I am NOT going with the factory cut piece from Four Winns. FW wants $1400.00 for it (not installed) and that does not include the installation items. I found a place on the internet that will do it for roughly $950.00 and that includes a sausage of Bostitch adhesive to bond it.

The complaint I hear is that it's "hot" and that's not an issue for me. It looks FAR better, way classier, stays clean and lasts forever.

http://www.ttcustommarine.com

Inside the cabin I am going to float some Pergo just to see how I like it.. A friend of mine will hook me up with what I need for free and I am just going to float it the same way you do in the home.

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Brett DiMichele

I have it on my swim platform. I read a couple of rants from people who had it and hated it before I ordered it. I couldn't decide but ultimately the nicer look outweighed the heat and other concerns. A couple of times it has become quite warm and spending time on it with bare feet wasn't too much fun. In those cases I just grabbed the stern hose and sprayed it down the cold water which cooled it off for 20-30 minutes. Overall I think it looks much better and doesn't show nearly as much dirt as a white platform would. The one caution I have about dirt and cleanliness is that it tends to trap foot prints, so if I step on with sandals with a tread pattern to them and a little dirt it tends to be quite difficult to get the subtle foot print that was left off. Not too big of a deal but I do tend to notice it.

Ben

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2001 Cruisers 4450
Volvo TAMD-74P 480hp Diesels

We have it on the swim platform. Much easier to keep clean then the white non-skid stuff. The flexiteak is not slippery at all IF you get it get the kind with the white lines instead of black. This will keep the heat down. Overall I like it. We have the kind with the black lines. It does get hot but we just keep a towel down when we are anchored out and using it.

Since the cost of Flexiteek is a pretty OMGWTF! significant investment, especially if I do the entire cockpit, do you think it's worth it for a boat I'm planning to sell within a year or so? Is it crazy to think I'll recoup the cost when I sell?

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Insane Desire - My 2000 328 Vista...and my state of mind

I have it on our swim platform and absolutely HATE IT. It gets much too hot. For everyone that says they'll always have shoes on I say "bull". Even three quick steps across the platform to rig up a stern line when docking damn near burn the soles of your feet. I would absolutely NEVER EVER want it in the cockpit, you'd have nowhere to escape injury from the heat.

Some folks have pointed out that it has a great non-slip surface, they're right. It is indeed better than textured gelcoat. This is certainly useful if you're rafting up a lot. But if not, and you're wearing shoes "all the time" then non-slip wouldn't matter as much.

As for "classier", please, "all show" and burning your feet is not my idea of dignified.

Likewise for durability it's problematic. It tends to turn an ugly gray color. Some folks have even gone so far as to have to SAND IT to recover some semblance of decent appearance. Thus far mine tends to look a lot more gray than tan. It's only barely tan when in BRIGHT sunlight, and then you're back to the scorched feet problems.

Then there's the question of source, the stuff can be arranged several ways. The factory sheet might have a much better appearance than 3rd party job. I've only seen one other aftermarket application and the 'edging' sections didn't look as good as the factory job on our Vista. I'm sure this has everything to do with who plans and lays out the material. If you're going to torment your bare feet with this crap you might as well not have it look bad.

That and it's a one-way trip. Put it on and it's more or less completely non-removable from the gelcoat. Thus we're stuck with it on our 348.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

LOL!! Bill, your response cracked me up. You hate Flexiteek like someone who hates their boss. Wow!

As hard as it is to believe we don't go barefoot on our boat. I have a "thing" {{shudder}} about bare feet. God made shoes to keep them dogs covered, so I don't think I'd have a problem with singed tootsies, unless it gets so hot it melts the very soles of my shoes.

Anyway, what I'm really after here is whether or not the investment is worth it if I'm selling the boat within a year or so.

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Insane Desire - My 2000 328 Vista...and my state of mind

Bill,

Follow the link I posted.. I wouldn't post a company that would do a shady job. Look at thier portfolio. The guy offered to fly from Florida to my house to install it! At any rate, if you order from TT Custom Marine, what you get is a pre made piece (just like from Four Winns) not planks. There is no splicing, no heating, none of that. You lay it down in one sheet. And they can do any of the fancy edging you want. TT Custom told me they would do it exactly the same way FW has it done, with a edge backer on all sides except where it goes against the hull (that's how the OEM piece is for my boat). Other designs, like the Manhattan pattern are available on request.

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Brett DiMichele

Brett, see if you can get a better deal if you order 2 esp kits. Thanks!

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V475
Chris Craft Catalina 23 w/ 300 G2
Previously-V338, 248 Vista, H210

Anyone ever tried "Plasteak", is it about the same?

http://www.plasteak.com

Barnburner,

I'm thinking that stuff would be great for a deck on the house, but it looks nothing like Flexiteek and the other competitors in the marine specific field.

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Brett DiMichele

Barnburner,

Plasteak's decking product is called PlasDeck. I spoke to Bill over there. He gave me the whole song and dance about how they took the Flexiteek product and made it better through a chemical process. They're sending me a sample, but a word of warning, PlasDeck is more expensive per square foot than Flexiteek.

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Insane Desire - My 2000 328 Vista...and my state of mind