Nice Material for Dock surface?

[handsonguy]

I am looking for ideas on different types of materials to use for resurfacing my dock. At this point I have 4 foot by 8 foot steel frames with a fiberglass type material on top. I would like to replace the fiberglass type material with something more lightweight. Any Ideas? I heard that the composite type decking material is quite heavy.

[Walleye Guy]

In the past I have had wood including treated and cedar and my neighbor now has composite. I now have a 48 ft Hewitt dock that has a textured aluminum surface. Best dock surface I have been on. It stays cool, is non-slip, is extremely quite, doesn't fade is reasonable light weight, and cleans up really easily with a broom and lake water.

The fish seem to like the shade it provides. The best part is that it is completely maintenance free. Put it in the lake in the spring, take it out in the fall.

[crothmeier]

If you do the composite thing, make sure and do the 100% pvc product and not the standard wood flour / pvc mix. this will cost a little more but in the long run will last a ton longer and look better. Should be lighter as well.

[handsonguy]

Thanks for the ideas guys.

[Gus]

If you are worried about weight, build sections of it that will drop in and out. That's what we have and it really works out good for pulling the dock in and out. Very light weight when you can get all the decking off in 4x4 chunks or so. The frame sections are easy to maneuver out and in as well because you can stand within them.