....and my 2 cents
I have done alot of landlubber deck work, and galvanized flooring fasterners are off my list. The only galvanized hardware I will use is the heavy duty bolt/lags for the framing. When it comes to a fastener that will be exposed to water or precip. on a horizontal surface (the deck surface, where it doesn't readily shed like a vertical surface), stainless is the game. Yep, stainless is considerably more expensive, but it NEVER compromises the finish. The only drawback to stainless is that the metal is somewhat softer than gavlvanized and electro-finished fasteners, so the heads can strip more readily if you are not used to driving them. The answer to that dilemna is square drive heads, not phillips.
I plan on building a pier this coming year while our project is being bottomscaped and the dam is constructed. I am a big fan of treated framing and intend to do the same for the pond. Ryan is right, the new age "green-treat" is a considerably more eco-friendly product. I foresee composite for the decking. Why? a) the better grades are virtually rot-proof b) the additional cost is not outrageous for a smaller type pier project c) each pc is identically straight; no twist, warp, cup, knots or swale. The only jury that is still out is a serious consideration to use the under-deck (hidden) galvanized fastener systems. If I did this, I WOULD go with galvanized screws since finish failure would be well hidden.
