Deck delima. I can't find anything but Pine exterior ply!!!

Darren Nemeth

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Messages
561
Okay. This is getting fustraiting. I spent the afternoon traveling to all the specialty wood places in my county and found nothing but pine exterior.

All the exterior ply here is pine and nothing else!!! :(

I decided to use only 3/4 inch ply for the new deck (the original was 1/4 inch)

Douglas Fir Marine grade is readily available but is $100 per 4 x 8 ft sheet.

Several of you at this forum advised against using Pine. Is pine really that soft where it will not hold shape or will crack under light usage? This is 3/4 inch thick exterior pine ply and seems pretty rigid.

The boat I am working on is small. The new deck will be made up of three 4ft 6in width (the width of the original deck) X 4 foot length sections. The one section at the stern will be my left over marine ply.

This Batboat is mainly for display, will be in the water with one or two passengers several times a month in the summer. There is no walking room on this vessel at all and NOONE will be skiing or wakeboarding from it. It will be like being in a cockpit.

Is 3/4 pine ply sufficient? or will it wreck my boat?

Everywhere I go in Saginaw County all they have is pine exterior. If I have to get the marine douglass fur then I can't work on the boat until next summer because of the price!! :(

[I am glad I didn't order that poly resin this morning!!!!]
 

F14CRAZY

Ensign
Joined
Aug 12, 2008
Messages
945
Re: Deck delima. I can't find anything but Pine exterior ply!!!

Deh if it helps, my local Lowes quoted me today $55.64/sheet for 1/2'' marine grade plywood
 

Darren Nemeth

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Messages
561
Re: Deck delima. I can't find anything but Pine exterior ply!!!

Deh if it helps, my local Lowes quoted me today $55.64/sheet for 1/2'' marine grade plywood

I went there and they didn't know what I was talking about. Will try again tomorrow.

Is that marine grade fur or pine.
 

oops!

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Oct 18, 2007
Messages
12,932
Re: Deck delima. I can't find anything but Pine exterior ply!!!

home depot should have ext grade fur.....3/4 inch is big for your boat...dont get me wrong....its great....but you could go a bit thinner just back up the pedistal seats from underneath......

im assuming batman didnt use b2b loungers !

but check out the link that john gave you.....marine ply is allways the best way to go.....if you can afford it
 

F14CRAZY

Ensign
Joined
Aug 12, 2008
Messages
945
Re: Deck delima. I can't find anything but Pine exterior ply!!!

I'm not certain on the species but it definitely is "marine"

Did you go to the commercial sales/order desk? I'm assuming you're in Michigan...?

If it helps, call the commercial desk at the Lansing/Delta Township Lowes and ask for Jim, 517-622-5755, extension 450. Tell him Philip sent you. Even if it's too far for you to come to Lansing (I dunno where you're at) you may be able to have him get your local Lowes to get it.
 

ondarvr

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
11,527
Re: Deck delima. I can't find anything but Pine exterior ply!!!

I agree with 3/4 being over kill, 1/2 will be plenty.
 

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Nov 11, 2005
Messages
51,019
Re: Deck delima. I can't find anything but Pine exterior ply!!!

agree i only use 3/4 in transoms. exterior pine is fine if sealed. if you can find 5 ply 1/2 even better.
 

mthieme

Captain
Joined
Oct 6, 2007
Messages
3,270
Re: Deck delima. I can't find anything but Pine exterior ply!!!

Is 3/4 pine ply sufficient? or will it wreck my boat?
morning!!!!]

3/4" ?!?!??
Why not just use 2x6 decking boards???
Just kidding.
I use 1/8" skins for the tops of my hydroplanes (8'-14').
Like your boat, it's not a high traffic area.
As for durability, come over anytime and you can inspect a 40 y.o. rough water hydro and has never been taken apart.
 

Darren Nemeth

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Messages
561
Re: Deck delima. I can't find anything but Pine exterior ply!!!

Hay Darren if you want to make the short run down here to flint http://www.michiganlumber.com/default.htm
has marine plywood for 60.00 bucks a sheet !! John

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That was the ticket!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just called and they have all that I need in stock!

Thanks a million!

It just so happens my new lady friend lives outside of Flint and she works 1/2 a day tomorrow and says we can pick up the ply in her mini van. It will barely fit but will do the job!

$72 for the 3/4 I need for the stringers and $60 for the 1/2. All fur and easy on my pockets. :)

Thanks everybody who posted their thoughts and tips about the 3/4 being overkill for deck ply. :) I'll use the 1/2 instead.
 

fwmud

Cadet
Joined
Sep 8, 2008
Messages
15
Re: Deck delima. I can't find anything but Pine exterior ply!!!

Ar you going to epoxy and fiberglass the deck? If so, marine grade is just a way to get more money out of your pocket.
All you really need is a good grade, DRY, either pre-sanded or sand yourself.
If you epoxy both sides and edges before installation, then fiberglass, you'd be better off without any form of treated wood.
 

Darren Nemeth

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Messages
561
Re: Deck delima. I can't find anything but Pine exterior ply!!!

Are you going to epoxy and fiberglass the deck? If so, marine grade is just a way to get more money out of your pocket.
All you really need is a good grade, DRY, either pre-sanded or sand yourself.
If you epoxy both sides and edges before installation, then fiberglass, you'd be better off without any form of treated wood.

Yea. polyester resin.

I plan to use the leftover wood [there will be a lot of it] for seat platforms and other Batboat stuff so I may as well get the marine ply, I figure.

I'll check out the prices on the non-marine fur.
 

Darren Nemeth

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Messages
561
Re: Deck delima. I can't find anything but Pine exterior ply!!!

Thanks a million for your replies!

You guys saved me hundreds of dollars!! :D

I just got back from Flint with my lady friend. As suggested I got the exterior 1/2" fur instead of marine for the deck. It was 50% cheaper than marine and looks just as good. $33 a sheet.

I also bought a 4' x 8' sheet of marine 3/4" fur for the stringers so there will be a lot left over for future Bat-detailings.

I spent $98.88 for the three 1/2" exterior grade and $72.96 for the 3/4" marine!! Total with tax $182.15. If I went with 3/4" marine fur for the deck sold locally it would have cost me $400+!

Thank you again!! The funds I saved will go into other areas of the boat. :)
 

oops!

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Oct 18, 2007
Messages
12,932
Re: Deck delima. I can't find anything but Pine exterior ply!!!

hi batty !

how ya doin bud?....any up dates or are ya stalled in the cold?

oops
 

Darren Nemeth

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Messages
561
Re: Deck delima. I can't find anything but Pine exterior ply!!!

hi batty !

how ya doin bud?....any up dates or are ya stalled in the cold?

oops

Hello, :)

If I had 4 more days of warm weather and the resin all the structural would have been finished and I'd be planning the new fins. Its so cold out I can't do anything with the boat.

For now I am making a utility belt.;)

The picture to the right shows what it should look like when I am done. :cool:
 

Attachments

  • MVC-848F.JPG
    MVC-848F.JPG
    55.1 KB · Views: 0
  • billy_belt_a.jpg
    billy_belt_a.jpg
    40 KB · Views: 0

oops!

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Oct 18, 2007
Messages
12,932
Re: Deck delima. I can't find anything but Pine exterior ply!!!

heh heh heh....adam west and burt ward must have felt funny running around wearing those.......

yeah....i lost my shop too so im at a stand still.....we got our first snow fall today :(.....i wish i could be working on the boat instead of relaxing at home !
 

Darren Nemeth

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Messages
561
Re: Deck delima. I can't find anything but Pine exterior ply!!!

heh heh heh....adam west and burt ward must have felt funny running around wearing those.......

I tried on my tights for the first time a couple of weeks ago. They are very difficult to get into and show every spot that needs toning from working out. Good thing the utility belt covers most of the midsection! :D I dye the tights next week.

yeah....i lost my shop too so im at a stand still.....we got our first snow fall today :(.....i wish i could be working on the boat instead of relaxing at home !

That sucks.
 
Top