Anyone have experience with structural fiberglass decking panels?

[guitarkev77]

Hi guys. I'm new to posting to the board, although I've been reading the great threads here for over a year now. I have an older 60's 16 foot Fiberform boat that I am getting ready to do a full restore on, probably starting in the spring. After reading the many excellent threads here on the site, I feel that I have a found a direction I would like to take my boat. It had a bad repair done to the deck when pedestal seats were installed which leaked and has made the floor soft... very soft. Towards the stern of the boat, deck screws were drill right through the fiberglass into the plywood holding 2x2's in place to keep the batteries from sliding around, and with wicking water this part of the floor is also soft. I know that I need to do the floor and stringers. I have a pretty good idea that the transom is also shot, being that when I installed a kicker bracket on it this summer, the shavings from the bolt holes came out damp.
With all this being said, the hull of the boat is in great shape and I have an 85 hp great running merc outboard that the boat came with. The classic look of the boat really sold me on it, so I think it is worth the restoration. After looking over the different build projects on the forum, I have come to the conclusion that I don't want to have any wood in the boat (at least structurally). I would like to use seacast for the stringers and the transom, and have found some great threads with a lot of info to get me going on this portion of the project. This leads me to the floor and my question. It seems that pretty much everyone on the forum uses a plywood deck encased in resin and fiberglass. I was thinking that I would like to use structural fiberglass sheathing instead of plywood. I have found a site that sells sheathing that looks like it might work. http://www.eplastics.com/Plastic/Fiberglass_Structural_FRP_Sheet. Does anybody have any experience with this kind of product. I would think that it would weigh less than plywood of the same dimensions, but I don't know. I know that plywood would work fine, but I am pretty stoked on the idea of having a "rot proof" boat (if that really exists). Any ideas you guys might have on the topic would be great, as even though I am a carpenter and cabinetmaker, I am a definite noob when it comes to fiberglass work. I will post some pics of the boat when I start tearing her apart this spring. Thanks guys!

 

[guitarkev77]

Re: Anyone have experience with structural fiberglass decking panels?

Has anybody had any experience using this product or one like it?http://www.eplastics.com/Plastic/Fiberglass_Structural_FRP_Sheet . I'm wondering what thickness I should go with and how much it might weigh compared to normal plywood w/ resin and fiberglass. I'm trying to put together some kind of materials list so I can figure out the total cost. Another thing I was wondering is if I could somehow join the flooring sheets together with biscuits (plastic?) like you would with normal wood joinery and lay the floor down as one piece. Something before the fiberglass wrapping. Maybe rabbet a t&g profile on the edges? I don't know. Would you use 5200 to glue the pieces together? Does this stuff machine at all? Any info would be great. Thanks guys!

 

[oops!]

Re: Anyone have experience with structural fiberglass decking panels?

hi gituar kev..........welcome to i boats !

i have not used the panels.

a rot proof boat is an aluminum one....out side of that....even fiberglass can well...deteriorate.

a properly encapsulated deck can last for 40 years with basic prevention. that is far longer than you and the next 3 owners will want to have the boat.
the real trick......is ANY holes you drill.......fill with epoxy or pl 9000 or other water proof filler....then add your screw.

there is a proper deck replacement in my thread,,,,,,,the index is at the beginning to direct you.

cheers
oops

 

[1fishbone]

Re: Anyone have experience with structural fiberglass decking panels?

Plastic can't or is hard to get resin to penetrate...then you would need a zillion screws...sealing them will not be very effective..it's plastic, sealants don't adhere well.

Then look at the flexibility of plastic...more flexible as compared to plywood.
Remember, the deck is part of the hull's structural integrity.

Now look at it's other properties, to get the stiffness of 3/4 plywood, you would need around the same thickness, plastic is heavier...the weight to weight ratio still points to plywood.

Now about color, it can be painted but not for use/abuse in decking.
And how about anti-skid?...nope can't apply much there either.

Listen to what 'oops' said:
"a properly encapsulated deck can last for 40 years with basic prevention. that is far longer than you and the next 3 owners will want to have the boat.
the real trick......is ANY holes you drill.......fill with epoxy or pl 9000 or other water proof filler....then add your screw."

Now add the cost of 'sea cast' to you re-construction bill!!

You'll barely get your ROI (Return On Investment) using cost effective materials.
Keep it in perspective!

On side note, using the return key to separate sentences, and create paragraphs makes reading more enjoyable.

 

[guitarkev77]

Re: Anyone have experience with structural fiberglass decking panels?

Oops- Thanks for the info. I think over the past year have I probably read through you thread at least twice .

It is really an amazing amount of info you have shared. Plywood does seem like an easier way to go as I am much more used to working with it. I guess I was just curious as to the structural integrity of fiberglass sheathing. I will probably take your advice use ply. Thanks!


1fishbone -Thanks for the response. I wish that site had some ratings on the materials themselves. I hadn't really thought of the finishing aspect of the material (anti-skid/color), which sounds like it might be problematic.

Sorry about the "one big paragraph" thing. This was my first time posting on a board and I guess I didn't really think about it.