Help making bench seats for 17ft Rinker open bow

[jort15]

I'm building a dog house and a couple bench seats for a 1986 17ft Rinker open bow...my question is would 1/2" plywood be OK to use? Money is pretty tight and I have a ton of 1/2" my question is more about the weight of the wood rather than whether or not to use plywood(particle,OSB) vs. Marine plywood. I figured on using 1/4" or 3/8" until I was given a stack of 1/2 and I'm using the cushions out of a free couch for the cushioning so if I can use the 1/2 and not weigh my boat down to much than the only money I'll have to spend is in the vinyl. Again money is tight and I'm cheap...any help is appreciated...

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Help making bench seats for 17ft Rinker open bow

Actually 1/2" is preferred. Just make sure to seal it will Some Marine Varnish and or Some Oil Based Paint. This might be of interest...

"Building and Upholstering a Bench Seat"

 

[jort15]

Re: Help making bench seats for 17ft Rinker open bow

So it wouldnt be to much weight... mind you that the boat originally had one of those back to back lounge type seats and im replacing that with a bench seat against the side

 

[jort15]

Re: Help making bench seats for 17ft Rinker open bow

as for sealing the plywood my plans are a coat of thompson water seal but ill also be wraping the vinyl around the plywood and stapling but i have some rubber runner mats that i was going to staple to the bottom of the seats

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Help making bench seats for 17ft Rinker open bow

TWS is CWAP!!! Not worth putting on the wood. Use some Rustoleum Paint and thin the first coat 50% with mineral spirits so it soaks in really well. Then put on 2 more full coats. A full sheet of 1/2 plywood weighs appox. 50 lbs. You'll be fine with the weight.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Help making bench seats for 17ft Rinker open bow

Oil based paint, polyurethane, urethane, or varnish would be a significantly better choice then the thompsons.

 

[jort15]

Re: Help making bench seats for 17ft Rinker open bow

Lol first lesson learned...No Thompson! Got it. Will the rubber backing on the bottom help anything or should I skip it and just use the paint or since im pinching pennies here could i cheat on 1 of the 2 finishing coats and use the rubber?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Help making bench seats for 17ft Rinker open bow

Rubber, If you've got it would work fine.

 

[jort15]

Re: Help making bench seats for 17ft Rinker open bow

I have some black rubber runner mats like for hallways that are tiled. Its about 1/8" thick.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Help making bench seats for 17ft Rinker open bow

That would work fine. Where do you plan on getting your vinyl?

 

[jort15]

Re: Help making bench seats for 17ft Rinker open bow

Dont really have a plan for vinyl yet, i was just looking at prices on ebay compared to my local joAnn fabrics and with shipping it will equal about the same but ebay offers a better variety. Im wanting a simple white and like a smoke grey. Im open to suggestions on where to get the vinyl but it seems im goin to pay around $7/yd either place ive looked. although i saw a 5yd roll of grey on craigslist for $30 so i might try that route too

 

[jimmy wise]

Re: Help making bench seats for 17ft Rinker open bow

Good marine vinyl cost me twice that much up to 40. A yard for some

 

[mbasura]

Re: Help making bench seats for 17ft Rinker open bow

Any prep you do in the paint/waterproofing department is more than what most manufacturers do. Untreated exterior plywood was the standard for about 40 years until the some of the higher end OEMs started using Starboard. Bet most boats still have nothing but exterior ply to form the seat and benches. . .

I second the use of Rustoleum Topside paint from my local hardware store (i think it runs about $12/qt) from my local hardware store (the Depot doesn't carry it). It has been bulletproof so far.

 

[jort15]

Re: Help making bench seats for 17ft Rinker open bow

Any suggestions on the vinyl woodonglass?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Help making bench seats for 17ft Rinker open bow

I get all my vinyl from this guy on ebay. He get's end of roll stuff etc. Good prices and good service.

TrimJobber

 

[jort15]

Re: Help making bench seats for 17ft Rinker open bow

That's the guy I was looking at...ships from Florida