Plywood Flooring

[fishin98]

Fixen to purchase the plywood for the new floor in my 1988 Alumacraft. Been on the Lowes and Home Depot sites, sort of frustrating....Recommendations?

 

[jbcurt00]

If you can find it Auraco plywood, Menards carries it.

Otherwise, Acx

 

[johnnybgood]

The Lowe's here in Charleston SC sells 1/2" marine grade plywood. For my deck I used 3/4 as that was what was used originally

 

[fishin98]

The Lowe's here in Charleston SC sells 1/2" marine grade plywood. For my deck I used 3/4 as that was what was used originally

Thanks...I stopped by the local Lowes and inquired...sales person gave me a puzzled look!

 

[jigngrub]

This will probably be your best bet:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Unbranded-23-32-in-x-4-ft-x-8-ft-BC-Sanded-Pine-Plywood-166057/100061386
BCX is common and available just about everywhere.

 

[Woodonglass]

How big's your boat? How thick was the deck that was in it? What kind of sub-structure will be supporting it? All of this is pertinent to the thickness of plywood you'll need. Have you given any consideration as to how you'll be sealing and covering it?

 

[Grandad]

This will probably be your best bet:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Unbranded-23-32-in-x-4-ft-x-8-ft-BC-Sanded-Pine-Plywood-166057/100061386
BCX is common and available just about everywhere.

The link takes you to pine plywood. In my experience, pine doesn't stand up so well to water and is one of the softer, weaker woods. Around here, exterior grade fir plywood is most common, is stronger and stands up better to moisture if the sealer breaks down. - Grandad

 

[jigngrub]

The link takes you to pine plywood. In my experience, pine doesn't stand up so well to water and is one of the softer, weaker woods. Around here, exterior grade fir plywood is most common, is stronger and stands up better to moisture if the sealer breaks down. - Grandad

You forgot to mention it was BC grade which isn't ideal either.

Most folks want what's readily available in their area, they also usually want the cheapest they can get by with too and the BC pine fits both of those bills down here in the southeast.

Now if the OP had mentioned he wanted some real good plywood and didn't mind paying more and looking around for it, I'd have suggested MDO plywood. Or if he had said he wanted the best and longest lasting plywood available I'd have suggested the kiln dried marine grade CCA pressure treated that is safe for aluminum boats. Both of which are far superior to your exterior grade fir.

The BC will work ok and if the OP will spend the time and money to seal it properly with marine grade epoxy resin it'll last longer than he'll own the boat.

 

[jbcurt00]

Suffice to say, there are lots of plywood options, some better (some less expensive, some more) then others, and some sealers longer lasting (more expensive) then others.

Get the best plywood you can afford and actually GET your hands on. Locally here, I can get 1/2 and 3/4 MDO (via special order) so that's what I use. Then use the best sealer that you can afford. Any sealer is better then none.

I havent tried to find fir plywood here, but at the cost per sheet, I'm happy w the 1/2" MDO.

Any luck yet FINDING any of the recommended plywoods yet Fishing?

 

[Frey0357]

Hey Fishin98. We just had a brand new Menards open up last week! You will want to make sure you check the "Discount rack" if they have one in your area. It is where they place "Damaged" 4x8 sheets of different kinds of wood. I was PLESANTLY surprised to find some Marine plywood for my transom project there! A damaged section of the board was cut off already, so that made it less than 4x8' and they couldnt sell it. So I paid $10.00 for almost an entire 3/4" sheet of marine plywood that I plan to soak in epoxy very soon! BUT check them carefully, you dont want a cracked piece installed in your boat!

Check it out, it may be worth it!

Frey

 

[fishin98]

I decided on using BCX 19/32 plywood...I am going to seal both sides and edges.with polyurethane.

 

[oldsub86]

I have a similar need. My 1975 Lund (aluminum Tyee) needs a new floor etc. I too have been trying to decide what sort of plywood I should use.

I see some on here using the best they can find and then sealing it with epoxy. Seems to be a fine idea if one wants to go all out.

However, my boat is 40 years old and I am almost 64. I sort of suspect that whatever sort of plywood that I put in the floor will last as long as I will need it to, and probably as long as the boat is viable. I am also of the opinion that my boat is never going to be valuable so there is little point to my trying to make a sow's ear into a silk purse. Putting money in now may maintain it's basic value but it is not likely to make it more valuable. I bought it for little because it is old and the next owner will want a similar deal whether it has a basic usable floor or the best floor in the whole world.

I believe I am going to use exterior grade fir plywood and put oil based paint on it as a form of sealer. I might splurge and use marine fir plywood but I do sort of doubt the benefit. The issue with marine grade is that it is less likely to have any voids and that is more important for a hull than it is for a floor in an aluminum boat.

I might try to use the mdo for the consoles etc as it should be easier to get a reasonable paint finish with the smooth surface and be less likely to check.

My 2 cents worth.

Edit: I also think I am going to use 1/2 inch rather than 3/4 inch in order to reduce weight. I may need to use some strapping under the floor in some spots and additional support for seat posts but I think there is value in reducing weight whereever I can. The boat is a 20 footer and it has the 165 HP inline 6 Mercruiser so it is already heavy (but not like some of the big glass boats!).

 

[jbcurt00]

As none of your methods describe what Fish has planned, interesting post oldsub.

Fine choices Fish. I'd recommend doing the edges every time you coat a side of plywood w the poly. That way the edges get twice as much. 2 coats minimum each side, so the edges would have 4.

Looking forward to seeing some progress

 

[fishin98]

As none of your methods describe what Fish has planned, interesting post oldsub.

Fine choices Fish. I'd recommend doing the edges every time you coat a side of plywood w the poly. That way the edges get twice as much. 2 coats minimum each side, so the edges would have 4.

Looking forward to seeing some progress

Thanks All...will post my rebuild when I REALLY get going....right now the trailer is at the sandblasters, once I get it primed, painted and put back together...then the real rebuild will get moving along...as I'm also 64 I'm going to do this right because I don't want to redo the floor in 5 years.

 

[bonz_d]

I decided on using BCX 19/32 plywood...I am going to seal both sides and edges.with polyurethane.

If you haven't already I would also suggest going to Menards and looking thru the plywood. Most all of them stock marine plywood and their premium grade ACX along with about 4 other grades of plywood. If you look closely at them you will see that Marine and Premium grade are all at least 5 ply while most of the lessor grades are only 4 ply. Next the cost between the lessor grade and the Premium grade is minimal. I've also rummaged thru the marine ply and didn't see much of a quality difference between that and the Premium though there is a huge price difference.

Many here have strong opinions on how to seal the ply and I respect all of them. I have in fact have been using WOG's formula on a number of projects and as of yet have no complaints or failures of the plywood. Not saying it is the best solution but it is a very good cost effective solution and I will continue to use it on my tin projects.

 

[fishin98]

If I lived up in the GREAT WHITE NORTH (WI) I would take that suggestion. Down here in Central Fl, it's Lowes, Home Depot or some private lumber yard. If I won the lottery....it would be STARBOARD...HA! The original floor is 1/2, so going sealed BC 19/32 is my best option.

 

[gm280]

If I lived up in the GREAT WHITE NORTH (WI) I would take that suggestion. Down here in Central Fl, it's Lowes, Home Depot or some private lumber yard. If I won the lottery....it would be STARBOARD...HA! The original floor is 1/2, so going sealed BC 19/32 is my best option.

I can understand your options. Just make sure you do seal the underside very well, because of the intense humidity we get in the southeast, it doesn't take much to make a water issue in places you can't see. JMHO!

 

[Daniel1947]

Just my humble opinion on plywood and what I have discovered. The information I am sharing is related to Memphis, TN and maybe the area around Memphis of 150 miles.

Over the past couple years, I read many threads here about recommended plywood, I made a lot of phone calls to find the recommended plywood's. Here are my observations over the past year: Many of the workers at Lowes and Home Depot don't have any idea of what you are asking for. Even when the website's for the local Lowes and Home Depot says they have it in stock, when you call they don't know what your talking about even when it shows on the website that they are carrying it. I have probably 4 or 5 each Lowes and H.D. in the Memphis area and I have wasted a lot of time in all of them.

Also the recommendation of AraucoPly was also a joke for my situation. I called Arauco directly, they gave me 3 locations (lumber yards) that carried their product. I called all 3 and their reply was either they didn't carry Arauco or didn't know what I was talking about. Now these 3 companies were "lumber yards" and that is all they carried was lumber. Because of much advice posted on the Forum, addressing the issue of freight costs to have marine grade shipped in, I hadn't even thought about looking for marine grade. However, after much frustration trying to locate a good plywood, I started to call local lumber yards and ask about marine grade. I found 2 local lumber yards that stocked marine. One carried only 1/2", while the other carried 1/2", 3/4" and 1". Price's $57, $75 and $94. No freight because they stocked it local.

I CANNOT STRESS THE INVALUABLE INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON I-BOATS FORUM. This forum has been a God send to me. I have learned more about rebuilding my first boat than I ever thought I could. And my humble thanks and appreciation goes out to all that have assisted me.

My advice to all the new-b's, is read, read and read the threads; take notes on what you read; ask questions; when you have decided on a plan of attack as to making a purchase for a specific product, go with the best you can afford, get out the phone book, go online, and find what you are looking for. If you can drive to a lumber yard 75 miles away and get a product...do it.

Thanks to all.

 

[bonz_d]

If I lived up in the GREAT WHITE NORTH (WI) I would take that suggestion. Down here in Central Fl, it's Lowes, Home Depot or some private lumber yard. If I won the lottery....it would be STARBOARD...HA! The original floor is 1/2, so going sealed BC 19/32 is my best option.

I feel for ya. Just go thru the piles and try to select the best sheets you can. Watch the edges as I've seen many that were delaminating.

Good luck.

 

[gm280]

Just my humble opinion on plywood and what I have discovered. The information I am sharing is related to Memphis, TN and maybe the area around Memphis of 150 miles.

Over the past couple years, I read many threads here about recommended plywood, I made a lot of phone calls to find the recommended plywood's. Here are my observations over the past year: Many of the workers at Lowes and Home Depot don't have any idea of what you are asking for. Even when the website's for the local Lowes and Home Depot says they have it in stock, when you call they don't know what your talking about even when it shows on the website that they are carrying it. I have probably 4 or 5 each Lowes and H.D. in the Memphis area and I have wasted a lot of time in all of them.

Also the recommendation of AraucoPly was also a joke for my situation. I called Arauco directly, they gave me 3 locations (lumber yards) that carried their product. I called all 3 and their reply was either they didn't carry Arauco or didn't know what I was talking about. Now these 3 companies were "lumber yards" and that is all they carried was lumber. Because of much advice posted on the Forum, addressing the issue of freight costs to have marine grade shipped in, I hadn't even thought about looking for marine grade. However, after much frustration trying to locate a good plywood, I started to call local lumber yards and ask about marine grade. I found 2 local lumber yards that stocked marine. One carried only 1/2", while the other carried 1/2", 3/4" and 1". Price's $57, $75 and $94. No freight because they stocked it local.

I CANNOT STRESS THE INVALUABLE INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON I-BOATS FORUM. This forum has been a God send to me. I have learned more about rebuilding my first boat than I ever thought I could. And my humble thanks and appreciation goes out to all that have assisted me.

My advice to all the new-b's, is read, read and read the threads; take notes on what you read; ask questions; when you have decided on a plan of attack as to making a purchase for a specific product, go with the best you can afford, get out the phone book, go online, and find what you are looking for. If you can drive to a lumber yard 75 miles away and get a product...do it.

Thanks to all.

I share your obvious frustration dealing with the typical Lowes and Home Depot and even the private lumber yards. Yes look online and they carry it. Then go there and there is not one person that has any idea what you are talking about. I went through that same procedures myself. So I used the best locally available exterior plywood I could find. The price wasn't my decision maker, the available wood was. So when I bought the plywood, I actually mixed up the PB putty and went over every little imperfection I found and fill them in before installing the polyester and CSM all over them before they went into the hull. Extra steps, sure, but what else does one do when you can't find better. JMHO!