Plywood for seats

[lenny2113]

Good day all.<br />I am looking to replace wood inside of the aft seat. The upholstery is in good condition, so as foam. The plywood used for seat was not marine or exterior type plywood. After 2 season it went pretty bad. <br />I am looking to apply some kind of wood sealer on the new wood and reuse foam and vinyl. <br />What should I use as a sealer? I have read a few existing posts and found a lot of info on floor sealers (epoxy, poly resins, CPES).<br />What sealer is good for seat wood? <br /><br />Thanks

 

[craze1cars]

Re: Plywood for seats

2 to 3 coats of epoxy would be hard to beat. I imagine that about a quart would preserve all the interior wood of the typical boat. Get one with a thin viscosity so it soaks in deep, and pay close attention to the end grain.

 

[lenny2113]

Re: Plywood for seats

Do I have to lay fiberglass cloth for this application, or just epoxy is good enough?<br />Thanks

 

[Liquid_force]

Re: Plywood for seats

just the epoxy is all you need.<br />Glass is strictly to increase strength, and with plywood seats, unless you have someone 500 lbs using it as a step stool strength won't be an issue.

 

[Realgun]

Re: Plywood for seats

More like a gallon to do all the wood with 1 coat.<br />You say this is a seat correct? Then get some exterior paint and paint the wood before you put the foam and fabric back on. use 2 coats of good paint and you will not have to do it again. For this aplication it will last a long time. Oh and get some exterior grade plywood.

 

[lenny2113]

Re: Plywood for seats

It is for seat.<br />I stopped at Boater's World today. They suggested to go with Interux single part polyurethane paint. That is exactly the same paint I used for painting my previous boat. I think I will try marine plywood and paint. I figure if untreated regular plywood lasted for 2 seasons, if I use marine sealed with paint it will last good 10 years. <br />Thank you all for your helpfull input.

 

[Realgun]

Re: Plywood for seats

Lenny marine plywood will not rot any slower than reguler exterior plywood. Only treat plywood will last longer. You should just use a good exterior paint. It will last a long time. Save the money over the polyurethane stuff.

 

[lenny2113]

Re: Plywood for seats

Realgun, <br />I will go with exterior plywood and will only paint with "Interlux" brightside polyurethane, because I still have 3/4 quart left from the time I painted my boat. I no longer have that boat, so I do not need this paint anymore. <br />Thank you for your help.

 

[Realgun]

Re: Plywood for seats

Cool, just let us know how long it lasts Just SEARCH for this post in say 15 years.

 

[lenny2113]

Re: Plywood for seats

Got Pressure treated exterior plywood today, cut it to size and coated with "Tompson" sealer. I like this thing. After the sealer dried (2 hours later) I sprinkled small amount of water on treated area. You know how wood changes color when sprayed with water? Well, Tompson treated wood remained same in color. This means that wood is not absorbing water. I will apply second coat of Tompson tomorow and will paint over it next day. I think I will sell the boat way before this wood will go bad again. Thanks

 

[Bondo]

Re: Plywood for seats

I think you'll be Happy with the direction You've Chosen.................

 

[MrBill]

Re: Plywood for seats

Lenny...good choice as Bondo advised. 3-4 years ago I had all of my seats and hatches, etc re-upholstered but first re-placed al the ply wood. Used exterior ply and soaked with Thompson's, they're still fine and repel the water well. On the underside, a plastic mesh was used for 'breathability' and venting. It will last a long time. My rear seats, the 'doghouse' and some other structural parts were replaced using exterior ply and treated the same way...I highly recommend your/my course of action.<br /><br />P.S. - Exterior ply is identical to marine except marine has no interior voids. The reality is since boats are longer constructed the way my Dad's 1958 runabout was, there's very few applications that require Marine grade, maybe floors, but I re-did mine with 3-quarter ply and it will probably outlast me.

 

[MarkCz]

Re: Plywood for seats

Will the paint stick to the Thompsons sealer?

 

[jlinder]

Re: Plywood for seats

When I did this I used marine spar varnish (had some left over from another project)over pressure treated wood.<br /><br />2 coats with a little more where there was a chance of seepage (edges, etc).<br /><br />Don't have the test of time yet, but used the varnish on an old picnic table and it has been holding up great.

 

[lenny2113]

Re: Plywood for seats

MarkCz, <br />I coated with polyurethane paint over Thompson's sealer. It looks like it is holding. Even if it peels off, I assume 2 coats of sealer alone is a good enough of protection.