Types of wood for floor. Help!!!

[tremer17]

I have called around and no one has marine. It is 3/4 ply that I need. These are my options. In A/C grade.<br /><br />Birch 42.95 4*8 sheet<br />Oak 44.95<br />Fur 36.28<br /><br />One store said that a/c it only comes in Fur. Is this true? Do I really need A/C? Will A/C last longer. I plan on skiing mainly so water on the floor will happen. I plan on keeping the boat for the rest of it's life. I hope will be a long one.

 

[pjc]

Re: Types of wood for floor. Help!!!

douglas fir, treat w/ rot docs CPES, install w/ epoxy, ss screws, glass cloth, matt, roving etc. Good to go. Be sure to inspect underfloor stringers if applicable.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Types of wood for floor. Help!!!

Originally posted by pjc:<br /> douglas fir, treat w/ rot docs CPES, install w/ epoxy, ss screws, glass cloth, matt, roving etc. Good to go. Be sure to inspect underfloor stringers if applicable.

I second the motion with emphasis on the CPES!<br /><br />I'll also add that you should reinforce the area where seating or anything is to be screwed to the floor. I did this by either laminating an extra piece of 1/2" to the bottom side of the floor or by 'letting' 2x blocks across the stringers to the hull.

 

[tremer17]

Re: Types of wood for floor. Help!!!

I'm replacing Stringers too. Would you use the same on it to.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Types of wood for floor. Help!!!

It really depends on how your boat was constructed. I'd tend to follow the example set by the status quo, of course with adequate pre-treatment.<br /><br />You can't go wrong with doug fir 2x material but sometimes you can't get it in sufficient lengths or widths. Some will use scarfed and laminated 3/4" plywood but I think that DF dimensional is easier to seal.<br /><br />Be sure to re-read my post above. I added to it while you were posting.

 

[tremer17]

Re: Types of wood for floor. Help!!!

Where would I find CPES does local stores generally carry it?

 

[tremer17]

Re: Types of wood for floor. Help!!!

Can you use B/C or is A/C the only way to go. Does it have the same rot characteristic.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Types of wood for floor. Help!!!

the Rot Doc:<br /><br /> http://www.rotdoctor.com/products/cpes.html <br /><br />A/C probably has less knots in it. It can't be that much different in price.

 

[JB]

Re: Types of wood for floor. Help!!!

A/C is furniture/cabinet grade INTERIOR use plywood. No interior grade plywood would survive one wetting.<br /><br />In a boat you must use an exterior or marine grade. They have waterproof bonding and usually anti rot treatment. If you plan on putting carpet, non-slip paint or other covering on it use CDX Douglas fir.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[Cranky18]

Re: Types of wood for floor. Help!!!

Go to apawood.org. They have lots of useful information about exterior grade plywood and marine grade. If you buy the AC make sure it is exterior grade (the same glue is used in both).

 

[BillP]

Re: Types of wood for floor. Help!!!

Exterior grade A/C will have a smooth side without imperfections. B/C will have minor imperfections on the best side. Like posted above, use exterior grade because it has the same glue as marine. I would use fir...it's one of the most preferred woods for boat building. 3/4" is way overkill for most trailer sized boats so any additional strength from different woods or grades isn't a structural problem. All three woods will rot if they get wet. You can use pressure treated ply and never worry about rot. Check the APA site for info on glass sticking to it before striking it off your list. <br /> http://www.apawood.org/

 

[tremer17]

Re: Types of wood for floor. Help!!!

Has anyone made Presure treated wood work with the prosscess of fiber glassing it? The www.apawood.org recommends it over marine. If so what did you use for a process?<br /><br />For Pictures of my boat goto My web page /

 

[CalicoKid]

Re: Types of wood for floor. Help!!!

Hi Tremer, I like your website and this picture so much that I have to put it up here so everyone can see what we're working with.. hope that's OK <br /><br />

<br /><br />Good advise is given above, If you will be carpeting over the floor you don't need the flawless A side finish (AC) BC will only have 2 or 3 patches on the B side and no knots. And even CD (exterior sheathing) would work although it's kind of crummy and you'll go through a lot of resin coating it. If your painting, use BC or AC, of course exterior grade. Personally I'd use BC. I don't know too much about the Treated stuff except that you might need to dry it for a long time before installing it.

 

[BillP]

Re: Types of wood for floor. Help!!!

The APA says their tests with polyester resin over CCA presure treated ply (any type) works well enough to pull wood grain off. It doesn't flake off the surface. The wood has to be dry.<br /><br />Greenwood Products sells a pressure treated "XL" ply that has been sucessfully used througout the boating industry for approx 20 yrs. Their product is factory dried and ready for use. I checked prices of their ply a few yrs ago and it was about $100 a sheet on special order through my local lumber yard. I used standard 3/4" pt instead and let it dry for months before glassing.