What wood to use

[shipwreck]

stringer replace and new floor in fiberglass boat
my book just says to use a wood like what is already used.
well, the wood is so rotten i can't tell.

what kind of wood should i use for the stringers and floor?

 

[Windykid]

Re: What wood to use

I would think sandwiched ply wood to aquire the rite thickness, But you better wait until one of the experts show up and set you straight.

 

[marineman16]

Re: What wood to use

Plywood will be fine. You would do best if you cut it, then coat it with urethane or some kind of epoxy-based sealer before you install it.

 

[sdunt]

Re: What wood to use

Depending on the age of the boat the stringers were either douglas fir or plywood. Its really your choice when replacing them for cost and availabilty reasons. There is the argument that the wood is only (not quite true though) a form for the fiberglass that goes over it.

My 1960's runabout has 2 inch by 2 inch stringers that are Douglas fir. In that size I would probably still go with the solid wood. For a larger deeper stringer, 3/4 up to 1 1/2 inch by say 5 inches tall I would use plywood.

Whatever you do DON'T use waferwood, OSB, or MDF. Both were once sawdust and in a boat they'll turn back into saw dust.

 

[iwombat]

Re: What wood to use

Anyone ever try using a glue-lam for stringers? Seems like it would be a good choice. Doesn't warp w/ moisture and it's already impregnated with glue and resin. We use 'em for dividers on an ice rink, so far they've lasted 10 years in continually wet environ with no signs of rot.

 

[Robj]

Re: What wood to use

I used pressure treated Douglas Fir plywood, two pieces laminated. Don't believe what people say that resin will not stick to pressure treated ply. It is simply not true, it will stick the same as it will to regular ply as long as the pt ply is dry. I let mine dry for about six weeks indoors before it was dry enough. Try to find CCA treated ply it is better but is being phased out, if not you will have to use ACQ ply. If you choose to go the pt route, use stainless steel fasteners. At least you know this stuff will not rot.

Have a great day,

Rob.

 

[burroak]

Re: What wood to use

Anyone ever try using a glue-lam for stringers? Seems like it would be a good choice. Doesn't warp w/ moisture and it's already impregnated with glue and resin. We use 'em for dividers on an ice rink, so far they've lasted 10 years in continually wet environ with no signs of rot.

I have used them for transoms and they are great. The structural integrity of these things are so much greater than any ply layup and not nearly as messy. My guess is they equal or surpass marine ply. I put on two coats of resin just to seal it; don't know if I had to.

 

[iwombat]

Re: What wood to use

Those two coats certainly didn't hurt anything.

 

[Rob454]

Re: What wood to use

My buddy and I used some of that stuff called Nextwood. its the stuff they make the decks out of these days. I took a piece and left it in a bucket on top of his garage for 2 months straight and when i cut it there was no water soaked in. So we decided to use that. We also coated it with fiberglass
Rob

 

[jeeperman]

Re: What wood to use

My buddy and I used some of that stuff called Nextwood. its the stuff they make the decks out of these days. I took a piece and left it in a bucket on top of his garage for 2 months straight and when i cut it there was no water soaked in. So we decided to use that. We also coated it with fiberglass
Rob

I would vote for that Nexwood decking too but without the fiberglassing.
PT plywood or any other plywood WILL get wet and rot and delaminate .
Unless you encase it with 1/8" or more of fiberglass on all surfaces and never cut or drill or screw into it or flex it or bend it or drop something heavy onto it.