Need help

[scrat]

I can't find just what to use to seal or water proof the plywood for my boat floor replacement. Thanks in advance for any information.

[Cray]

Scrat this is what I have done over the years. If you want something real permanent, get fiberglass resin and harder. Mix it up and paint it on in thin coat. Let cure, sand lightly then put another coat on. I always started with edges. Get them sealed really good and you can buy the fiberglass cloth in a ribbon couple inches wide at some auto parts places. You can then wet and install that ribbon over the edges to seal.
Last deck I I’d was on my old boat about size of yours. I got pressure treated 3/4 ply. I cut it to fit, then put in garage to dry out for a couple of weeks. ( most pressure treated is still a little damp from treatment when you get it) then I bought a quart of marine varnish. Sanded ply and applied a heavy coat to edges and face, let dry flip and do edges and back side. Let dry lightly sand then another coat doing same way. Put 3 coats on faces and I think 5/6 coats on edges. Yes time consuming but well worth it. Did that back in 97 and boat has been sitting on back of lot under old cover for 6-7 years and decks still strong.

[Atimm693]

Old timers formula. Basically 1 part varnish/spar urethane, 1 part mineral spritits, 1 part linseed oil.

[TheGrandPoohBah]

Have you looked into alternatives to plywood?

[Oregon slabman]

Gluvit or other waterproof epoxy's will work.

[Slab Slayen]

I completely stripped out a big mod v Jon boat last spring and build it the way I wanted. This included a trip to the aluminum boat welding shop. In short, all the wood I put in the boat was painted with bear deck over. This eliminated the need for carpet whitch is what I was going for. It seals the wood and has a texture to it. Best part is if it gets beat up or wore down I can just add another coat whenever. Not sure if this will help you but it’s an idea


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[DockShootinJack]

I have always used fiber glass resin

[ET Fish]

Scrat this is what I have done over the years. If you want something real permanent, get fiberglass resin and harder. Mix it up and paint it on in thin coat. Let cure, sand lightly then put another coat on. I always started with edges. Get them sealed really good and you can buy the fiberglass cloth in a ribbon couple inches wide at some auto parts places. You can then wet and install that ribbon over the edges to seal.
Last deck I I’d was on my old boat about size of yours. I got pressure treated 3/4 ply. I cut it to fit, then put in garage to dry out for a couple of weeks. ( most pressure treated is still a little damp from treatment when you get it) then I bought a quart of marine varnish. Sanded ply and applied a heavy coat to edges and face, let dry flip and do edges and back side. Let dry lightly sand then another coat doing same way. Put 3 coats on faces and I think 5/6 coats on edges. Yes time consuming but well worth it. Did that back in 97 and boat has been sitting on back of lot under old cover for 6-7 years and decks still strong.

This.^^^

[scrat]

Thinking about trying something completely different flooring my boat. I see where they are using composite boards on pontoon boat floor just like the composite deck boards. So I am thinking about trying them on the floor of my bass pro 16 that way I won't have to worry with water rot or any of the other problems. I have not seen where anyone has tried this so if it works good for me I will post at later date and let people know how it does. Now if anyone has tried this and it didn't work please let me know why it didn't. Thanks for all the ideas and help

[skeetbum]

For plywood, what Cray said has worked for me also. Boat builders use fiberglass resin set up to kick slow and thinned with acetone 50/50. This thins it enough to soak in deep before it hardens. I also thinned the polyurethane to achieve the same thing. Spending extra time on the edges makes a big difference.