Plywood floor joining sheets together

[Robj]

Hello there,

I will be installing a new floor in my bowrider and was wondering what is the best way to join the sheets together. My first intention was to use 1/2'' tongue and groove plywood, but nobody sells the stuff so I will just use 1/2'' exterior grade, select douglas fir. What about using biscuits?

Thanx for your help. Have a great day,

Rob.

 

[John_S]

Re: Plywood floor joining sheets together

When I did my Starcraft, I created lap joints for the seems. I started in stearn and moved toward bow, and had two seems for the three sheets of plywood. The first would provide the lap support for the next and the last doesn't need a lap. I used pieces of 1/2", screwed and glued into the bottom of prior sheet. I had to leave gaps for a metal support beam, and stop prior to the edge, where it would interfere with hull or supports. After the next pice is laid in, and positioned it would be screwed to the supports and into the lap area.

This method worked well for my aluminum boat, but you would need to examine and plan out how that could work with your specific situation.

 

[i386]

Re: Plywood floor joining sheets together

For hulls, boat builders use scarf joints to create a continuous panel of uniform thickness. For floors, I think most folks just but them up to one another and glass over the whole floor. I think someone told me once to go all the way around my plywood with a router fitted with a roundover bit and peanut butter & tape it. That's what I intend to do when the times comes. That is unless someone that knows what they're doing tells me different.

 

[Robj]

Re: Plywood floor joining sheets together

Thanx for your replies. I am considering the butt joint, supported with a piece attached to the bottom, overlapping about 4 inches on each piece. How do you plan on attaching it to the stringers. I will use screws and 5200. Any other ideas.

Thanx

Rob

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Plywood floor joining sheets together

screws are plenty. 5200 would be horrible on the next guy, if it lives that long or need to gain access.

 

[i386]

Re: Plywood floor joining sheets together

I have the "luxury" of no stringers. That may be the only luxury I run into on this heap though!

 

[jeffengle]

Re: Plywood floor joining sheets together

I will be lucky enough to use a full sheet in the cabin are trimmed to fit and the rest of the areas also​

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Plywood floor joining sheets together

the splices under the plywood will keep you feeling the joint. a 200 lb man on 1/2" it will bow with out the splices. i have 1/2" in my shed and joist on 16" center and still feel the joints when i walk.

 

[bago]

Re: Plywood floor joining sheets together

I have a similar dilema to solve with my new floor instalation and I weight more than 250lbs.Somehow I expect that if the floatation foam bonds well to the plywood sheets they wouldn`t bow noticeably,provided they are glued(prefferably)or screwed to the stringers as well.Or may be I am wrong?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Plywood floor joining sheets together

i prefer to pour my foam before the floor, you ever seen that stuff expand and push stuff out of the way. how would you like to tear a glued floor up, because of a hump cause by expanding foam. it's better to have an air space under the floor. so any moisture can evaporate.