Still unsure about floor for 1976 starcraft

[BIGcarpy50]

i have a 1976 Starcraft supersport that i bought last summer and gutted. It every peice of lumber in the thing was rotten from sitting uncoverd for 7 years. So i got a great deal. I have been nervous to pull the trigger on the refloring of it though. My Dad is a contractor who did a job that had alot of 3/4 solid mahongy planks left. i think it would be cool to use it for the floor of my boat.

My main question is if the mahog is significantly heavier than marine ply.

Should i plane it down to 1/2 and tounge and groove it.

does anyone have anything to say about this job. I am leaning towards the mahogny and i quess i just need that last little push to start the saw blade turning.

 

[92excel]

Re: Still unsure about floor for 1976 starcraft

Hey its your boat you can do whatever you want to it..

Are you planning on still laying a layer of glass over top to make it one solid structure? if not your still going to get water into your tongue and grooves.

 

[BIGcarpy50]

Re: Still unsure about floor for 1976 starcraft

I am trying to stay away from fiberglass thats why i am thinking about the mahogny....it is virtually rot proof...i am using pink closed cell insulation sheets in the floor and the boat will proably only see 100hrs on the water all summer....


My big hesitation is the weight......i only have a 50hp rude on the back and want to be able to plane out......its a 16 foot boat that will be used for moslty fishing lakes and sometimes crusing.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Still unsure about floor for 1976 starcraft

That wood is too good to waste and it is heavy. Go with a cheaper plywood and seal it up nice and tight.

Just remember to take good care of it when you are done. The previous owner did not take care and it rotted away.

Look at the shanky beast project in the completed section. Jason used regular plywood and did a great job.

Use the mahogany for "pretty pieces" to dress it up.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Still unsure about floor for 1976 starcraft

Ayuh,....

Save the Mahogany for something Nce...

The foam used by Starcraft is probably Still OK...

1/2" Plywood, Sealed is the best way to go...

You'll probably want to replace the Transom as well,...
The Good News is,...
Everything under the plywood,.. Stringers, etc. are Aluminum...

 

[BIGcarpy50]

Re: Still unsure about floor for 1976 starcraft

What do i seal the 1/2inch ply with.......

do i need to use marine or could i use pressure treated and just keep the aluminum from contacting the wood....or do i use an exterior grade.....



i want to stay away from glass....

 

[F14CRAZY]

Re: Still unsure about floor for 1976 starcraft

I'd use either marine ply or exterior ply.

To my knowledge, you could let it soak up some polyester resin then gelcoat, or soak it with epoxy then paint

 

[Bondo]

Re: Still unsure about floor for 1976 starcraft

or soak it with epoxy then paint

Ayuh,.... That's pretty much what I did to my Islander...PT Plywood,... The Older stuff...

 

[kandil]

Re: Still unsure about floor for 1976 starcraft

If you want to use the Mahogany for the floor you still need plywood as a sub floor and that = more weight I would use 3/4" exterior plywood CDX the more ply the better and seal it with FG

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: Still unsure about floor for 1976 starcraft

yep i agree the Mahogany is great stuff, but i would save it for something better , with that being said you can do what ever you want its your ride and that would be cool , but the weight would add a lot and you will still have to have a sud-floor under it !! and you still will have to glass it in place , so you cant really skip the glassing part !!

On the ply wood you can use ext grade it works great , marine will cost twice as much , and polyuerathane or epoxy to coat it 3 coats at least ... John

 

[kaferhaus]

Re: Still unsure about floor for 1976 starcraft

I agree with Bond-O, 1/2" plywood is plenty, 3/4 does nothing but add weight in that small of a boat.

Also I'd use exterior ply, no need for marine ply or certainly not PT... PT you'd have to let dry for a month or more with weights on it to keep it from warping before you could get epoxy to soak into it.

Make sure to check the transom.... it's rare that the deck is rotted and the transom isn't.

My big concern would be the one you already have which is weight. A 50HP is marginal for that boat to begin with. You certainly don't need to be adding any weight to it.

 

[BIGcarpy50]

Re: Still unsure about floor for 1976 starcraft

If you want to use the Mahogany for the floor you still need plywood as a sub floor and that = more weight I would use 3/4" exterior plywood CDX the more ply the better and seal it with FG

Why would i need a sub floor if i tounge and grooved the mahogny....its boards...some are 10 inches wide some are 6 inches..it would be like a dock inside the boat....and moahongy would not need to be sealed its rot proof...also the boat is for small lakes and not alot of water will touch the wood. also i found the weight per cubic foot of the wood types...i figure pine is what is used in plywood if i were to use it.....so take the weight and add the glue in the ply and i think the mahongy will be lighter.


the numbers are lb fer C.F.

Mahogany, Honduras, dry 34

Pine, White, dry 26

Pine, Yellow Northern, dry 34

Pine, Yellow Southern, dry 45


Plywood+Gluvit > 3/4inch solid Mahogny plank

 

[kaferhaus]

Re: Still unsure about floor for 1976 starcraft

Well put the mahagony in there!

This is the wrong forum to come argue with folks that you've asked for advice.

It's your boat, do what you want with it.

But if you really think mahagony doesn't rot nothing anyone here can say will ever be of any help to you.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Still unsure about floor for 1976 starcraft

and moahongy would not need to be sealed its rot proof...

Ayuh,...

I can show ya abunch of Rotten Mahogany Boats....

 

[iwombat]

Re: Still unsure about floor for 1976 starcraft

I did my '77 supersport with 1/2 exterior-grade ply.

Epoxy and glass, with interlux textured deck paint over the top.

Couldn't be happier.

"http://www.shareaproject.com/pages/projectTut,p,372,00.html"

Mahogany will rot, especially if you tongue and groove it. Standing water on wood will rot no matter what anyone says. If you want the mahogany, you need to leave gaps between the planks and give someplace for the water to go, just like a deck.

 

[BIGcarpy50]

Re: Still unsure about floor for 1976 starcraft

thanks for all of your help.....some good ideas.