Fiberglass reinforced ply or just plain ply?

[SeaMasterZ@aol.com]

Its getting down to brass tacks time ... July 4 is not going to happen for me the way I wanted ... on the water in NYC .... but hey, there are other fourths yet to come, and I am not that old ...<br /><br />what it comes down to is this, I need to make two floors, one for a fiberboat and one for an aluminum boat, woujld 3/4 ext ply 2 foot by six foot (or whatever they measuyre out to to be) sealed on all edges and sides with west system or some other epoxy/sealer/some sorta goop to keep the water out work as flooring panels? Home Depot cuts em cheap, so I would let them do it to it, tho I would prolly go for fiberglass reinforced ply on the transom for the Starcraft 18 - either twin forty horse Johnsons or a 125 Beast is going to hanging back there, and it can get ROUGH out in the ocean and Delaware Bay ... I dont want to hear CRACK and suddenly find my self crying over glub glub glubbing engines and a long swim to shore ... <br />I have another question but Ill post it in another thread

 

[n0ukf]

Re: Fiberglass reinforced ply or just plain ply?

When I start replacing the transom wood on my '64 14' Glastron Skiflite, I'll use pressure treated plywood (the green stuff), then glass over it.

 

[SeaMasterZ@aol.com]

Re: Fiberglass reinforced ply or just plain ply?

has anyone used the glass reinforced ply?<br /><br />seems like the ideal substance, fairly light, very strong, waterproof ... and by the abuse I see tractor trailer vans take, virtually invulnerable ... good stuff if ya can get it!

 

[hunky-dory]

Re: Fiberglass reinforced ply or just plain ply?

amigadragon i hope you are not going very far with that glass over pressure treated plywood . for there is no bond . poly or epoxy ...... cant help you over pressure treated wood . good luck and may god be there when it fails ..

 

[Bondo]

Re: Fiberglass reinforced ply or just plain ply?

CastawayRay,<br />I used 1/2" P/T covered with Epoxy + cloth, No delaminations in the 4years in service.... I think 3/4" is Way Heavy.... The 1/2" was a little flexable, Till I added the Epoxy + Cloth.... Now it's as solid as Concrete...<br /><br />hunky-dory, I've Heard what you say, But, My experince is Very Different.... I've bonded P/T with both Epoxy or Resosinal, with Excellent results... I haven't tried Poly, As I'm a firm believer in Epoxy....

 

[Fergulus]

Re: Fiberglass reinforced ply or just plain ply?

Hunky-dory,<br /><br />I havent used glass for anything, but ive read quite a few posts about it.<br /><br />there is no bond between pressure treated ply if you dont let the wood dry. almost everything at lowes or home depot is for construction, and does not have to be nearly as dry as ply for marine use. but once the wood is dry, then it will bond fine(at least thats what ive read).

 

[iRich]

Re: Fiberglass reinforced ply or just plain ply?

I think the problem with pressure treated wood is that there is a lot of moisture trapped in it and by glassing over it you are just creating an incubator for rot. Better to start with plain plywood. <br /><br />Rich

 

[Bob in Calif.]

Re: Fiberglass reinforced ply or just plain ply?

Ray....3/4 inch plywood will be an overkill, especially if you are going to foam between the hull and the flooring. I used 1/2 inch marine plywood when I replaced the floor on my cutty cabin after replacing the transom and reinforcing the stringers. I encapsulated everything with glass and resin, then foamed the between the hull and floor. It is still like walking on concrete and it was 10 years ago when I did it!<br /> ...Bob in Calif...

 

[n0ukf]

Re: Fiberglass reinforced ply or just plain ply?

Is moisture in the PT ply the only problem? How long do you think it would have to sit in order to lose that moisture? What about marine grade ply, is it just a difference in the glue from regular ply?

 

[93bronco]

Re: Fiberglass reinforced ply or just plain ply?

from what ive read the glue is different.<br />use exterior ply before regular.<br />i have seen at lowes or homedepot where they sell pressure treated that has been redried. i am going there today to double check prices.

 

[SeaMasterZ@aol.com]

Re: Fiberglass reinforced ply or just plain ply?

Bob - the 3/4 is to accomodate my buddy and I, we are both Big Boys, Im nearly 400 and he is over 500, and of course, the wimmens and kids and all ... tho usually, its just the Boys out to test how far the tanks will go without having to row, lol<br /><br />the wimmens are being pains about potty breaks, they want me to figure out a canvas cabin sorta deal where they can drop some flaps and have privacy to use a porta potty ... since the SeaCraft is a way from being finished (I wont even tackle it this season, maybe NEXT winter after Hydrophobia is back under full power and a gleaming coat of paint ...) I cant just say go to the cabin potty ( and since that has a thru hull system, I have to update it to a holding tank system)<br /><br />Ive read that the glues of today are like the marine ply of yesteryear, only major diff is the amount of voids ... its all waterproof now<br /><br />riding home today, I swore I saw flats of styrofoam out by some trash, but the AC job was awaiting, had to get that done - this as per the hope floats string<br /><br />the transom tho, thats going to be stressed, by either twin old 40 horse johnsons or the legendary Big Johnson, 125 old style horses that gotta wiegh 400 transom snapping pounds, which is where I think the glass reinforced ply would really shine<br /><br />ultimately, Ill prolly go with 1/2 inch ply, and foam the underheath - if the foam is that solid, Ill go with it, I just think it might crumble under that sorta loading

 

[n0ukf]

Re: Fiberglass reinforced ply or just plain ply?

Any ideas yet on drying pressure treated ply if it's not redried before selling? If I can just set it out in the sun on dry days/weeks and under shelter when it's threatening rain, how long might it take for 1/2" to 3/4" to dry?