Drying Marine Ply? Is it necessary?

[olmpilot]

Sometime in the next month, I'm going to be buying the marine ply to replace my floor. I am wondering: Do you need to let it "dry" indoors for a period of time? Since I'm in the Pacific NW, even without the rain this year, the humidity and moisture level is fairly high, so I don't know about drying it outside or in my GF's garage. Or can I just buy it and epoxy/resin it right away without it having to dry first? Thanks!

 

[Laddies]

Re: Drying Marine Ply? Is it necessary?

If the plywood has not been out in the rain, I wouldn't worry to much about the moisture level in it, but before applying the resin I would flash it dry with acetone or some type of thinner--Bob

 

[olmpilot]

Re: Drying Marine Ply? Is it necessary?

Bob, what do you mean "flash it dry" with acetone? Is that just wiping it down with the acetone? Would one do that before (whole sheet) or after cutting the pieces to size? I realize that I need to cut it to size before applying the resin, so I can get the edges, so would the acetone apply to that as well?

 

[DJ]

Re: Drying Marine Ply? Is it necessary?

Rick,<br /><br />Just do the pieces, as needed. You are basically just cleaning it of any resins that may have migrated to the surface.

 

[Realgun]

Re: Drying Marine Ply? Is it necessary?

Best bet is to lay it out in the sun for 4 hours on 1 side turn it over and let it set another 4 hours. Be sure that it does not touch the ground and gets lots of air around it. Better yet prop it up like a solar panel. It will dry fairly well. I would cut it first. Then epoxy coat 1 side and edges. Wait till the next day turn it over let the sun shine on it for a while and coat the other sie and edges again. The edges need more epoxy anyway.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Drying Marine Ply? Is it necessary?

Realgun,<br /> Do they have sun in Olympia, WA?

 

[olmpilot]

Re: Drying Marine Ply? Is it necessary?

Believe it or not, we have this year... actually, spring has already sprung... kinda. I didn't expect to resume work on the boat till May.. but mother nature changed that plan. They have already activated the drought resources and most ski resorts were closed all winter due to lack of snow/moisture. We have less than 25% of our annual snowpack in the mountains already and it's only March! So, if the summer proves to be like the winter, the only water we are going to see is in the big lakes and Puget Sound.

 

[Realgun]

Re: Drying Marine Ply? Is it necessary?

My Aunts and Uncle live in WA so I knew. LOL

 

[swimmin' for shore]

Re: Drying Marine Ply? Is it necessary?

olmpilot, I wish you hadn't spoken so soon. Now it's rained up here all weekend. If you get some sun, let me know. I'll haul the boat down and work on it in your yard.