Floor replacement material

[jaguirre]

I am going to replace my wood floor and am thinking about using a non wood material. I have read about some materials called polycore, nida-core, etc...<br /><br />What is the best non wood material to use? Or should I stick to wood. If so what is the best wood to use.<br /><br /><br />Jorge

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Floor replacement material

Stick to epoxy impregnated plywood. Non of those poly materials have any structural strength. Also, epoxy won't adhere to the material so you can't bond it to the hull or stringers.<br /><br />Read this tech info on one of the brands.<br /><br /> http://www.tacomarine.com/support/Starboard/handling_starboard.htm

 

[quantumleap]

Re: Floor replacement material

Check out CPES from rotdoctor and the tests they show on thier website. It is perfect for sealing floors prior to installation.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Floor replacement material

Not to start an argument, but materal like nida core and divinacell are extreemly strong, even stronger than plywood in some aspects, when these materials are used properly....<br /><br />Cost is the big factor.... For all intents and purposes, plywood is the best way to go unless you want to spend big bucks...

 

[doman]

Re: Floor replacement material

Guys i have used core thing material on my 86 searay...you would be surprised how strong it is ..and it is so light ...ill never look at playwood again ...no wood no rot ...my entire floor ,seat boxes are out of plas-core even stringers are ...ill post pics soon ...in my opinion its rreally worth it its little more expensive than wood ...<br /><br /><br />Dom

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Floor replacement material

Originally posted by doman:<br /> Guys i have used core thing material on my 86 searay...you would be surprised how strong it is ..and it is so light ...ill never look at playwood again ...no wood no rot ...my entire floor ,seat boxes are out of plas-core even stringers are ...ill post pics soon ...in my opinion its rreally worth it its little more expensive than wood ...<br /><br /><br />Dom

Please post details, including specific product names and if you were able to glass in the material. Any product links would help. Also, material sheet sizes available.

 

[doman]

Re: Floor replacement material

Its called plascore but i have heard of different names as well ...its polypropylene , honey-comb material ..<br />It must be laminated with on each side with a minimum of 1 layer of 1.5 ounce fibergalss mat or cloth..Laminated its about half the weight of regular playwood and will never rot and is stronger than plywood. You can cut it to shape before or after laminating but i found out its lot easier to just glass whole 4x8 sheet first and than cut it ...<br />You can get it in 1/4 , 1/2 , 3/8 , 1, inch ticknes ...It runs around 60 bux per 1/2 sheet 4x8 depnding on the store im sure you can get half the sheet or whatever ...you need a gallon of resin to cover each side with 1 layer of mat ...<br />so for one 4x8 sheet you need 2 gallons of resin , around 6 yards of mat ( 1 layer on each side) so roughly you looking at around $120 per sheet ready to use ... <br />And as far as glassing it in place i had no problems at all i have used 6" bioxal tape to attach stringers and floor in to place ...once the floor is in place you can lay down another layer of mat on top of it for an extra strenght <br />I bought everything from a local Fiberglass shop ..so i dont know of any links..<br /><br />Hope this helps if you have more questions let me know ill try to post some pics tonight of my project<br /><br /><br />Thanks<br /><br />Dom

 

[Tufan]

Re: Floor replacement material

I want to replace the floor on my little boat also, it is a 21 Mariah, Merc I/O. There are some spots shows signs of rottin... and I wanted to use non-wood material.<br /><br />Doman, cant wait to see your pcitures.

 

[doman]

Re: Floor replacement material

i went to walmart to pick up the photos but they didnt put it on the cd so ill have them posted as soon as i get the cds <br /><br /><br />Dom

 

[detailer]

Re: Floor replacement material

hey guys, I just looked at plascore's web site. looks like they make something called "Honeycomb Sandwich Panels". Here's what it says:<br /><br />Plascore produces sandwich panels that incorporate honeycomb and foam cores with a wide variety of facing material; and specialized finished assemblies. Our capabilities include adhesive formulating, metal welding, surface treatment, powder coat painting, QC testing, Color analysis, Adhesive bonding, CNC Machining, edge treatments and closeouts. Plascore’s engineers can aid in the design of a panel for any application.<br /><br />Current markets that we serve are Aerospace, Automotive, Medical, Construction, Marine, Recreational, Transportation, Architectural, Consumer and the Military.<br /><br />Plascore also offers a variety of panels that are shipped from stock that serve industries such as Marine, Architectural, and Tooling. Please contact us to get a current list of stock availability and pricing.<br /><br />Betsy VanderBrink<br />Sales, Custom/Special Panels<br />Phone: (616) 748-2245<br />Fax: (616) 748-2305<br /><br />I'm looking for a no rot solution to flooring and stringers too. Thanks doman!

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Floor replacement material

That sounds like good stuff. I think that is the route I will go when I find an aluminum hull. I want to build an all weather boat that can be left in the rain and I don't have to worry about it. I cover my current boat, and that is fine, but it would be nice to not have to worry about it if I don't have to....

 

[detailer]

Re: Floor replacement material

Hey JasonJ,<br /><br />I'm going to be rebuilding the floor of my little 14.5 Caddo trihull. I blew up the original 79 55hp Chrylser (long story, first boat) and got a replacement through a local outboard shop. The new motor is a 70 85hp Chrysler, found out that's about an 80lb difference.<br /><br />Anyway, you seem to be the expert in floors and floatation. Do you think this Plascore stuff will help make up for the weight change? I'm thinking stringers and flooring with fiberglass/plascore sandwiches. Also, will fresh floatation foam make any difference in the way the boat sits in the water? After seeing the pics of your boat on the water I think mine sits a little low.<br /><br />BTW, that boat needs a new name... she ain't a skank no more! Sure wish you lived closer to me, I'd buy the beer if you'd sit and point. I'm really freaked out about removing the top of the boat!

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Floor replacement material

Note the suggestion on the Plascore website for users to “validate the honeycomb exposure to their specific application.” The polyprop stuff does NOT like hydrocarbons. Be sure you totally seal the honeycomb in glass or don’t use it anywhere it will/can be exposed to gasoline or oil.

 

[detailer]

Re: Floor replacement material

Thats a good point 18rabbit. Either way, plywood or plascore, you'd have to completely seal your core material. The sandwich material just seems like it would speed the process of building the floor and laying it all with glass.<br /><br />I'm thinking all you'd have to do is glass the stringers (cut out of the glass/plascore material) to the hull with strips, cap the stringers and lay the glass/plascore floor. Of course, before you lay the floor you would want to wrap the edges with glass. Then all you'd have to do is glass the floor to the sides of the hull with more strips. The floor is already glassed top and bottom <br /><br />If thats how this stuff works, I think with the time and labor saved it might make up for the price. I'm going to call them and find out more about the sandwiched stuff. They just happen to have a dealer in Oklahoma City, might go have a look too

 

[jaguirre]

Re: Floor replacement material

Thank for all the reply's and information. I will give the plascore people a call to see how I can find a local dealer.<br /><br />Jorge