home made marine grade plywood.

[POINTER94]

I am repairing some seats in my boat and the verticle peices a rotting out. I couldn't find marine grade plywood and the green outdoor grade stuff is twisted & rough.<br /><br />I used a plywood A2 (Indoor/Outdoor)then covered in fibreglass resin to seal it up and in addition, I am thinking of sealing the edge grain with 5200. Do you think this will get me where I need to be with regards to the water resistance?<br /><br />Any additional ideas of how to improve the wood for a long term solution... ( other than marine plywood ) In theory this should not get wet except when I wash down the deck. In addition it will be covered in a laminate to match the rest of the boat. The old plywood started rotting from the bottom, and it delaminated to the point of disintrigration. Bottom 15% only..<br /><br />Thanks

 

[ob15]

Re: home made marine grade plywood.

polyester resing will work but will not last. Epxoy resin is the way to go (on the edges too). You could also use some nice void free exterior plywood. The main reson for exterior ply is the waterproff glue the use. Regular plywood will delaminate quickly.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: home made marine grade plywood.

Dave – since the whole piece of wood will be hermitically sealed in a sheath of epoxy, why is the grade of the glue internal to the plywood important…how could it delam?

 

[crab bait]

Re: home made marine grade plywood.

epoxy's the way to go.. <br /><br />i don't know what 'A2' is..<br /><br />but should use a doug fir exterior ply.. if A2's not..<br /><br />doug fir ext. an marine are virtually the same .. except marine has no voids an cost 3X as much..<br /><br />watch an seal up the mountin' holes many coats with epoxy also..the gateway for rot..

 

[Hooty]

Re: home made marine grade plywood.

What ever you do, do not build a foam core, light weight, composite panel that is virtually indestructible and will not rot. <br /><br />c/6<br />Hooty

 

[ob15]

Re: home made marine grade plywood.

18rabbit <br /><br />I would suppose it is extra insurance. If 1 little spot seeps water into the wood, it will fall apart if the glue is not waterproof. Nobody is perfect and 1 minute spot couod ruin the whole thing.

 

[POINTER94]

Re: home made marine grade plywood.

Thanks for the imput guys.<br /><br />Well the project should take less than 6 hours to complete and less than 75 bucks. If it fails I will have learned a lesson, and I will be able to speak with authority on the issue. If it works, I will post it in a couple of years.

 

[johndoe]

Re: home made marine grade plywood.

Hooty<br />What is this "composite panel" and where do I get some?

 

[Hooty]

Re: home made marine grade plywood.

You can buy ready-made composite panels but I made my own. I use 3/8" Klegecell core with a layer of 1-1/2oz. mat and 18oz. bi-axial roving and epoxy on each side. It'll be there for ever.<br />Here's one supplier.<br /><br /> Fibreglast <br /><br />Go there and go to the "Fiber Talk" forum. They'll educate ya.<br /><br />c/6<br />Hooty