How thick of plywood for doghouse?

[tmh]

My 20 yr old doghouse isn't in the best shape and some time I will build a new one. The current one is, IMP, built heavy and not too well. It is 5/8 plywood with no corner/side brackets or any other structural supports. Being heavy ply it holds together OK though.

I'm wondering what the min. thickness ply I could use for a new one. I can figure it out structually, just wondering about engine noise. Do they make them as thick as mine to reduce the noise? Or does 3/8 or 1/2" ply do about the same on noise as 5/8?

The primary reason I'd make it lighter is so it can be moved easier (very clumsy shape and tight quarters). Also, nothing wrong with making your boat a few lbs lighter (of course a diet for me would do more in this regard).

 

[mikesea]

Re: How thick of plywood for doghouse?

maybe you can use coosa,its a fiberglass composite sold in 4x8 sheets.search coosa fiferglass products,Im thinking of rebuilding my transom and a livewell with it

 

[tmh]

Re: How thick of plywood for doghouse?

That coosa stuff looks like a nice boat building material, but the best price I saw was $160 for a 4' x 8' sheet of 3/4". I'd need two to make a doghouse so it's not worth it to me.

 

[Bondo]

Re: How thick of plywood for doghouse?

Back when I went from the I4, to the V6,.... I had to build a new Doghouse,.....

I used 1/2" Plywood,.... Then covered the outside with Vinyl,+ covered the Inside with Closed-cell Form, that I pulled out of Dumpsters.... It's the Packing Sheet Foam....

Another way to go is use Cardboard, or 1/4" plywood to mock-up the Shape,+ Then Fiberglass it.......

I Don't Think there's much Sound Deadening in Wood,......
That's why I covered mine with that Foam,+ Vinyl.......

 

[klos]

Re: How thick of plywood for doghouse?

To keep the price down use 1/2 plywood, glass inside and out for strength.
Then use Dynamat or something similar on the inside for sound insulation.

www.dynamat.com/products_automotive_dynaliner.html

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: How thick of plywood for doghouse?

i had some old aluminum, angle, used it for the corners and some cross bracking, then covered with 1/4 " lined inside with foam, and upolstered the outside. made a strong, light doghouse.

 

[tmh]

Re: How thick of plywood for doghouse?

The 1/4" ply with metal brackets sounds like what I'm looking for, tash....maybe go 3/8 so it can be sat on. I assume I'd want a non-flamable foam if I use it on the inside, right?

Sounds like an easy enough winter boat project for me. Thanks, all.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: How thick of plywood for doghouse?

i just ran some reinforcing across the top, and used 1/4, then 3" of foam rubber and covered,

 

[Chris1956]

Re: How thick of plywood for doghouse?

TMH, I used 1/2 PT plywood, but I glassed the seams and covered all surfaces with poly resin. If you use cloth to assemble the pieces, it will be stronger and smoother than angle iron, and will adapt to any angle.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: How thick of plywood for doghouse?

If you want to make it super light, you might want to try making it out of aluminum? Any sheetmetal shop should be able to bend you up a box for a fairly reasonable amount, then you only have to either hinge or mount it and insulate. You could pad it and reinforce it with square tubing and save lots of weight in the end. I did one using .040 aluminum, with a 1x1" aluminum tube frame for support, then I padded it and oppolstered it in matching vynil and insulated the inside with foil covered closed cell foam.
It was not only light, It was surprisingly quiter than the poorly built wood box that it replaced. I was also able to make it one piece instead of the three piece twin lid overweight beast it replaced. The old one required you to remove two left and right side top sections, then if you needed to get closer, you had to unscrew and remove the entire suround or base section which took time and meant also removing two seats. The new one slid into place whole, when it was out it left the engine totally exposed. I sealed the lower edge with automotive weatherstrip like is used on most car trunks.
I don't have any pics, I built that about 25 years ago for my bigger boat. I would do the same if I had a wood one to replace. My current boat has a one piece fiberglass lid that lifts with hydralic cylinders and raises the entire rear area of the boat, seats and all. The only problem with that is that if you raise it while in the boat, you can't see over the back at all, and it would be imposible to lift without power, if the battery power failed, the lid would most likely not work.

 

[wayno]

Re: How thick of plywood for doghouse?

I used 3/8 to rebuild mine. I had some extra galvanized steel 2x4 studs that i cut and framed the inside. But prior to that i used some 2x2 in the corners to freame it together. the diference was with the 2x2s it held together nicly but with the studs you can sit/stand on it if you want.

Ill take a pic of the inside of it and post it tomarrow.