marine grade

birdy3897

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Sep 10, 2005
Messages
126
Instead of buying really expensive marine grade plywood couldn't I just by a good sheet of hardwood and put some type of water seal on it? I am just making a deck up front for a bass style seat on an old tri-hull, it don't have to last but maybe 5 years or so. I can get a sheet a good sheet of hardwood for about 38 bucks and was thinking about going with thomson water seal. Would this work??
 

surlyjoe

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Nov 21, 2005
Messages
486
Re: marine grade

the only thing hardwood is the exterior veneers,and will not be waterproof glue. at the very least use exterior grade fir, I still recomend the real deal tho.
 

crab bait

Captain
Joined
Feb 5, 2002
Messages
3,831
Re: marine grade

birch an red oak ply ( an ALL oak ply is red oak ) rots like a garden tomato..<br /><br />a piece of AB DOUG FIR cost the same 38 to 45 bucks.. <br /><br />no home center carries AB.. but any lumber yard can have it in 3 days..
 

imported_Curmudgeon

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 29, 2004
Messages
496
Re: marine grade

One side is "perfect", the other may have very slight defects, like a knot or two. Be careful what the edges look like - that's one of the things that sets marine gade apart (smooth, no voids to wich moisture).
 

Realgun

Commander
Joined
Jul 31, 2003
Messages
2,484
Re: marine grade

I cut throught 4 sheets of Exterior plywood and there are very very few voids. I understand about voids but there are not that many. Two coats of epoxy and they are pretty much sealed for life anyway. Be sure to do the edges too.
 
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