Marine plywood

[joewithaboat]

We had a marine plywood project in the shop the other day and it made me think of you guys...

These are seat bases for a 1964 Greyhound Bus restoration. Bus number 869, it seats 43. Its a volunteer non profit thing, kinda interesting. The guys doing the bulk of the work have a lot of vision. It was in very bad shape, not something I would have undertaken. I have only used marine plywood a few times over the years, ironically usually not in boats or even near the water. All plywood, even Domestic made, quality has really taken a hit in the last few years but this was some quality stuff and a joy to machine.
It was 1/2 A/B fir about $52.00 a sheet

 

[oops!]

Re: Marine plywood

at 52 a sheet....buy the lift !

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Marine plywood

at 52 a sheet....buy the lift !

???

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Marine plywood

???

Things cost double (or is it triple) up in Canada

$52 for 1/2" is average down here, 3/4 was $68 last time I bought it

 

[halfmoa]

Re: Marine plywood

I've never seen a piece of plywood I'd call pretty until now! Maybe I should spring for it after all...

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Marine plywood

I've never seen a piece of plywood I'd call pretty until now! Maybe I should spring for it after all...

Here is some pretty stuff ...

 

[halfmoa]

Re: Marine plywood

Is that veneered MDF or actually ply?

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Marine plywood

Is that veneered MDF or actually ply?

It is mdf core. As you might have guessed v/c wont stay straight enough for something like that. The door and drawer faces were "A" faced both sides. Around $100.00 a sheet. Its alder hence the narrow vertical plank face. The interior parts were "A/4" and a lot more reasonable at around $70.00 per sheet.

 

[halfmoa]

Re: Marine plywood

I figured it was veneer. I built an very, very large desk out of veneered MDF in high school for the media center's classroom. Messy to work with but it's beautiful and easier.

But that marine grade is good looking wood! If you don't mind me asking where/what kind of shop do you work in that would be restoring a Greyhound bus. I've restored some vehicles in my days but that's an odd undertaking.

 

[fisherguy123]

Re: Marine plywood

An older gentleman gave me a 16' runabout that was made of marine plywood and bronze screws ......it was over 35 years old and in good shape .....just needed some refinishing which I did and the boat lasted me another 10 years . I retired it when the oak keelson and chines started to rot but the marine ply was still in great condition and I could have saved it h ad i been a bit more energetic. I like the low maintenance of fiberglass nowadays but miss the nostalgia and ride of the wood.Here is a pic of that boat........

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Marine plywood

If you don't mind me asking where/what kind of shop do you work in that would be restoring a Greyhound bus. I've restored some vehicles in my days but that's an odd undertaking.

I own and operate a small custom mill-work shop. We do pretty much anything out of wood, some metal fab when it involves wood. Mostly high end residential a little commercial. Doors, windows, cabinets, furniture, stairs etc. Been in business for 13 years for myself. Overall its been good to me, although the last 3 years have been pretty rough.

The bus thing is for a old friend of my fathers. He is a life long automobile enthusiast as am i. He knows i mess with anything wood. The bus has wood seat bases and a wood sub-floor as well as some shelving and skids in the luggage compartments.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Marine plywood

An older gentleman gave me a 16' runabout that was made of marine plywood and bronze screws ......it was over 35 years old and in good shape .....just needed some refinishing which I did and the boat lasted me another 10 years . I retired it when the oak keelson and chines started to rot but the marine ply was still in great condition and I could have saved it h ad i been a bit more energetic. I like the low maintenance of fiberglass nowadays but miss the nostalgia and ride of the wood.Here is a pic of that boat........

Good looking boat!
I know what you mean about the "ride." Wood boats have a certain "feel" to them. Ive spent quite a few hours in old Chriscrafts and various wood sail boats and smallish wood outboards. Wood boats seemed to be better suited to the rich and/or retired. There a lot of work. If I become rich i will own a few! Lol

 

[halfmoa]

Re: Marine plywood

I own and operate a small custom mill-work shop. We do pretty much anything out of wood, some metal fab when it involves wood. Mostly high end residential a little commercial. Doors, windows, cabinets, furniture, stairs etc. Been in business for 13 years for myself. Overall its been good to me, although the last 3 years have been pretty rough.

The bus thing is for a old friend of my fathers. He is a life long automobile enthusiast as am i. He knows i mess with anything wood. The bus has wood seat bases and a wood sub-floor as well as some shelving and skids in the luggage compartments.

If he's springing for marine grade ply inside of a bus seat that may or may not ever be sat in I'm sure it's gonna be a killer restore! I'd be interested in seeing some pics of the completed project if you could work that out.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Marine plywood

If he's springing for marine grade ply inside of a bus seat that may or may not ever be sat in I'm sure it's gonna be a killer restore! I'd be interested in seeing some pics of the completed project if you could work that out.

I'm sure that I can get you some. The Gentleman doing the restore is in his late 60's and is not very internet savy so its not online that i know of. It is however being documented for a book and has had folks from Greyhound and the original Designer visit once already.

As to the marine grade plywood.. The original used it as well. Marine is apparently graded to not have any internal voids. The way the seats attach to the frame, with hand hammered steel rivets, if there happened to be in internal void there the long term strength would
be compromised and the seat would fail. The originals were in pretty good shape despite some having sat in the rain for years with broken glass. The worst of it was the rats, squirrels, raccoons, snakes that had there way with it. Suffice it to say to say they pee where they live! It spent 15 or so years abandoned in a field.