Need advice using fence wood on boat please

[Bustedknuckle84]

Im trying to move and raise my live bait bucket higher up (right now it sits on the deck). Im trying to use 2x4's (homedepot kind) and have it all cut out and planned.

Should I paint the wood would or something to help prevent rot and mold from being outside? the wood will be below the bait bucket limiting the sun it gets.

Or is there a different route I should take all together?

 

[r.j.dawg]

Re: Need advice using fence wood on boat please

Please don't use pressure treated wood. If it's regular spruce or pine it will be ok but I would think it should be sealed just like any other wood they use on boats. Fiberglass and epoxy resin.

 

[Another retired guy]

Re: Need advice using fence wood on boat please

Use cedar. It's naturally water/rot resistant and won't need painting.

 

[Bustedknuckle84]

Re: Need advice using fence wood on boat please

Thanks guys for the fast response does Home depot and/or Lowes carry cedar???

 

[Lyle29464]

Re: Need advice using fence wood on boat please

thanks guys for the fast response does home depot and/or lowes carry cedar???

yes

 

[sktn77a]

Re: Need advice using fence wood on boat please

Ordinarily, I would say find a suitably-sized plastic base (dollar store, big lots, walmart, etc). But seeing as you've already cut it, just paint it and use it till it rots (pine rots and cedar costs an arm and a leg!) Fiberglass and resin will work, too, but it can be a bit messy if you've never used it before.

 

[JEBar]

Re: Need advice using fence wood on boat please

Please don't use pressure treated wood.

I'm curious as to why not ..

Jim

 

[etracer68]

Re: Need advice using fence wood on boat please

What is "fence wood". Are there fence trees?

 

[matt167]

Re: Need advice using fence wood on boat please

Use cedar. It's naturally water/rot resistant and won't need painting.

Only white cedar. Common Red cedar has a grain that is more open, and is not rot resistant. Only the heartwoods are any kind of rot resistant.

 

[matt167]

Re: Need advice using fence wood on boat please

Thanks guys for the fast response does Home depot and/or Lowes carry cedar???

They do, but only the common red cedar which is not as rot resistant as White cedar. Only the heartwood is, and Lowes and HD only seem to have knotty garbage in the cedar selections.

Oak or Douglas fir are better/ cheaper alternatives

 

[F_R]

Re: Need advice using fence wood on boat please

I saw an absolutely gorgeous reproduction of an old wood boat at a meet yesterday. He used fence wood for the floor boards (spaces between the boards). He did run them through a planer to reduce the thickness and weight and sawed them to a narrower width, and left them unpainted. After all, they are already pressure treated with wood preservative. It looked right at home in that varnished cypress planked boat.

 

[colbyt]

Re: Need advice using fence wood on boat please

Pressure treated wood chemicals are toxic and can react with metal boat parts.

For the OP. Since you already have it I agree with using it as long as you can. A good primer and oil based paint will make it last longer. Be sure to get the cut ends and all ends well covered with paint. The grain acts like a drinking straw and sucks up water. Assemble it using galvanized nails or screws. Deck screws being the best choice. Properly sealed and painted I see 5-7 years of good use in your future.

 

[Another retired guy]

Re: Need advice using fence wood on boat please

Only white cedar. Common Red cedar has a grain that is more open, and is not rot resistant. Only the heartwoods are any kind of rot resistant.

Sorry, but I have to disagree . Western Red is superior. See link

Perkins Lumber - Western vs. Eastern

(Eastern Red also has excellent rot resistance)

 

[matt167]

Re: Need advice using fence wood on boat please

I guess it's probably fine for what he is doing. I know it's not well regarded in the boat building world except strip planking canoes and veneers for the color, but Spar varnish or epoxy encapsulating is usually used in both cases.. I know I used Eastern Red 4x4's on my back deck and they are holding up fine. Just as well as the pressure treated pine

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Need advice using fence wood on boat please

I recently built 3 shelves for mine and I used 3/4 PVC trim board and stainless screws, I am tried of doing stuff over and over.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Need advice using fence wood on boat please

Toobafores.....OMG.

Oiled teak or mahogany stained and spar varnished.

Anything less on a boat would be sacreligious.