Repairing Moisture damage plywood deck

[Chincoteaguer]

Ripped out old deck and installed sealed plywood deck on my Starcraft 160 two years ago. During recent snows did not cover boat and the accumulated snow melted. I now have moisture damage on a small portion of deck. There is a 2 ft square spot where moisture has pentrated the first layer of the plywood. I removed this layer and have dried the area. Can I fill the void and put another covering on top of the existing deck. Is there a poly product that comes in sheets that can be used? As another option can I fill the void of the first layer with a wood filler product and apply a fiberglass covering on the the deck? It now has grey deck paint applied.

 

[PKomrowski]

Re: Repairing Moisture damage plywood deck

I would just use a fiberglass resin with a filler in it and "fair' it out, maby start by laying down a layer of resin wait about 40 mins for it to soak into the wood, then put down a layer or two of cloth, then fair the rest in with the resin mix. Presuming its strong enough to hold the weigh of people walking on it.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Repairing Moisture damage plywood deck

a lot depends on how deep your removed layer is, and how you want it to look.

I'd start with the prospect of covering the whole floor with vinyl, so you won't have the problem again or need to cover the boat. If your cut-out area is not too deep, don't do anything, maybe some Thompson water seal. Or you can put in a thin piece of plywood there, or fill with auto body bondo (cheaper than wood filler). Then cover with Vinyl.

Do not use carpet; it will get your flounder fuzzy and you can't get blue mud out of it.

Bottom line is, your painted plywood should not have been damaged from one snow that sat there for less than a week. I think your floor materials are substandard, and may need to be replaced again. But if you cover the whole floor with one sheet, and be sure it drains to the bilge, you should be OK for a while.

For others: this is a part of the country where snow is rare and usually melts in a few days. In other parts of the country, covering is more important.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Repairing Moisture damage plywood deck

If you can sand the grey paint off and the plywood is sound and dry under it, you can cover it with poly resin and FG cloth. That will waterproof it for 2 decades or so. Fill any voids with marine polyester putty.

Don't use Bondo. Bondo is made with talc which absorbs water, and gives little strength.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Repairing Moisture damage plywood deck

Ripped out old deck and installed sealed plywood deck on my Starcraft 160 two years ago. During recent snows did not cover boat and the accumulated snow melted. I now have moisture damage on a small portion of deck. There is a 2 ft square spot where moisture has pentrated the first layer of the plywood. I removed this layer and have dried the area. Can I fill the void and put another covering on top of the existing deck. Is there a poly product that comes in sheets that can be used? As another option can I fill the void of the first layer with a wood filler product and apply a fiberglass covering on the the deck? It now has grey deck paint applied.

Just out of curiosity..when you replaced your deck with " sealed " plywood..what kinda of ply and resin did you use ?

Dont use fiberglass unless you Know for a fact that your repair or any existing wood is not wet..

Got pics ?

YD.

 

[Chincoteaguer]

Re: Repairing Moisture damage plywood deck

I agree about the substandard plywood. I have a sheet of the same plywood in my old farm truck and it has been exposed without having benefit of sealer. Only damage is curling. I have some left over wood filler that will be enough to cover damage then I think I'll take your advice and cover whole deck with vinyl.

Thanks everyone.

 

[oops!]

Re: Repairing Moisture damage plywood deck

this is why i gellcoat my decks......i can leave my boat uncovered in a canadian winter and not worry about it.....but i built it that way.

i agree with yd.....if you repair the deck.......dry it well before you lay glass to it, or it will not bond.

if you do use a poly glass based filler....you will need a layer of glass over it.

but if i were you.....i would sand off the paint.....glass the whole deck. and gellcoat it......then you can carpet....paint......vynal....doodle, drip, spill what ever you want on it.