Sealing a plywood floor

[Vintin]

I've got about 6ft X 15ft of plywood flooring to seal. It's in real good shape but whatever was on it is mostly gone. I don't know what kind of plywood it is but it seems to have held up well.

I've been researching the subject this evening and am seeing epoxy resin suggested.


What brand names and sources please.

And about being slippery? Is that a problem with the epoxy or is there something I can add to the sealer for traction?

I'd probably be brushing it on.

Thanks in advance!

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Sealing a plywood floor

Wood, fiberglass, aluminum boat?

Different boats, different needs......

NON-pressure treated plywood? ESP in an aluminum boat......

 

[Vintin]

Re: Sealing a plywood floor

It's an aluminum boat and I'm not sure about the plywood but it has been in the boat for what looks like a long time. There is no sign of corrosion where the wood meets the floor trusses. I have the panels that go down the middle, they are designed to be removed easily for access. Maybe someone can tell what kind of wood from the photos attached but being it has worked so well for so long I will not be changing it, I'd just like to seal it and it will not be covered.

 

[Bomber Goober]

Re: Sealing a plywood floor

Looks like it was sealed with paint. If you wanted to seal with epoxy , you will have to sand that paint down. If you go the epoxy route you will have to paint over it to protect it from UV exposure. One of the members on here, Watermann used Rusto's deck restore or deck armor not sure of exact name of it to seal his deck in his SN. It protects the wood and offers a non-slip all in one. So far he has no complaints, although no one has any long term results on it. Its available at lowes and will be considerable cheaper than epoxy/paint.

EDIT: Have you considered adding any flotation foam in case of a swamping?

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Sealing a plywood floor

To seal that decking properly you'll need to sand all of the old paint or whatever it is on it.

Your decking is probably CCA pressure treated plywood and that's why it has held up so well, CCA pressure treated won't corrode aluminum like the ACQ will so you don't have to worry about that. My aluminum boat has the CCA decking in it too.

If you use epoxy resin you'll need to cover it with something, paint or marine vinyl would be my first 2 choices. Epoxy will suffer UV breakdown if not protected from the sun so it has to be covered.

I don't know how appealing you want the deck to look or if it even matters, but I put the marine vinyl on my decking and it looks nice and is very slip resistant. Here's the thread if you want to take a look:
http://forums.iboats.com/boat-resto...ir/97-tracker-pro-deep-v-facelift-509163.html

What make/model of boat is that and how big is it? I really like the way they did the deck framing.


On a side note I notice you don't have any floatation foam in your boat. This could be a big problem in case of an emergency and your boat takes on water. I certainly would'nt hesitate to install floatation foam in that boat if it was mine.

 

[Vintin]

Re: Sealing a plywood floor

It's a 19ft. Alumacraft Cruiseabout. It does have some flotation behind the side panels but I'm sure it could use some more. The seats and side panels are riveted to the floor so putting down marine vinyl would require quite a bit of work....like taking the seats out entirely.

I'll be adding more floatation after I check it out for leaks.

Thanks for any and all advice.


EDIT: Nice job on the vinyl flooring Jigngrub! Not to derail my own thread but what foam would you suggest? That was one fine foam job, too, and I'd like to do my foam like yours.

Bomber Goober, the Rustoleum Restore looks like the way I'm going unless a more interesting option comes along.

 

[Vintin]

Re: Sealing a plywood floor

I've found out from an expert that the wood floor is marine fir plywood. The boat does have quite a bit of flotation but it is not under the floor decking, it is in side panels. Thanks for all advice and if it being marine fir make any difference, please let me know.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Sealing a plywood floor

Marine fir plywood is a great choice.

You cant have too much flotation foam particularly near the stern @motor...

What does that copper line feed?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Sealing a plywood floor

I'm guessing that's the fuel line. You could also consider using some Soft Sand in some good ole' Rustoleum Oil Base paint after you do your Epoxy coating.

SoftSand Rubber & Asper Grit - Innovative Non-Skid Particles for Paint

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Sealing a plywood floor

If you want fine texture, Shark-Grip. Should be available @HD, Lowes, Sherwin Williams, & others off the shelf

It's a micronized polymer.... And compatible w/ many different media: Epoxy, oil & latex paint.

 

[sphelps]

Re: Sealing a plywood floor

You may want to put some kind of an insulator around the tubing so it doesn't rub against the bulkheads and create a hole .
Those holes in the bulkheads looks like a perfect spot for pool noodles .

 

[pauloman]

Re: Sealing a plywood floor

2 coats of solvent thinned epoxy - if old paint is well bonded you can go right over it. Make your own solvent thinned epoxy or buy premade stuff - if you want a really smooth level surface, then a coat of FLEXIBLE epoxy paint. Top coat with enamel or latex and walnut shell non slip.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Sealing a plywood floor

Thinned epoxies are an old school line of thought and it creates a very poor final product. pauloman never returns on these threads to discuss anything or explain his line of thinking, so I guess we will never know what to thin with or the % to achieve a good solid waterproof coating.

The sticky at the top of the page explains with graphs and details how thinning dergades the epoxy.

 

[Vintin]

Re: Sealing a plywood floor

What does that copper line feed?

I'm guessing that's the fuel line.

Yes, it's the fuel line. At one time this boat had duel fuel tanks, one on each side about where the one tank is sitting now and tied together with the two valves you can almost see at the top of the photo, and then a single line running back to the motor. Thanks for everyone for the great tips. I've read all of the other threads that have been suggested and have gleaned a lot of useful information.

 

[Vintin]

Re: Sealing a plywood floor

You may want to put some kind of an insulator around the tubing so it doesn't rub against the bulkheads and create a hole .
Those holes in the bulkheads looks like a perfect spot for pool noodles .

Yes, I would protect the copper tubing. At the present time it ends where the stern drive engine was mounted in the deck of the boat. I'm not sure if I should use copper tubing or switch it to CG fuel line. Thanks for the pool noodle suggestion.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Sealing a plywood floor

Yes, I would protect the copper tubing. At the present time it ends where the stern drive engine was mounted in the deck of the boat. I'm not sure if I should use copper tubing or switch it to CG fuel line. Thanks for the pool noodle suggestion.

The bolded, definitely NOT the other.