Type & Thickness of flooring

[bjsmelton]

I'm converting a 1972 16' Ouchita Jon Boat into a rigged freshwater bass boat. I've already installed a 25hp Tohatsu, aluminum console, wheel, and cable steering. At this point, I've removed the console and begun painting the interior. In a couple days I will begin the flooring.<br /><br />In addition to several suggestions on this forum, I'm using the "Rigging the Ultimate Sportsman's Boat" plans in Monte Burch's "Ultimate Bass Boats" book. Both Monte and others on the iboats forum recommend flooring the boat with 1/2" marine grade or PT plywood over 1 1/2" foam floatation between the cross ribs.<br /><br />My concern is weight. My hull is rated for only 950 lbs. of people and rigging. Since the flooring is laying on top of 2" wide aluminum ribs, spaced around 6" - 10" apart, and also directly on top of the floatation, wouldn't 1/4" plywood make for a strong floor? I would still use 1/2" for my upper deck but it seems to me I'd be OK to use 1/4" for the floor to cut weight. Also, wouldn't the extra floatation increase my capacity rating?<br /><br />Finally, I've seen some debate on this forum about what type of plywood to use. I'm assuming the debate was related mostly to saltwater boating. My boat will live on freshwater lakes and streams. I'm planning on following Monte's "lower cost" recommendation of PT plywood sealed with exterior house paint to allow the marine carpet glue to stick. Any thoughts or other recommendations?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Type & Thickness of flooring

A couple of thoughts.........<br />Foam Will Not increase your floation rating... It's added Weight, Until the boat is Swamped.. Your hull has displaced the water(re;Floation).. Adding foam is added Weight...<br />What did it have for flooring Before.... I'd go with the 1/2"... 3/8s if you're That Concerned... 1/4" is about as strong as paper.....It'll be "Soft", even at 10" rib spacing....<br />Regardless of the experinces the others here have had, I have Always used P/T plywood... I've glued it with Epoxy,Or Resorsinal... Never had a delamination Yet.... As long as the ply is allowed to dry out Real Good, It glues up Very Well..... I'd Skip the "House Paint" thing... Believe me, Carpet glue Sticks Much better than House paint....To Anything...<br />Your abit confused about Which water does What.... Freshwater Rots wood...... Saltwater Pickles it... In other words... Freshwater boats Rot.. Saltwater boats last forever....

 

[crab bait]

Re: Type & Thickness of flooring

BONDO gives stra8 advice as always.. agree with all said .. but pt ply is really junk imho.. it's the worst grade to begin with,, an just lousy with voids... plus when dryin' or dried out it can/will be a checked/split, warp mess.. <br /><br />the best time to buy pt ply( if must ) is in late winter... it's been sitting on the shelf of the home center for months in heat...<br /><br />i not 100 % sure as of yet,, but i'm reading that pt wood hardly does anything for rot.. it's for bugs/parasites an such..

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Type & Thickness of flooring

Use 1/2 inch, it isn't much heavier but it is much stronger. The floor is part of the structure, it helps to tie the boat together and eliminates torional twisting. You can use pressure treated, you are bolting to aluminum, so you are not going to be glassing or bonding. I have used with great succes one part polyurethane paint meant for exterior use like decks and concrete floors. It is very strong, and is virtually weather proof. It takes a few coats, but is works good. Another product that works well is Evercoat non-skid rubberized floor covering. You paint it on in a couple coats, is had no-skid niblets in it, and seals screws that are screwed into the wood (although I still use 3m 5200)<br /><br />Crab bait, pressure threated wood is for rot prevention, it does nothing to prevent wood destroying insects. As an exterminator, I can't even tell you how many new homes built with pressure treated structure have been loaded with Carpenter Ants. They don't care what the wood is, as long as it is moist, and they can chew through it.

 

[Bob in Calif.]

Re: Type & Thickness of flooring

Brad........It sounds you have put a lot of time and money into your boat. I would go with the marine plywood and protect your investment. It will cost a few bucks more, but you will have peace of mind in the long run. I have always used marine plywood in the past, without any second thoughts ...Bob in Calif...

 

[bjsmelton]

Re: Type & Thickness of flooring

Thanks for all the great advice! You all have convinced me to stick with 1/2" flooring. I may also try the exterior polyurethane deck paint as a temporary cover until I install the carpeting.<br /><br />I particularly like that idea because I'm trying to keep this a working boat so I can enjoy it while it evolves. Almost every day I discover a different direction I want to go. That's why my throttle control is on a temporary mount and my console is bolted to the hull with only 3 screws. I know they'll be moving at some point.<br /><br />I'm having a great time building this boat. I was hooked when I tore out the old rotting transom and built a new one. It was my Father-in-law's old river boat (he passed away last August) and I was fixing it up for my Mother-in-law to sell.<br /><br />Half-way through that transom I decided I needed to buy this boat and fix it up for my family to enjoy. Its a great feeling to see my 3 year old daughter drive her Grandpa's old boat. We still call it Papa Maxcie's boat!<br /><br />I sure appreciate you guys on this forum. I know I'll be needing lots more advice.