upper deck support

[SgtMaj]

In the bow of my upper deck, there is a piece of 1/2 inch plywood that's supposed to support people being up front there. The plywood was warped in the center (I can only assume from weight), but still good wood. With it being warped in the center though, the bow would sag under a person's weight.

I want to fix this, so I cut the old plywood out, and was thinking about putting in a new 3/4 inch piece, but then I thought that would just sag eventually also. So I was thinking, would it be better to cut the 3/4 inch plywood into 2" strips and glass them in like stringers (maybe 2-4 inches apart)?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: upper deck support

3 inch strips.

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: upper deck support

3 inch strips.

Ok, is spacing them 2-4 inches apart good, or should it be closer? Also, what about cross-beams? What if I do them like this:

(where 1 square = 1 inch)

I could screw in both sides of those cross beams with 1 1/2 inch stainless screws. I think the downside would be that it would be heavier than the original, but the upside would be that I don't think it would ever flex like that again. Also, the boat was originally light in the bow, so if I have to add weight, then this is a pretty good place to add it.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: upper deck support

with 3/4 ply deck, you could easily go 12 " oc. 1/2 inch 6" oc.

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: upper deck support

I'm a pretty big guy though. I'm 6'4" and weigh in at nearly 300lbs. I'd be worried about falling through. When I walked on it before, I could hear it crackling beneith my feet as it bowed, so I'm thinking the closer the better. Know what I mean?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: upper deck support

yep.