Which Timber to use?

[jurgenscraft]

What sort of timber should I be using to support a marine ply deck, I thought something like meranti<br />that has been treated with a penetrating epoxy before use.I notice that some boat builders here in South Africa like to encapsulate the timbers with fibre glass and resin making a very untidy job, I am going th locate the deck onto the cross members with a epoxy adhesive and then screw the deck to the cross members to ensure a good bond,I do not wish to do this job again for a few years so I would prefer to do a good job now and forget about it,I am almost certain that penetrating epoxy coated marine ply and under deck timbers glued and screwed together should last a while,Regards William Wright.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Which Timber to use?

Originally posted by jurgens craft:<br /> I am almost certain that penetrating epoxy coated marine ply and under deck timbers glued and screwed together should last a while,

I'd say more like a lifetime jurgensC. I'm not familiar with exotic woods that are available to you on the dark continent but anything that has good structural qualities, well soaked then covered in epoxy, should serve you well. I wouldn't bother to cover the framework in glass either. Just prodidgeously soak it in the penetrating epoxy, then coat again with standard epoxy and you will good to go. Same with the floor.

 

[sundog]

Re: Which Timber to use?

I agree. if the frame has been soaked properly, its better off without the glass overlay. some guys use the overlay instead of preping the wood. as the wood shrinks/swells or if the glass cracks, a void can be formed under the glass and with moisture start to rot your wood and you dont even see it.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Which Timber to use?

In the boat restoration video "fiberglass repair with Bruce McDugal" Bruce first seals all wood with 50% catalyzed resin and 50% Acetone. He then lets it dry. He then installs them and fill seams and any gaps with a putty made from milled fibers and resin. Everything is then glassed right into the hull and bulkheads. He now almost exclusively uses 7-ply MDO and on occasion good quality Fir.

 

[crab bait]

Re: Which Timber to use?

i am soooo not a fan of 'glassin-in' stringers ..<br /><br />for one,, what does it really do..?? an what does one exspect it to do..??<br /><br />an,,, fiberglass does not take well to sharp inside or outside 90 deg angles..i.e. pluckers/lifts/an bubbles..<br /><br />use a good boat wood that's in 'your-neck-of-the-woods'.. an just do as you planned..<br /><br />but i would use ,,( AN NEVER USE THIN PENATRATE EPOXY WITHOUT ) fillers to thicken the epoxy to a pancake batter before setting the floor plywood..<br /><br />un-thickened thin epoxy must never be use a a construction glue by itself.. IT MUST BE THICKENED..

 

[prockvoan]

Re: Which Timber to use?

You could use close cell foam cut to shape as your stringers,then glass over it.West Marine sells them and a few other places do to that are premolded.Fiberglass is what gives your stringers support.I have never seen a boat that didn't cover there stringers in glass.A stringer that is not glass in will pop from the hull in a short time,the bottom of the hull will buckle and even crack.

 

[sundog]

Re: Which Timber to use?

prockvoan~ the foam covered with glass is a nice way to go, but using a good, hard marine-grade wood is what they used long before they had glass for support. so long as the stringer is set to the hull properly (which is very important), the sealed wood will work as good as foam/glass. the hull will be fine if the stringers are laid properly.

 

[jurgenscraft]

Re: Which Timber to use?

Thank you all for your replies. looks like I am on the right track, what I do is coat the timber before use and allow the penetrating epoxy to set,I then use a two part epoxy glue to join the timbers. I obtain the glues and epoxys from the local boat building epoxy manufacturers,(Ivory Industries) Kind Regards William Wright.

 

[crab bait]

Re: Which Timber to use?

i'd still consider the 'pancake batter' thin epoxy for setting the floor..<br /><br />i've done it both ways an this is so much better..<br /><br />it applies very effortlessly an goes along way.. plus it really fills voids & gaps very well..<br /><br />the ply just oozes into the stuff.. an the wood screws gets a better seal..