Why plywood?

[seaside Skip]

I have been reading these stringer / floor replacement projects and noticed that everyone uses plywood. Can solid wood be used for stringers ? What is best advised for plywood deck ratings? Thanks for your time !

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Why plywood?

a lot has been said on the subject. IMHO it's hard to beat dimensional lumber for stringers. After all, it holds up the big ole tree. Glass covered plywood, on the other hand is best for flooring. In all cases, the lumber should be adequately treated to resist water absorbtion.

 

[Realgun]

Re: Why plywood?

In reality most people use the cheapest not the best thing to do the job. Plywood is cheap and strong and easy to cut and shape. Dimesional wood is harder to shape imho and is not as srtong as a bonded plywood sheet. It all depends on the job. I was going to replace my stringers with some presure treated lumber. <br />I then found the stringers were in good shape. Good thing as it would have been a real job to cut the lumber to the correct angles as it was 12' long and tapered on 1 end. And to top it off I need 2x4 lumber but got 2x6. I really should have measured but was at the lumber yard already for another project! <br />Plywood that is 3/4" is great for what I was going to do (stringer) and I really only need 1 sheet. I would have cut 4 pieces that were 8 feet and 4 feet.<br /><br />8ft ,,,,,,,,,4ft<br />_____ ____________<br />------------ -----<br />8ft,,,,,,,,,,,4ft<br /><br />Notice there are only two joints and they are 4 feet apart. I would have painted both pieces on all sides twice as this would have sealed the wood. Then glued them with epoxy mixed with milled fiberglass. And screwed together with SS screws.<br /><br />Flooring is easiest with prepared Plywood. There are substitutes however they are more expensive and probably will last only as long as properly treated plywood. What I mean is that the plywood is coated on all sides at least two times.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Why plywood?

I used plywood for my stringers because some of them where 14+ inches in height, and I couldn't find dimensional in that sort of dimension. Also, as Realgun stated, it was easier to deal with. It was a good choice for my project as I had 6 stringers at an original 3/4 inch width. The ply accomplished the same thing with what I felt was superior strength. I know it is strong, I have spent two seasons beating the snot out of it, and it remains solid.

 

[swimmin' for shore]

Re: Why plywood?

I was readint somewhere that seacast is getting used for stringers now, aside from it's transom uses. It probably costs more initially, but after having seen how much work goes into stringer replacement, I think it would be worth it to me to do it once and not have to worry about it the next time I look under the deck.

 

[swimmin' for shore]

Re: Why plywood?

I was readint somewhere that seacast is getting used for stringers now, aside from it's transom uses. It probably costs more initially, but after having seen how much work goes into stringer replacement, I think it would be worth it to me to do it once and not have to worry about it the next time I look under the deck.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Why plywood?

Seacast stringers would certainly give you a rot free structure. If you are willing to spend the loot, it isn't a bad idea. Wood, if well saturated and sheathed in glass and sealed will give you decades of life. Most of us ripped our floors out to find that the original stringers were glassed only part way up, the floor undersides were sealed with nothing, drainage was poor, and the old foam was saturated with water. Glassing the stringers to the tops, sealing the floor underside, good drainage, and more modern 2 part foam provides a vastly superior end result than original. Like I always say, my boat lasted 33 years on inferior structure assembly, I should expect at least 33 more years out of it, but I have the feeling I won't have it that long. I am already in the planning stages of a 19 foot aluminum pilot house with small forward berth project. All I need is to find the right hull at the right price and that project will commence. The goal is a lighter, wood free boat that can get wet without me stressing out over whether the cover is on or not.