Wood for floor

[jasono2l]

Do I use the same 3/4" plywood that will be used for the stringers for the floor of the boat or can I use a 5/8" plywood for that? Also the 1/2" thick plywood core that goes in the stringers should be cut to the exact same size as the outer 3/4" pieces, right? One last question, where can I get stainless steel screws? I went to Home Depot tonight and I did not see them anywhere. Saw a lot of outdoor deck screws, but nothing that said stainless steel. Thanks.
Jason

 

[JB]

Re: Wood for floor

DECK, jasono. Boats don't have floors.

 

[jasono2l]

Re: Wood for floor

Sorry bout that, thanks for the tip. Have you got any answers to my questions please?

 

[External Combustion]

Re: Wood for floor

Jason:

I understand your vocabulary may not be corrupted enough to be understood by some old salts. Don't worry about it.

The thickness of the deck wood depends on how much the plywood must span without support.

!/2 inch thick plywood deck will suffice for most 14 to 20 footers. What was the thickness of what you removed? A similar deck would be appropriate. If you are designing your own vessel, might I recommend the book "The V Bottom Boat" by Sucher.

Stainless steel screws are commonly available. Jamestown Distributors, Hamilton Marine and Fastenal are ready suppliers of all fasteners in regular iron and stailess steel. All of them are on the web: Googel them.

 

[txmntman]

Re: Wood for floor

Jason, many of your questions I can't answer. I'm assuming you are talking about a fiberglass boat, and I have little experience replacing a deck in a fiberglass boat.

For you SS screws question. It doesn't surprise me that Home Depot doesn't carry SS screws. However, I have been able to find them at a store that specializes more in hardware, like an ACE hardware. I have also been able to find them at a marine store, but they are more expensive. Of course, you can also order them online (for example www.boltdepot.com). Just a thought. good luck.

 

[jasono2l]

Re: Wood for floor

Still need to pull up the deck. Only 30's here in Milwaukee right now. Maybe I can start in about 3 weeks. Thanks for all the good info external combustion.

 

[jasono2l]

Re: Wood for floor

Thanks txmntman, appreciate the info.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Wood for floor

The box stores should have SS screws, most times they are in the specialty, pull-out trays on the fastener aisle. Half inch or 5/8 plywood is okay for the deck, unless you're gonna have a boat-load of BOB's (big ol boys) all the time. If so, go with the 5/8ths, it's less creaky. Is this a glass boat or aluminum?

 

[drewmitch44]

Re: Wood for floor

DECK, jasono. Boats don't have floors.

My boat i thought had a deck and a floor. There is a deck which is the deck and then there is the floor. I dont stand on the deck i stand on the floor. If i stood on the deck then i would be standing higher then if i was standing on the floor. If i was standing on the floor i would be below the deck. As a matter of fact standing on the floor the deck would be about waist level. Just a thought as i thought boats had decks and floors.

 

[Woodnaut]

Re: Wood for floor

Jason, I've been dealing with the folks at Jamestown distributors for almost 20 years and they've done a great job - from sales to shipping. If you go for SST hardware look for 316 SST. Believe it or not there are actually some grades of stainless that will show corrosion - like 304 that suffers from some chloride corrosion. 316 is the best for marine applications and is even used in the food and surgical industries. Stainless has excellent strength which makes it great for wood screws. If you use stainless bolts and nuts (larger sizes like 3/8" and up) be sure to use some anti-seize compund on the threads because they can easily gall if overtightened. Jamestown has a good supply of 316 SST and silicon bronze fastners. Best of luck on your repairs. - Woodnaut

 

[jasono2l]

Re: Wood for floor

Thanks for all the great info guys. The boat is fiberglass. I think that I will use the 5/8" plywood just to be on the safe side.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Wood for floor

My boat i thought had a deck and a floor. There is a deck which is the deck and then there is the floor. I dont stand on the deck i stand on the floor. If i stood on the deck then i would be standing higher then if i was standing on the floor. If i was standing on the floor i would be below the deck. As a matter of fact standing on the floor the deck would be about waist level. Just a thought as i thought boats had decks and floors.

Technically, boats have soles and decks. Deck is a more generic term that can refer to a whole level of the boat's structure.

Typically, if you're standing in a boat and look up you will see either:

The sky, in which case you're standing on the "sole" or
The bottom of the deck above you, in which case you're on a deck.

For the most part you can interchange deck and sole nowadays, unless you're trying to get help from a really old salt here, or you're in the navy



Erik

 

[seven up]

Re: Wood for floor

And "floors" are the timbers used across a boat (athwartships) to support the cabin and cockpit sole.


In a sailboat, with deep bilges, we'll have the stringer system against the hull and the "floors" to support the sole.


Enjoy

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Wood for floor

and knees on the end of the floors

Favorite boating term: scupper. I like saying it as much as I like saying "swarf" to my machinist friends.