Andrew Grether
New member
Do u guys think I can get away with exterior plywood for new flooring?
Thanks
Thanks
Floor question
- Thread starter Andrew Grether
- Start date
Derek Thompson
Active member
if you are talking boat flooring. the answer is "it depends" I used exterior plywood for a floor in a blind boat. I gave it two coats of exterior paint on both sides and the edges before I put it in the boat. My blind boats do not set out in the weather plus they have lids. so the floor only gets a small amount of moisture on it from boot tracking and some water from the dog. the plywood lasted for 5 or 6 years. I sold the boat and pulled the floor. the plywood was in good enough shape that I saved the pieces to use for other projects. If you were going to use the plywood in a boat that sat out all of the time and was exposed to weather/rain I am guessing that the plywood would only last a couple of years.
You have to seal the heck out of it, and you might get a couple 3 years.
Last floor I did, I used spruce 1x3, with a half inch gap ,with a heavy coat of used engine oil, yeah, I know, but I ain't eating off it.
I made the floor in parts to remove easily to get all the crap out that seems to accumulate, So far it's lasting good, and it's over 5 years
Last floor I did, I used spruce 1x3, with a half inch gap ,with a heavy coat of used engine oil, yeah, I know, but I ain't eating off it.
I made the floor in parts to remove easily to get all the crap out that seems to accumulate, So far it's lasting good, and it's over 5 years
Steve Sanford
Well-known member
Andrew~
If you are referring to removable/semi-permanent floorboards (as distinct from a permanently fastened floor AKA "cockpit sole"), AC fir plywood (not CDX et cetera) has worked fine in several of my duckboats over the years. As others mentioned, the exposure is really limited - even if you gun every day of your season(s) - if the interior of the boat is protected from the elements throughout the off season.
In any event, I would certainly recommend sealing them with epoxy before painting: one coat on the bottom and 2 coats on top and edges.
Hope this helps,
SJS
If you are referring to removable/semi-permanent floorboards (as distinct from a permanently fastened floor AKA "cockpit sole"), AC fir plywood (not CDX et cetera) has worked fine in several of my duckboats over the years. As others mentioned, the exposure is really limited - even if you gun every day of your season(s) - if the interior of the boat is protected from the elements throughout the off season.
In any event, I would certainly recommend sealing them with epoxy before painting: one coat on the bottom and 2 coats on top and edges.
Hope this helps,
SJS
Derek Thompson
Active member
The more I think about it, I did two coats top and bottom and three coats on the edges. and make sure and "fill" the voids on the edges so moisture can't get in and start the plys separating.
Derek Thompson
Active member
another option to consider is going with Alum sheet and then putting line-x coating on it. We started doing that on our blind boats. It makes a nice surface that you can get some traction on even when wet and ice coated.
