Floor replacement

[extreme01]

Ok I need to replace the floor on a Alumacraft Dominator. What i want to know is what are my options for plywood are. I was thinking cdx or marine grade. In the forums ive heard that pressure treated in aluminum boats wont work but i see that some people are talking about AC2 CCX Plywood. what does everyone think?
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[jigngrub]

If you want to go with pressure treated ply in an aluminum boat you have to use the marine grade CCA (chromated copper arsenate) KDAT (kiln dried after treating). It won't harm aluminum like the new ASQ formula pressure treated wood.

 

[extreme01]

ok not available in my area. now will cdx work or AB Marine-Grade 4-Ply Plywood only?

 

[jigngrub]

CDX is the least desirable grade of exterior plywood, it has large inner voids that weaken the sheet and can trap water. You should be able to find either ACX or BCX near you Home Depot or Lowes should have one of the 2 grades.

The marine grade is always good, and if you have the money you can't go wrong with it.

I strongly suggest sealing whatever grade of plywood you get with a thin viscosity marine grade layup epoxy resin, 4 coats is best. Epoxy resin penetrates the wood well and is like a sheet of Lexan between your decking and the outside world. It will extend the life of your decking for decades if properly cared for.

 

[extreme01]

OK I think ill Do acx or bcx for the new floor now what are my options for sealing the wood?

 

[jigngrub]

I like marine grade thin epoxy resin, the 635 to be specific. Most people are put off by the cost or are terrified by the 20 minute pot life but you get what you pay for and the pot life is easy to work with once you get the resin spread out. Epoxy resin is the strongest and longest lasting sealer for your decking.

 

[extreme01]

any other options?

 

[jigngrub]

For $5 less a gallon there is polyester resin and 3/4 oz. CSM matt.

 

[Woodonglass]

Sooo give us some more info on how you plan to use the boat, what the final covering for the Floor/Deck will be, how you plan to maintain and store the boat in the off season. Is she the 165 or the 185 or some other? What's your expectations for longevity, what you would like to spend for this deck replacement, budget, time etc. This all plays into the equation.

 

[extreme01]

it is a 165 trailer queen stays in the garage when not in use and stored in a pole shed in winter under a cover during winter. indoor/outdoor marine carpet will go on the floor. I can get that from Menards locally along with the acx or marine plywood. hard part is getting the sealant seems no one has any thin epoxy

 

[Woodonglass]

Yeah, it's usually not found locally. You'll need to order it online. Check your PM's

 

[extreme01]

ok somewhere out there i saw a spec on how much a 4 x 8 piece of pink board would float. anyone have that?

 

[jigngrub]

it is a 165 trailer queen stays in the garage when not in use and stored in a pole shed in winter under a cover during winter. indoor/outdoor marine carpet will go on the floor. I can get that from Menards locally along with the acx or marine plywood. hard part is getting the sealant seems no one has any thin epoxy

Boats that are that well taken care of don't need anything but new carpet, your decking will be fine and the foam will be dry.

 

[extreme01]

actually no the deck is soft but the transom is rock solid. just bought this boat and the PO would use it would get wet and they didnt give it time to get dry before they covered it up and put it away so all that moisture in the boat just rotted the floor away. I described how I treat my present boat which is a 84 pike with original floors and transom that are rock solid. my new boat will be babied just like the old one was

 

[bonz_d]

extreme01, have you gotten the plywood out yet? I would love to see some pictures of this structure once you do. Interested in seeing if this is built the same way my Classic 16 is.

 

[extreme01]

no will pick it up tomorrow and yes when i start tearing down ill post pics

 

[jigngrub]

actually no the deck is soft but the transom is rock solid. just bought this boat and the PO would use it would get wet and they didnt give it time to get dry before they covered it up and put it away so all that moisture in the boat just rotted the floor away. I described how I treat my present boat which is a 84 pike with original floors and transom that are rock solid. my new boat will be babied just like the old one was

Ok, you made it sound like the Dominator had always been well taken care of.

You'd probably be surprised at how rock solid your transom isn't, the back of the plywood that up against the transom hull skin has been trapping the same water that ruined the deck... but you can't see that side of the transom, or the pitting on the inside of the transom skin from galvanic corrosion caused by the trapped water.

To answer your question about the pink foam, one 4'x8'x2" thick sheet of foam will float 326 lbs. and adds up to be 5.44 cubic feet of foam floatation.

 

[bonz_d]

no will pick it up tomorrow and yes when i start tearing down ill post pics

Thanks, I'll be looking forward to seeing it.

 

[extreme01]

No Title

OK I started tear down on the Dominator. here are some pictures

 

[bonz_d]

Thanks for the pic's. I can see already that the hull construction is quite different than in the Classic 16.