replacing wooden floors in boats with other material??

[stackz]

anyone with an older boat with rotting floors found suitable non-wood materials that arent special order??

I'd like to convert over to composite material for the flooring if possible?? I see the composite materials in 2"x4" form at my local hardware store but not in plywood sheet form.

outside of this, the only thing I can think to do would be to put a coat of fiberglass resin and then gelcoat over the boards before installing them in the boat. even then I think they would still start to rot out where the screw holes are unless I caulked over that but I dont think that would look too good.

as for the floor if I went the resin route, I'd get some of that floor grip paint that you use around pools, etc so I wouldnt slip/slide everywhere.

but anyway, anyone have any good alternatives to wood when going through your flooring, etc??

 

[JB]

Re: replacing wooden floors in boats with other material??

Whatever you do, get rid of that floor. Boats don't have floors, they have decks and soles. The top surface is a deck and the inside part you walk on is a sole.

I think composites are too heavy. I suggest that you use marine grade plywood and seal both sides with epoxy.

Good luck.

 

[5150abf]

Re: replacing wooden floors in boats with other material??

As JB said, all the composites I have seen are either really heavy or rediculously expensive for the light weight composites.

If you use actual marine grade plywood, as opposed to exterior grade,you shouldn't have any problems for many many years.

I built a bird feeder out of some 4-5 years ago and it still looks like the day I made it and it is out in Indiana weather 365.

Expect to pay $60+ per sheet but as I said the stuff last forever.

 

[AZSenza]

Re: replacing wooden floors in boats with other material??

We use a composite honeycomb core 1/2 inch thick sheet for floorboards in airplanes (Boeing 737, 757 etc) they work GREAT and have seriously considered looking into purchasing some for a boat. they dont weigh anything and are very strong due to the honeybomb construction. Boats and Airplanes have a lot more in common then most people think! I cant think of any of our suppliers off hand but I bet you can google aircraft floor boards and come up with some prices. We cut it out with a router or jigsaw and seal the edges. in "wet areas" we even use special watertight inserts for the screw holes. The whole thing is covered in a special black weather proof vinyl and special goretex self sealing tape is used over the stringers to seal out moisture. Point is, anything can be accomplished just a matter of how much???

 

[5150abf]

Re: replacing wooden floors in boats with other material??

That would be the rediculuosly expensive stuff I refered too.

We looked into something like that for our toons but it was like $200-$300 a sheet, it was cool though, weighed almost nothing and stiff as steel, also looked into an aluminum composite but it turned into a frying pan in the sun, also very expensive.

 

[steelespike]

Re: replacing wooden floors in boats with other material??

I would use well dried PT plywood.Just check compatibility with any metal it comes in contact with .May have to paint or seal in the contact area.My 27 year old unpainted unsealed transom is still going strong.
It spent the first 20+ years outside year round in the north east.
Some say it is heavy but when dry it certainly isn't any heavier than well sealed plywood.

 

[stackz]

Re: replacing wooden floors in boats with other material??

my bad...deck..replacing the deck

can you get marine grade plywood from home depot or lowes or a specialty place??

also, what do I seal the edges with?? I would think you would want them unsealed so whatever water collects will be able to drain down to the stern for the bilge pump to evacuate??

I guess since I'm going back with plywood, I'll just have to locate blue indoor/outdoor carpet or is the carpet special for boats as well??

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: replacing wooden floors in boats with other material??

Is this an aluminum boat?

If so then the plywood is really your only option.

 

[stackz]

Re: replacing wooden floors in boats with other material??

no its a 15' runabout bowrider but all the "decking" is made of carpeted wood.

 

[KurtG]

Re: replacing wooden floors in boats with other material??

carpet is the real problem not the wood.

Going from a carpeted bowrider to hard decked boat has been a dream. This McKee is built solid.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: replacing wooden floors in boats with other material??

no its a 15' runabout bowrider but all the "decking" is made of carpeted wood.

The wood should be fiberglassed into the hull. It should be sealed with resin on all sides (edges especially).

Go down to the restoration forum and read up on others projects.

 

[capt sam]

Re: replacing wooden floors in boats with other material??

my bad...deck..replacing the deck

can you get marine grade plywood from home depot or lowes or a specialty place??

also, what do I seal the edges with?? I would think you would want them unsealed so whatever water collects will be able to drain down to the stern for the bilge pump to evacuate??

I guess since I'm going back with plywood, I'll just have to locate blue indoor/outdoor carpet or is the carpet special for boats as well??

Our Lowes sells marine grade plywood, I would probably use regular plywood and seal it with West Systems or something similiar, PT plywood tends to be really heavy and wet.

 

[88Glastron]

Re: replacing wooden floors in boats with other material??

I was looking to replace my wooden deck with two 4x8 sheets of pvc and the problem that I encountered was how I would attach it to the hull for the rigidity factor. Wooden decks are resined to the hull.

 

[stackz]

Re: replacing wooden floors in boats with other material??

The wood should be fiberglassed into the hull. It should be sealed with resin on all sides (edges especially).

Go down to the restoration forum and read up on others projects.

alright so I was right to think I need to cover the entire boards in resin?? what kind of fiberglass stuff do you use to adhere the boards to the hull??

 

[Solittle]

Re: replacing wooden floors in boats with other material??

Google coosa. I think it comes in sheet form.

 

[stackz]

Re: replacing wooden floors in boats with other material??

Google coosa. I think it comes in sheet form.

that was a pretty cool site actually. though, no pricing and they dont mention any distributors on the website?? I guess you have to order directly from them??

any clue on how much a 4'x8' sheet costs?? they said this was their smallest size. cant email them from my work pc lol

edit: oh crap, $183 for a sheet from fisheries supply yeah, looks like it'll be fiberglassed plywood for me haha