help! PT Plywoon on Aluminum

[Mr Flash]

Please help, I am about to replace the flooring in my 1973 supersport Aluminum Starcraft and I just heard the PT plywood will react with the aluminum. is this true? If so what can I do?

 

[coolbikeguy]

Re: help! PT Plywoon on Aluminum

th p/t will react with the alu. and "eat" it away from what i understand. most guys are using reg plywood abd coating it with epoxy resin to make it last. im not sure about coating p/t with epoxy resin ... not sure if the 2 will react. i do know of 1 member ..EZMOBEE .. that used p/t ply on his boat but that was several years ago before they added the new chemicals in the p/t hope this helps, scott

 

[ezmobee]

Re: help! PT Plywoon on Aluminum

Mr Flash.....I have even heard that new building codes won't let you build a deck on your house using PT wood bolted up against an aluminum sill plate because it will eat through it. This is definitely a problem.

As was mentioned above, I used PT ply for my floor 5 years ago before I knew of the issues. I'm hoping I got some of the older stuff. When I did my transom last year....I went with regular exterior ply.

 

[Mr Flash]

Re: help! PT Plywoon on Aluminum

Thnaks!! That was a close call. I had the PT all ready to start cutting.

 

[Joe_the_boatman]

Re: help! PT Plywoon on Aluminum

After weeks of research, I used all PT in mine with no regrets.

For the copper in the wood to react with the aluminum, they must be electrically connected (via water or moisture between them). I insulated all contact points with multiple coats of epoxy I had left over.

It's up to you though. I'll never put non-treated wood in a boat, unless it's cosmetic like a trim piece or something.