Marine plywood

[fatkid]

Hello, I really need some help with a question about marine plywood. Iam going to replace the deck on an old pontoon. If I use marine grade wood do I need to seal it with
anything? Please help. I want to do this once and do it the right way.

Thanks!!!!!!

 

[flamron]

Re: Marine plywood

I am planning on fiberglassing my new deck with one layer on the bottom, two on top, and then a finish veil on top of that.

If you want it to last, then you should fiberglass it.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Marine plywood

Welcome to iboats.

No, if you use actual marine ply it doesn't need anything else done to it, you will want to separate it from aluminum crossmembers though, they don't play well together.

The lid to my livewell is marine ply and has been wet for 3-4 years with no problem, the stuff is kind of expensive but if you want to do it right once it is the way to go.

All we do at work is use a thin foam tape and that is all you need, just so they don't touch.

The deck on a toon is also a pretty major part of the sructure so use good stainless bolts with4 per sheet/joint to make it a s strong as possible, through bolting is the best way to do it, screws can work loose.

Good luck and egt up some pics, we love the pics.

 

[fatkid]

Re: Marine plywood

Thanks for the info guys. I think I will use through bolts and some kind of cork tape. Is exterior plywood just as good for this job? From what I have been reading they both use the same glue but the marine grade has two good looking side and the exterior plywood is not as pretty. Is this true? I dont care what it looks like. I will post some before and after photos when its completed.

Thanks!!!

 

[vergil]

Re: Marine plywood

good luck on your rebuild, there has been a lot of old pontoons redecked with stuff other then marine plywood, if the money aint there you dont have to use it. the louisville boat show had a few brand new pontoons with marine plywood, others didnt even have treated on them,
I didnt use it on my rebuild, i used a product called advantech for a couple reasons (im sure someone will have something to say about it) it seems to be what everyone down here has been using on there pontoons, its cost effective, there is no chemicals to leech out and eat up your aluminum etc..
i could go on about the down sides to both,

ps. if it makes you feel better the toon i just redone didnt even have pressure treated on it just good ol cheap o 5/8 plywood. that the previous owner said had been on there for 7+ years, it was swollen, and rotted but the carpet wont last that.

another thing about marine plywood is i have heard a lot of horror stories of redecking an ol pontoon with it, spendin an arm and a leg on wood and carpet and in 5 years when the carpet needs replaced the plywood delaminates and tears up anyway

 

[rickryder]

Re: Marine plywood

One layer of 1.5oz csm on the bottom one layer of 1708 biax and a layer of 6 oz cloth on the top and you will have a bullet proof deck....I would never just put raw plywood down marine or otherwise.....just my .02

 

[badbird]

Re: Marine plywood

http://pontoonspecialists.com/c-50-pontoon-treated-plywood.aspx

http://pontoonspecialists.com/images/document/Helpful Hints - Re-Decking (03-11-10).1.pdf

Pontoon Specialist build boats and sells everything needed, I think I will trust them..Note: no where does it say to seal wood

BTW I just did a resto on my Bennington and none of the wood was sealed

Ron

 

[Outsider]

Re: Marine plywood

you will want to separate it from aluminum crossmembers though, they don't play well together.

I think you're confusing 'marine' and 'pressure treated', the former doesn't interact with metal, the latter will ...

 

[rickryder]

Re: Marine plywood

http://pontoonspecialists.com/c-50-pontoon-treated-plywood.aspx

http://pontoonspecialists.com/images/document/Helpful Hints - Re-Decking (03-11-10).1.pdf

Pontoon Specialist build boats and sells everything needed, I think I will trust them..Note: no where does it say to seal wood

BTW I just did a resto on my Bennington and none of the wood was sealed

Ron

Of course they don't want you to have a deck that would last a life time.....They are in the business to sell plywood.....:facepalm:

 

[badbird]

Re: Marine plywood

Of course they don't want you to have a deck that would last a life time.....They are in the business to sell plywood.....:facepalm:

the plywood comes with a limited lifetime warranty

 

[rickryder]

Re: Marine plywood

the plywood comes with a limited lifetime warranty

"Any determination that a product is defective or covered by
this warranty, shall be made by Signature, in its sole discretion. The determination of
whether to repair or replace a defective, covered product, or to refund the purchase price
for the product, will be at Signature?s sole discretion."

So pretty much it's up to them to decide if you get a warranty claim...... Good luck with that!

Ron it's your boat do as you wish

As far as the OP I still stand on glassed plywood for many years of a strong deck! Good luck with what ever you decide.

 

[badbird]

Re: Marine plywood

"Any determination that a product is defective or covered by
this warranty, shall be made by Signature, in its sole discretion. The determination of
whether to repair or replace a defective, covered product, or to refund the purchase price
for the product, will be at Signature?s sole discretion."

So pretty much it's up to them to decide if you get a warranty claim...... Good luck with that!

Ron it's your boat do as you wish

As far as the OP I still stand on glassed plywood for many years of a strong deck! Good luck with what ever you decide.

ok I do not want to start a war but what would it cost you to completely glass a pontoon deck

here is a list of what I have into my deck

marine plywood $65 x5 =$325
elavator bolts $80
oem carpet $180
glue $80

total $645

if I get 10 years out of it I will be happy, what do you think your deck will last and what will need to be replaced when carpet wears out

Ron

 

[vergil]

Re: Marine plywood

hey badbird i am not trying to start a war but where did you get marine plywood for 65$ dollars a sheet, i just redid my toon and looked into it but there was nothing availble locally and had to have it shipped. i was looking at $135+ a sheet for 3/4 plus shipping and handling?
i would have needed 5 sheets as well which comes to $645.00 plus shipping and handling. (which was way out of our budget)
was that 5/8 plywood you got?
have you recarpeted marine plywood before? if so did it delaminate when you pulled the carpet up?

 

[badbird]

Re: Marine plywood

hey badbird i am not trying to start a war but where did you get marine plywood for 65$ dollars a sheet, i just redid my toon and looked into it but there was nothing availble locally and had to have it shipped. i was looking at $135+ a sheet for 3/4 plus shipping and handling?
i would have needed 5 sheets as well which comes to $645.00 plus shipping and handling. (which was way out of our budget)
was that 5/8 plywood you got?
have you recarpeted marine plywood before? if so did it delaminate when you pulled the carpet up?

Hi I bought my marine plywood from www.pontoonspecialist.com I bought 3/4 for $65 pr sheet, yes when I removed the carpet parts of the wood started to delaminate and there was so much glue used from the factory that it was just easier to replace in my mind,now I know exactly what I have and it should last at least another 10 years

Ron

 

[fatkid]

Re: Marine plywood

Thanks again guys. I think Iam going to go with the marine wood and put some kind of sealer on the bottom side just to make me feel good. I just found out that Pontoonspecialist is only a fifteen minute ride away where my boat is located. I think they will be getting a lot of my cash in the next month. lol.

Also, Why is it that I can go to Home Depot and find outdoor carpet glue for $12 a gallon and the same type glue cost $30 and up at a boating supply store? Is there really any differance?

Also #2, I need to buy a used trailer for a 18' pontoon. If anybody knows of one in the Toledo area please let me know. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[vergil]

Re: Marine plywood

absolutly if you have resonable access to marine plywood get it, but for some of us its just not resonable, so i say go for it,
badbird thank you for your feed back, as far as the glue and carpet thats what we used just from lowes in stead of home depot, it will work just fine, we also used the heavier outdoor carpet from lowes, good luck with your rebuild

 

[rickryder]

Re: Marine plywood

ok I do not want to start a war but what would it cost you to completely glass a pontoon deck

here is a list of what I have into my deck

marine plywood $65 x5 =$325
elavator bolts $80
oem carpet $180
glue $80

total $645

if I get 10 years out of it I will be happy, what do you think your deck will last and what will need to be replaced when carpet wears out

Ron

OK
10 gal resin 240
5 sheets cdx ply 120
18 yds csm mat 45
18 yds 1708 biax 115
18 yds 6 oz cloth 75

total 595
plus your bolts carpet and glue 340

1275 total cost
If done correctly the deck should last longer than you'll own the boat..... There are 30+ year old boats that the glassed decks are still in good condition if they were cared for and stored properly.....it's all about how you care for your boat that makes it last many years or just a few...
Should need nothing but new carpet and glue when it wears out.
If you want to repair/replace your deck every 7-10 years so be it.....or do it once and enjoy it.... This is just my opinion

 

[dahogman]

Re: Marine plywood

CCA treated 3/4 inch 7 ply with no voids marine plywood is what you want. It will not cause the galvanic corrosion issues that you WILL experience using regular outdoor treated plywood. This is the right plywood to use and does not require sealing. You do not want to seal the bottom due to moisture trapping issues. Taping the joints and between the wood and joists is standard practice and highly encouraged. If you are concerned about the bottom side of the wood underskinning is effective and improves the ride and performance qualities of your boat. If you decide to underskin remember that underskinning is a water deterrent not water proofing. You do not want to seal this area completely as you want drainage and ventilation. www.pontoonstuff.com sells the right wood and in convenient kits. I have used both types of plywood and the CCA 3/4 inch 7 ply with no voids is still going strong after 8 years, the outdoor treated stuff lasted 3 before it started to delaminate and I had significant corrosion issues also.

 

[fatkid]

Re: Marine plywood

Great. I just picked up marine grade yesterday at Pontoon specialists. I didnt want to take the chance of any problems two or three years down the road. They told me that I dont need to do anything at all to it. Just bolt it down with some silicone between the joints and Iam ready to race.

 

[a1nowell]

Re: Marine plywood

Hey Fatkid,
The first question I have on whether to use marine or CDX plywood is, the boat going to be kept in the water or on a trailer?

Mine is trailer and garage kept. I used BCX Treated, it had 1 smooth sanded side for the carpet. I did seal it with Olympic Weatherguard Sealer. I could not see the advantage of the Marine plywood since my boat is kept on a trailer and in a garage.

Just my 2 cents worth.