OSB for deck .....

[coolbikeguy]

just wondering if anyone has used OSB for the deck in your boat ? i talked to both a home builder ( 30+ yrs exp. ) and a fiber glass guy who also was a boat builder for trojan yachts ( 25+ yrs exp. or more ) and both see no reason NOT to use it. its structurally sound and stable ( dry ) and since its going to be resin covered ( all edges and both sides ) both agree it will work just fine. the spans are not wide and the OSB will not flex, bend or bow in the spans that my boat has according to the builder. and the glass guy agreed that since it will be wrapped in resin that it will never take on water and will not swell. so .... im considering it very seriously. let me know what you guys think, scott

 

[boatflipper]

Re: OSB for deck .....

I wouldn't mind using it on the deck, assuming it will never get wet. Although I believe that no matter how tight you wrap it with fiberglass cloth, or coat it with resin, it will still get wet and once it gets wet it seems to me that it will delapidate very quickly.
I would just stick with high grade exterior ply. it has ben used for quite some time with no issues (until it rots 25 years down the road)
Good luck!

 

[Shife]

Re: OSB for deck .....

Water will find a way in. Even if you drill oversize and epoxy plug every mounting hole or fastener entry, water will eventually find a way in. OSB will turn to mush once that happens. Stick to exterior ply.

 

[mrdjflores]

Re: OSB for deck .....

somewhere on here i found some pictures of an entire wooded boat made out of osb...even stained it and heavy amount of clear on it...it was a gorgeous boat

 

[Silver Heels]

Re: OSB for deck .....

Hello,

I'm all for saving a couple bucks, but using OSB on a boat screams penny wise and pound-foolish.

 

[sprintst]

Re: OSB for deck .....

I had a sheet of that stuff get wet a couple of years back and it totally turned to mush in no time. You'd swear it was made of compressed "Shreddies" the cereal.

 

[coolbikeguy]

Re: OSB for deck .....

somewhere on here i found some pictures of an entire wooded boat made out of osb...even stained it and heavy amount of clear on it...it was a gorgeous boat

that was .... miss osb ...... you can do a google search for it

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: OSB for deck .....

have used a sheet unprotected, for 5 years, as a ramp to my shed. it is now starting to fail.

 

[coolbikeguy]

Re: OSB for deck .....

have used a sheet unprotected, for 5 years, as a ramp to my shed. it is now starting to fail.

and in florida to where its hot and muggy all summer and gets plenty of rain most times... hmmmmmmmmmm still considering it. maybe wrap it in poly-resin and add some glass mat to it ... should be solid as a rock

 

[osborn159]

Re: OSB for deck .....

personally i wouldnt use it in a marine application if they gave me a truckload, there is to much work involved in rehabing a boat to make it less than the mfg would, there is a reason they use plywood, it lasts longer, if you where to shop for a new boat and the salesman tells you the deck, stringers, and transom are made out of OSB would you buy???
thats why we do the crazy things we do to these boats, to overcome the mfging shortcomings.
my .02 for what its worth, D

 

[erikgreen]

Re: OSB for deck .....

Bottom line: You could use it, and if covered with resin it shouldn't rot right away.. but it's both heavier and weaker than plywood, which has been used with great success for a long time.

What is your reason for using OSB... saving money? Remember that the bulk of the money you'll spend on this isn't the wood, it's resin and glass, plus time. If you're going to spend a ton of time doing the work, don't you want to use the right materials?

If you want to build an OSB boat just to prove you can, it's already been proven, but go ahead. The people you've talked to aren't trying to tell you it can't be done, they're trying to tell you it's not worth doing.

Erik

 

[Lou C]

Re: OSB for deck .....

Well you know that if it OK to use from a strength standpoint...and cheaper...boat companies would have used it...but they didn't...so that tells you something...I would wonder if the strength is a lot less than what plywood provides...there is a reason dimensional lumber is not used in most boat construction...it's not as strong...I'd stick to plywood...good ext coated with resin/matt or cloth will be as good as it was when new and you won't be wondering when you come off a big wake one day...'did I build it strong enough'??

 

[tinkeringwackyone]

Re: OSB for deck .....

I agree with the statments above, stay away from OSB, once wet it turns to mush, at least plywood will stay together longer if it gets wet. $0.02. ....tink

 

[SBTOM]

Re: OSB for deck .....

Also, it will weigh just as much as plywood with a fraction of the flexural strength.

 

[jspano]

Re: OSB for deck .....

you could probably use cardboard if you wanted but the big ? IS WHY?????

 

[redfury]

Re: OSB for deck .....

The real question is, how much money are you really going to save by using OSB vs. exterior grade plywood. A budget is a budget, but when you look at the big financial picture of the scope of the work your are doing, not to mention the time put into it and the desire to NOT do it again...what is it worth to you?

OSB will work, Balsa will work, foam will work. The question then becomes, what are you not kick yourself later for not using? I tell my customers all the time one simple line "make your decision based on whether or not you'll regret not doing it later down the road"