Replacing flooring.....Questions?

skipper72

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Mar 15, 2002
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I have a 17' Arrowglass Tri Hull, which I am in the process of replacing the flooring. I have seen numerous posts about this, but I am still not sure if I should use treated plywood or not. My concern with treated plywood is when it starts to dry out it will start twisting. I have also noticed in the bilge there are two plugs, one on each side. They extend through the stringers. What is the purpose of these? Should these be removed if the boat would have water under the deck? Thanks.
 
D

DJ

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Re: Replacing flooring.....Questions?

boatyt72,<br /><br />You do not need to use treated. You can use plain old plywood, however you should seal it with epoxy.<br /><br />The holes are to allow water trapped under the floor to work its way back to the bilge area.<br /><br />If the underfloor area is dry, I would put plugs in them.
 

sea wolf

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Re: Replacing flooring.....Questions?

if your going to keep the boat for a while i would use marine plywood. it has no voids in it. but, it ain't cheap. i paid $50. for a sheet of 1/2" last year. some of the stuff that there passing off as ext. grade ply ain't worth .02 & it won't last unless u use expoxy. make sure u coat top & bottom & edges.
 

crab bait

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Re: Replacing flooring.....Questions?

ex. ply & marine ply is the exact same thing , exactly...the same wood, same fills, an same weather-proof glues.. the only difference is that ex.ply can & does have voids where as marine ply has none... but in the past few years the quailty is becomin' piiss poor & voids are showin' up in marine ply... also another diff. is about $30.00 a sheet....epoxy any & all.. altho the glues are weather-proof the wood isn't ...an needs to be .... don't use pt ply .. it's shrinkin' splinterin' warpin' junk...
 

sea wolf

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Re: Replacing flooring.....Questions?

crab bait, i don't know where you're getting your marine ply from but the sheet i got last year was really good quality. no knots, voids etc. how can u say that marine & ext. are the same when marine has no voids in it? if it does then why bother to pay $30.- 50. a sheet for marine? i'd find another supplier, & i don't mean home depot or lowe's.
 

crab bait

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Re: Replacing flooring.....Questions?

you got a good sheet...the way it's 'posed to be ..but believe me ,, there are bad sheets hittin' the market..itook some back.. lowes & home depot don't sell marine ply.. but if they did .. so what. marine ply is marine ply..anyway did you saw your sheet up in little pieces ?? i just got lucky ,where i made a saw cut,, there was a void.. quality is goin' down the tube in most everythin' these days.. just because it says marine ply an your payin' top dollar.. it's still blnd faith..
 

skipper72

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Mar 15, 2002
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Re: Replacing flooring.....Questions?

Thanks for the info. I will be installing the flooring once my bost bottom is painted and it is placed back on the trailer. I am hoping to have her together for Labor Day. Thanks again.
 

MEM

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Feb 10, 2002
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Re: Replacing flooring.....Questions?

i used treated on my floor mainly because i believe in overkill.i just let it dry in my shop a few days first.put it together with screws after drilling pilot holes.i've heard the resin may not stick if the wood is wet.make sure you use matt and resin to tie the floor to the wall of the hull for strength and to keep water out of your foam flotation.once done i brushed the entire floor with a coat of resin, just to keep with my overkill theme.
 
Joined
Jun 28, 2002
Messages
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Re: Replacing flooring.....Questions?

I work for a lumber company in California and we sell 1/2" and 3/4" AA marine plywood. The word marine stamped on the plywood does not mean a thing. The plywood is 98% void free of knots and patches. You are paying for the looks of marine plywood. There is nothing in marine plywood that will make it last longer then any other ext. plywood. Use regular ext plywood and use epoxy resin.
 

crab bait

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Re: Replacing flooring.....Questions?

thanks for the back-up... that's what i'm sayin'... but exterior ply does have/an can have voids .. where as marine ply is suppose to N O T have voids .... but in recent years voids A R E showin' up... not sayin' they're from your workplace.. voids are no good in boats for the obviose reasons.. but condensation can appear in the void an cause rot from the inside out ,, with or without epoxy....
 

Hooty

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Oct 2, 2001
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Re: Replacing flooring.....Questions?

The main reason for no voids in marine grade plywood is so it can be sprung (bent) fair and not have a flat place in the bend.<br /><br />c/6<br /><br />Hooty
 

Hooty

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Oct 2, 2001
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4,496
Re: Replacing flooring.....Questions?

...and A-C exterior makes excelent floor/decking in boats as long as its weather/water proof (epoxy,polyester & fiberglass cloth, etc.).<br /><br />c/6<br /><br />Hooty
 

hltenterprises

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Jan 18, 2002
Messages
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Re: Replacing flooring.....Questions?

Hooty<br /> Calm down and drowm some worms. The local lumber store does not even carry marine ply due to the cost. Got the same advice to use ext.
 

88spl

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Mar 18, 2002
Messages
385
Re: Replacing flooring.....Questions?

I'm like MEM, overkill all the way, first 3/4 treated plywood, both sides, marine paint two coats each side, then good carpet. The floor will last 100 years, if not more ;) Dont ask how much I spent......disposed of all the recepts on the way home from the store....the wife dont cha know :D :cool:
 
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