What would cause staining under sunpad?

[void7910]

Saw a used boat the other day, only 3 years old, which looks have to been left out in the weather for a bit. Not interested given it was mistreated but had a question. There was brown staining under the sunpad/engine cover, presumably from the backing wood. Even if the sunpad was soaked, should marine plywood bleed like this? Is this an indication the manufacturer cheaped out on seat materials?

 

[alldodge]

Most sun pads are vinyl wrapped all around and held in place by snaps or Velcro. Would need see what you saw

 

[void7910]

Most sun pads are vinyl wrapped all around and held in place by snaps or Velcro. Would need see what you saw

Forgot I took a pic

 

[alldodge]

Agree, that's moisture getting into the wood. Good thing is at least that part is easier to fix

Sun pad - I was thinking of the bow of a cruiser, and agree the engine cover is also called that

 

[void7910]

Agree, that's moisture getting into the wood. Good thing is at least that part is easier to fix

Sun pad - I was thinking of the bow of a cruiser, and agree the engine cover is also called that

Thanks for the input. Is that staining normal for marine grade plywood if it gets soaked? Looking at the same make/model elsewhere and trying to determine if materials were skimped on.

 

[alldodge]

Don't know for sure would have to get behind it to determine. Might be the moisture started some rot, and the rot is causing the discoloration.

 

[alldodge]

All plywood will leach color if wet long enough to soak in. Again have not looked but could be it is bare wood which has not been resin covered or even painted to help protect

Difference between marine and ACX, BCX, CDX (exterior grade) is the amount of voids between layers, all use same glue. ACX vs. BCX plywood are normally very similar, but the BCX is typically just those sheets that couldn't quite make the cut for an A grade. Letters C and D indicate a much a lower quality veneer than those found in ACX and BCX plywood.

 

[void7910]

Tremendously insightful. Thank you.

 

[racerone]

Maybe some big waves hit the boat when a sunbather was on there.----Perhaps that resulted in the brown stains.----Sorry---could not resist.

 

[Scott Danforth]

thats mold.

 

[tpenfield]

Sort of looks like mold. Who says that boat manufacturers use Marine Grade plywood ???

 

[void7910]

Hadn’t considered mould but makes sense if the boat was left out, which it looks to have been given the grossness elsewhere.

 

[Lou C]

Just about all boats here are left out…see if that cleans up with Starbright mildew stain remover….

 

[JimS123]

Rode hard and put away wet. If the bilge has water in it and the sun pad is left down and the boat is in the hot sun, it's what i would expect to see.