Wood flooring in boat

[stevemiller333]

I am thinking about installing a wood floor in my boat on my old century ski boat.

I would leave the existing floor their to use as a sub-floor if you will. I have a lot of pre-finished 3/4" wood floor from a project. I would install the floor just as I sketched in the second picture. I plan on laying down epoxy in the sub-floor then caulking the tongue and grooves on the wood then nailing it down with a hardwood floor nailer. I would then finish with several coats of marine poly and caulk the ends etc, install some aluminum trim on the end facing the motor.

I understand that oak is not the best for this application, but if I finish it properly will it work?
I am not concerned with it being slipper because it is such a small area and your always holding on to something anyways when you pass through. I plan on coating with poly or epoxy on a yearly basis.

What do you guys think? I know it's probably not going to be a popular idea but is it worth trying on an old boat?

Thanks.

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Wood flooring in boat

Do not put Epoxy down on the floor. Why ? It is not needed to hold down a decorative floor. Will be a real impossible job to make the floor look like it did.

Do not drive nails or ram screws into the floor. Water leaks & mold creeping out.

Do not use real wood. It will swell unevenly. mold in the SMALLEST bare spot turns to a black mold stain forever & larger with time.

Still need real looking wood ?..........Use artifical " real " wood boards cut to length.

Make sure the phoney wood is 100% plastic !!!! the crap that uses SMALL amounts of filler material has wood chippings in it & develops mold problems later.


Edit

You can put the flooring down with 1" round blobs of GE RTV Silicone every 2' of the bottom boards that MUST run bow to stern . For dirt & water draining.

Glad I could encourage you to go in the right direction. Think & ask a lot of question before you buy anything

 

[AviatorJim]

Re: Wood flooring in boat

I'd think about going with real wood, something like the wood shower inserts. Build it so you can lift it out to dry, clean, and brush with teak oil every year or so. But definitely don't nail or screw it to your deck. Unless you are prepared to pull up and replace the deck once in a while.

And laminate flooring will delaminate the first time it gets wet. And a tight fit tounge and groove wood floor will buckle.

--Jim

 

[stevemiller333]

Re: Wood flooring in boat

thanks for the input

 

[stevemiller333]

Re: Wood flooring in boat

I like the shower insert idea. teak then, but removable.

 

[JB]

Re: Wood flooring in boat

Deck or sole, Steve. Boats do not have floors.

 

[smclear]

Re: Wood flooring in boat

My brother and I are thinking of doing something similar to our Resorter. We are looking at using these guys. We were hoping to do it over the winter this year, but life has a way of changing plans. Maybe next year.

http://www.maritimewoodproducts.com/interior_floors.html

Yes, it will be pricey as all get out. But, in our opinion, would look awesome.

If you do it, be sure to post pics.

Is that a 1974 18' Resorter?

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Sealing the ends of Wood flooring in boat

Re: Sealing the ends of Wood flooring in boat

Have to do it. & do it correctly. Or you get mold.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Wood flooring in boat

That oak will twist, crack and then rot. And it doesn't really matter how many coats of polyurethane you apply. The only way to make a floor like that is to glue and screw boards together in a gridwork. This allows air to circulate and dry out the wood. Oak is not the best choice. An oily wood like teak or magohany is much better. PT solid pine is a good choice as well. Use epoxy glue and stainless screws.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Wood flooring in boat

Sounds like you'll be adding weight and moisture trapped between old deck and "new" upper deck may cause rot, mildew between them....how about just re-carpet your existing deck for a fresh look?...

 

[shrew]

Re: Wood flooring in boat

I am thinking about installing a wood floor in my boat on my old century ski boat.

I would leave the existing floor their to use as a sub-floor if you will. I have a lot of pre-finished 3/4" wood floor from a project.

I can't wait to see what that 'ice rink' looks like the first time it gets wet. Teak is a natural non-skid, which is why it is traditionally used as decking material. Even in Cabin soles, a Teak and Holly combo is used. As stated, Oak is susceptible to moisture and rot. PRE-finished is going to a hazzard, particularly when it gets wet. In addition, you're more than likely going to introduce a condition which traps moisture between the oak decking and the traditional decking, which will eventually rot both.

 

[stevemiller333]

Re: Wood flooring in boat

yes, it's a 1974, thanks for the link to the wood products site. It's an 18' with a 340 Chrysler.