Type of ply for boat floor?

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111KAB

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Due to floor being replaced in a small speedboat I initially posted my enquiry on the motor boats section .... see

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/1980942/an/0/page/0#1980942

Now informed I may glean more information on this section (newbie!!) .... so require 9mm ply to re-floor my fibreglass boat. Only a small boat so a single 2440 x 1220 (8' x 4') will be ok. Intend to epoxy the board to both sides and all edges then paint white. 'Phoned local timber merchant and they have quoted £35.25 which seems cheap compared with internet prices. Been told to insist it is grade 1088 ...... any other comments please and does price seem right?
 
You only need WBP ply, basically any good external grade ply. You do not need "marine ply" way too expensive and over the toip for what you need.
You sre doing exactly te right thing in epoxy and then paint, remember to "De-wax" te epoxy after it dries, with a wipe over with meths or acetone, before sanding and painting.
35 quid sounds ok to me.

by the way WBP is Water and Boil Proof!
 
am I getting this right ? You are making a false floor as a watertight one ? You really should be having at least one access hatch.
 
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am I getting this right ? You are making a false floor as a watertight one ? You really should be having at least one access hatch.

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The floor I have removed was a watertight one (although due to rotting and holes being drilled for seating this was not the case) and the ply was bonded to the sides of the boat with strips of fibreglass. I have removed the rotten ply and in the process of replacing. Due to the shape of the hull there is a decent sized void below the flat boarded floor. I would like to use this space for storage (by incorporating a hatch or two) however my concern was that the ply floor offered some type of stability to the overall construction and that by cutting holes I could be effecting the 'bracing'.
 
If you make the floor as you described, then bond the whole lot to the boat and sheath it all with fiobreglass, bonding the underside first, then you can cut a hole in the floor, reseal the edges and put a hatch in, a picture would help to show us what you are exactly planning, just not enough information on here, need to see the job to assess what is required. I dont know if you need a lewmar type hatch or a drop in/hinged wood hatch, which will require some kind of hinges, catches and sealing. I know what I would probably do.
Sorry but I cant help.
 
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The floor I have removed was a watertight one (although due to rotting and holes being drilled for seating this was not the case) and the ply was bonded to the sides of the boat with strips of fibreglass. I have removed the rotten ply and in the process of replacing. Due to the shape of the hull there is a decent sized void below the flat boarded floor. I would like to use this space for storage (by incorporating a hatch or two) however my concern was that the ply floor offered some type of stability to the overall construction and that by cutting holes I could be effecting the 'bracing'.

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If concerned about strength of floor after cutting out hatches. Then a few strategic placed timber braces or frames under the floor to stiffen it up. 9mm does seem a bit on the thin side for a boat floor, unless there are tranverse frames under to support.
 
Thats what I said I believe, couldnt be bothered to argue with folk, thankls for the support. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
I have used BS 1455 WBP for loose deck in a small fishing boat and it wore through and never delaminated. However, the marine ply I was required to use for the wheelhouse delaminated straight away........
 
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