Replacement washboards

[Judders]

I think that my bottom washboard is beyond help and would be better replaced. It ought to be terribly simple to get a new one made out of ply. I could even buy the ply and mark it up, but can anyone recomend somewhere I can buy a sheet of marine ply cut to a shape?

 

[PetiteFleur]

Robbins & co can supply small quantities but it may be cheaper to get an offcut from your local boatbuilder or boatyard.
Another alternative is to use good quality exterior plywood. Whichever you use make sure you give it plenty of coats of varnish - in my opinion 5 or 6 coats minimum and make sure all the end grain is well sealed.

 

[Tranona]

Simplest way is to get them made from Polycarbonate, cut to size and shape by your local sign maker.

 

[Captain Coochie]

There is marine ply and then marine ply BS 1088 is marine ply not suitable for marine use but it is really Anchor marine is the best i am told but at around £100 per sheet
If your middlesex as your profile says Alsford timber do BS1088 .

 

[Humblebee]

Not difficult to make out of external ply, just copying the old ones. I don't think I'ld bother with proper marine ply as it won't be immersed in seawater. Plenty varnish, as advised above, or go the easy way and use an exterior woodstain, they give quite good results and are cheap and easy.
My current boat has cheap but strong ply washboards for when we are not on the boat and want it to be secure. When on board we use a perspex panel, less secure but lets light in and looks a bit smarter.

 

[VicS]

I'd agree with using exterior (WBP) ply but the quality varies. Dont buy cheap stuff.

Try a boat builder who specialises in wooden boats eg our own "Seanick", Nick Gates who you will find in his workshop in Thornham Marina.

Or Dolphin Quay boatyard in Emsworth.

With luck either will find you a suitable offcut of some decent ply.

 

[MoodySabre]

Just came across these people

 

[William_H]

Washboards

My original plywood wash boards were no match for determined villains who kicked the washboards in twice before I replaced with heavy aluminium sections no problem since. Or maybe you have nice people around your mooring. olewill

 

[electrosys]

I'm just in process of completing 2 sets (2 identical boats, but different size wash-boards - go figure).
I looked at WBP ply from the High Street but wasn't impressed by the large core thicknesses on offer, so I've made up my own from 2 x 4mm thicknesses of ply (each being equi-thickness 3-ply), with a layer of glass woven-mat epoxied between 'em. The wash-boards are 2-part, so I'm making additional top sections in perspex for when underway.
I've decided to paint the ply, rather than varnish.

 

[Iain C]

My replacement washboards are very thick smoked perspex. Can't rate them highly enough...I guess a bit like limo glass, it's hard to see in, but you can see out fine. I think that it may well be stronger than ply too...

 

[Refueler]

My replacement washboards are very thick smoked perspex. Can't rate them highly enough...I guess a bit like limo glass, it's hard to see in, but you can see out fine. I think that it may well be stronger than ply too...

It's an 'upgrade' that I plan to do this year .... I have nice ply washboards from good quality WBP, stained and then varnished over. They can stay in the locker and Perspex ones fitted while on-board. One-way film is easy to get here - so that will be used for privacy.