Skin fitting pad - hard wood/ply?

[IHC]

I'm replacing toilet skin fittings, neither of which were originally fitted with pads. As such I'm minded to glass some in before proceeding but would rather like to avoid purchase of 6ft/4ft sheet of expensive marine ply wood.

I had a sheet in the garage which is perfect other than the fact that its not marine grade. Equally I could perhaps try to source some hard wood off cuts.

What would you Guys recommend? Can I get away with my 1' ply if I glass it well?

Thanks Ian

 

[capetown]

Ply

I used ply as that what was originally fitted, it got too badly damaged when removing the Blakes loo seacocks.

They're still okay after 12 years.

I shaped them to the hull profile, so they were a close fit using sandpaper on the hull as a former, then used polyurethane mastic to seal.

Personally I wouldn't glass them in, as you can keep an eye on them.

Hope this helps.

 

[IHC]

I used ply as that what was originally fitted, it got too badly damaged when removing the Blakes loo seacocks.

They're still okay after 12 years.

I shaped them to the hull profile, so they were a close fit using sandpaper on the hull as a former, then used polyurethane mastic to seal.

Personally I wouldn't glass them in, as you can keep an eye on them.

Hope this helps.

Thanks - Ply sound the way to go - was your marine ply or did you chance it with a lower spec?

 

[mikeinkwazi]

I used ply as that what was originally fitted, it got too badly damaged when removing the Blakes loo seacocks.

They're still okay after 12 years.

I shaped them to the hull profile, so they were a close fit using sandpaper on the hull as a former, then used polyurethane mastic to seal.

Personally I wouldn't glass them in, as you can keep an eye on them.

Hope this helps.

I used ply once and it leaked. Now I always glass it in!

 

[VicS]

I'm replacing toilet skin fittings, neither of which were originally fitted with pads. As such I'm minded to glass some in before proceeding but would rather like to avoid purchase of 6ft/4ft sheet of expensive marine ply wood.

I had a sheet in the garage which is perfect other than the fact that its not marine grade. Equally I could perhaps try to source some hard wood off cuts.

What would you Guys recommend? Can I get away with my 1' ply if I glass it well?

Thanks Ian

Good quality WBP ply would be as good as marine ply... provided you cut the pads to avoid any voids.

Its seldom necessary to buy whole sheets anyway.
You'll probably be able to get some off-cuts from a boat yard that does fitting out or repairs to wooden boats
Personally I'd use hardwood.

 

[sailorman]

Good quality WBP ply would be as good as marine ply... provided you cut the pads to avoid any voids.

Its seldom necessary to buy whole sheets anyway.
You'll probably be able to get some off-cuts from a boat yard that does fitting out or repairs to wooden boats
Personally I'd use hardwood.

ply will not break /split as timber might along the the grain.
i have always used ply & never had a leak or rot yet ( mikeinkwazi)

 

[Poignard]

ply will not break /split as timber might along the the grain.
i have always used ply & never had a leak or rot yet ( mikeinkwazi)

+1

 

[VicS]

ply will not break /split as timber might along the the grain.
i have always used ply & never had a leak or rot yet ( mikeinkwazi)

On reflection I agree ply would be more sensible than hardwood

 

[Bosun Higgs]

Unless the valves are in a place that means they can get a heavy knoc, why bother at all with backing pads. My boat doesnt have any and it was built by Bowman.

But if you want to use pads then bonding them in with grp or better still epoxy will ensure you dont have a worry. Not that they should ever get wet anyway.

Ply? I'd happily use any ply I could find in the garage

 

[sailorman]

Unless the valves are in a place that means they can get a heavy knoc, why bother at all with backing pads. My boat doesnt have any and it was built by Bowman.

But if you want to use pads then bonding them in with grp or better still epoxy will ensure you dont have a worry. Not that they should ever get wet anyway.

Ply? I'd happily use any ply I could find in the garage

This is what i have, they are bonded in

 

[Bosun Higgs]

what on earth is that for?

 

[Deleted member 36384]

I'm replacing toilet skin fittings, neither of which were originally fitted with pads. As such I'm minded to glass some in before proceeding but would rather like to avoid purchase of 6ft/4ft sheet of expensive marine ply wood.

I had a sheet in the garage which is perfect other than the fact that its not marine grade. Equally I could perhaps try to source some hard wood off cuts.

What would you Guys recommend? Can I get away with my 1' ply if I glass it well?

Thanks Ian

My Rival 41C has ply backing pads for the Blakes seacocks. They may be profiled to fit the curve of the hull or just Epoxy glued (with a thick mixture to fill the gap) and are approximately 5mm larger in diameter than the seacock flange. Their purpose is to provide a flat surface for the flange and not distribute any loads. On a skin fitting which has a ball valve and strainer attached to it there is a similar backing pad again only just larger than nut. Its never a good idea to tighten and flat nut or flange against a curved surface.

 

[IHC]

Many thanks

Many thanks for all your considered advice. I think I have a way forward now. I plan to use the standard 1inch ply in the garage, I'll shape to hull profile and bond to hull with epoxy, leaving top surface clear, I'll then keep an eye for any rot. As suggested it should not get wet anyway. If it need attention in a few years so be it, at least having replaced everything this time round it should all be more readily serviceable in the future.

Cheers Ian