My original wood floor lasted 21 years until it started to "Dry" Rot. I used cheap plywood 5/8" thick and a lot of resin before and after floor installation. I don't think it will rot again for 20 years +.
Car interiors rot, and they are made of plastic resins which dry out. Corvettes are made of fiberglass, and they crack and dry out. Wood is your best bet for your boat, and don't let some guy tell you he has been doing this since the late 80's, and he has a better way of doing it. That is BS.
Funny, I didnt see anything in the original request pertaining to Attitudes or a Pissing Match. " Ideas, Suggestions, Pictures"
I have a great Idea, Why dont we try to get along.
Working together to solve a problem always works better than fighting about it.
Great Minds Discuss Ideas,
Shallow Minds waste entirely too much time bickering about the Ideas.
C.T.
I'm done here...
Although I do understand your train of thought, it just doesn't work in the real world, and arguing on the internet is like running in the special olympics....
Have a nice day!
Ducky - I believe you , as your sigy line clearly has more information and and includes the words v drive lmao -- besides Barney rules
Wood is old tech. Core materials are the future. Light and no rot. Wood is only for above the waterline. After you have replaced rotten wood in a transom, core materials are peace of mind.
Funny, I didnt see anything in the original request pertaining to Attitudes or a Pissing Match. " Ideas, Suggestions, Pictures"
I have a great Idea, Why dont we try to get along.
Working together to solve a problem always works better than fighting about it.
Great Minds Discuss Ideas,
Shallow Minds waste entirely too much time bickering about the Ideas.
C.T.
Now what fun would that be.........( . )( . )............
Ducky - I believe you , as your sigy line clearly has more information and and includes the words v drive lmao -- besides Barney rules
That was funny..........( . )( . )................
If you were to cut through the fiberglass floor on many of the new deckboats you are referring to you will most likely find plywood under the glass and gelcoat, covered by more fiberglass on the back side, especially if it is one built here on the west coast. There are a few companies using the nidacore and similar materials, and if I were building new boats I probably would as well. The main problem with the honeycomb materials (for floors, stringers, or transoms) is trying to fasten anything to it. If you through bolt, you will crush it and you can't run screws into it as they will just pull out. There is a drag boat that I work on that has honeycomb aluminum stringers covered with carbon fiber. To mount the motor cage, they had to make interlocking aluminum bushings that go all the way through and have a .060" crush limit built in, so they could actually tighten the bolts without destoying the stringers.
I will back up this post. Leaving the bottom of the wood open is the only way to go but that's only half the job. The other half is keeping the moisture out of the sub-floor and that means taking the foam out. Don't re-foam. People put pool noodles and all kinds of crap in there but that stuff just traps moisture and rots the wood.
How long can you expect a piece of plywood to last when it's got a wet sponge touching it?
I leave my floors open underneath, move the drain holes to the bottom of the bilge well, so the holes are semi-circles that come up from the bottom of the hull. That way, there is nothing impeding the water as it flows back toward the drain plug. As a final measure, I installed a couple of small 12v box fans (computer style) up under the dash to blow air into the sub-floor. That keeps it nice and dry.
I've pulled apart quite a few old Glastrons and the floors are always OK, except where they were penetrated by rigging. The rot is always around the screws. Bad rigging is the death of boats. Anywhere you drill or screw, you have to seal. Silicone doesn't work. Use LifeCalk or equivalent polysulfide sealant.
When we redid the floors of my Campbell, we made them out of diamond plate aluminum. It actually weighed less on the scale than marine plywood, it's stronger, it will never rot, and when you pull the carpet up (I installed mine with snaps) it looks really sweet. Of course it's hot in direct sunlight, hence the carpet.
Aluminum will rot(powder) when exposed to water.
I just recieve some samples from coosa composites. Has anyone ever used this stuff before? The adhesion is excellent and it seems to be a bit lighter than wood. I am looking into using this for upholstery such as in an engine hatch or seat boxes. It would just be so much easier than having to glass over everything and glue doesn't stick good to treated plywood. I am waiting to see how much a sheet of this stuff costs. I am hoping its cheaper than plastic board.
www.bowkersfiberglass.com
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