I will be removing the liner on my 19’ center console next weekend to begin my rebuild. I am looking for suggestions on materials to use for the deck. It currently has a few soft spots where the plywood or stringers have probably rotted. i see lots of debate on the web about marine grade plywood, regular treated plywood and then also plastic materials. Lots of people say that using regular treated plywood is just as good as the others as long as it is glassed properly. What are your preferences for deck material as far as durability, costs, and ability to obtain locally in the Charleston area? Thanks for the suggestions.
Absolutely do not use treated wood inside of any sort of encapsulation.
Untreated marine grade or expanded PVC “foam core” is the way to go. If you use wood, you need to coat it with resin first so that it soaks it up and cures before you add the glass laminate layers.
You can order composite coring materials off the web. IMO they are easier to work with for the amateur. If you don’t do wood perfectly, it will rot. The composite materials that are closed cell will not rot. How you have them encapsulated and protected is therefore not as big of a deal as it is with wood.
Would be happy to share sources with you for composite if you decide to go that way. Cost is not that much more than marine grade plywood. The density of the coring and thickness will determine cost. It all depends on where you’ll be using it.
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Luke 8:22-25
I replace a lot of decks and transoms and I only use certified marine mahogany. BS1088 or BS6566 Meranti or Okume. Generally I cover it with 12 ounce biax cloth and epoxy. This plywood is Lloyds of London certified for ship building. It has no voids, no patches, the core is the same material as the faces, and all layers are equal thickness.
Exterior plywood has many hidden voids that will quickly give you some new soft spots. Treated plywood is just exterior pine and the pressure treatment chemicals don’t play well with epoxy. I’ve done a lot of tests with it and it tends to delaminate pretty quick. I would not consider using either in a boat, for any purpose.
When I repair a boat, I guarantee it for life so I only use the best material available. Your biggest investment is your time and labor. You probably can’t buy it locally, I order mine from Florida but shipping cost is only $100. That’s nothing to get a product you can count on to last many years.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Small craft surveying and repair
Thanks for the input. Phin if you don’t mind sharing those composite sources, I’d like to take a look at that material and determine how much I would need. Any suggestions on what thickness I would need for the deck? I’m not sure what is on there at the moment but should be able to get a better idea once I remove the liner next weekend.