Material for boat decking?

[eyebjim]

I need to replace some of the wood on the decking of my boat. What is best to use. I checked on marine grade plywood and it is quite costly at $50/4x8 and special order. Can anyone recommend a good material that may be more readily available and a bit less costly that will last?

I know normal treated green wood is probably not a good choice due to the corrosive treating.

Anyone have any experience with Crestliner warranty on the decking? They sold it to me with a 20 year decking warranty and it is now 10 years old and several parts are totally gone. Particle board desinegrated.

I figure they would deny the claim cause I do not store it indoors and what not. That and I would have give up the boat for a period of time. This is why I am contemplating doing it myself.

[EBass]

I used MDO Plywood and it was 3/4 in - I think. I went to a lumber yard in north MPLS right on the river, Siveks. Menards or Home Depot don't have this. I told the guy I wanted to put a floor in my jon boat and asked for marine treated plywood and he told me MDO is the way to go. He said it's twice the product for the same price. I figured he would know since he works at a lumber yard.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[Walleye Guy]

I would check with Crestliner on the warranty first. You may be surprised at their answer. Maybe you can negotiate getting the replacement pieces for free and you can do the replacement yourself.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Talk to Crestliner, you may get a deal.

If not, I re-decked my boat a few years ago. I used 5/8 AC plywood. Cut to fit, and apply aboot a million coats of spar varnish prior to final install.

[Gus]

EBass, how is the MDO holding up so far? How long have you had it installed? Did you paint or seal it with anything else? Sorry for the 20 questions, just really trying to decide what material to go with myself and this is the first I'd heard of MDO.

For anyone wondering, here is a snipit I googled up about MDO.

MDO Plywood – The Paintable General Purpose Panel

Characteristics: An EXTERIOR type plywood with a weather-resistant resin overlay bonded to the wood by heat and pressure. This process fuses the molecules of the overlay with the fibres of the wood to form a bond as strong as the wood itself. MDO has all the advantages of regular plywood as well as additional properties. The overlay, which has 28% resin content, resists water, weather, wear and degradation. It has texture that paint can grip with remarkable tenacity. Paint finishes on MDO are up to three times more durable than the same finish applied to ordinary plywood.Ideal for Painted Signs: In many instances, overlaid MDO plywood has proven a more durable sign material than metal. MDO plywood is resistant to the elements with no danger of rust or corrosion.

MDO

MDO is saturated with Phenolic Resins, just not as much in the paper layer as the true phenolic ply.

”

MDO (Medium Density Overlay)

MDO is made with a high-quality paper saturated with phenolic resin solids and overlaid on exterior-grade plywood panels.

The selected hardwood veneer beneath the overlay is free of patches, providing a smooth surface with minimal grain show through.

MDO plywood is manufactured with waterproof resins that meet or exceed all veneer-grade, adhesion, and construction requirements.

It is stronger, more rigid, and less subject to creep than composition products. Innerplies and backs are all ÒCÓ grade or better.

MDO plywood can be sawn, nailed, routed, shaped and drilled.

The overlay is bonded to a hardwood substrate for a smooth, paintable surface and may be specified on one or two sides. “

[eyebjim]

Thanks for the replies.

I will check with crestliner but if it means givin up my boat. I'll do it. Maybe like said they will give me some panels and I can do it. I would like that.

If they wont help it sounds like MDO is the way to go.

[BoxMN]

FWIW, I have rehabbed two boats and an old pontooon. I will only use true marine plywood for now on, I used it on my pontoon and one boat. It's worth the price IMO. Good luck with whatever you do.

[SkunkedAgain]

I'm not sold on the MDO. There are some contradictory statements in the description above. It's for outdoor use (positive) but then says the following:

Quote:

MDO plywood is manufactured with waterproof resins that meet or exceed all veneer-grade, adhesion, and construction requirements.

So it's waterproof, great! But then:

Quote:

An EXTERIOR type plywood with a weather-resistant resin overlay bonded to the wood by heat and pressure

Weather-resistant resin? Which is it? My point is that it may not be made to be saturated in water like the underside of your boat deck may be. The underside of your deck may also not get the opportunity to dry, and that's where the difference between MDO and marine-grade wood comes into play.

If I were in your shoes, I'd do the following in this order:

1) Call Crestliner and discover your options. If need be, schedule time over the winter to have the work done.

2) Research MDO and marine-grade wood a bit more. Don't just rely on forums (and yahoos like myself) to give you definitive answers.

[MinnesotaMike]

I put MDO in my boat last year, from the lumber yard in NE Mpls, so far so good.

Mike

[eyebjim]

I will investigate a bit more. I am sure the MDO can't be any worse than the particle board that crestliner used.

Anyone out there MDO to redo a boat several years ago. It would be good to hear how it was 4 or 5 years down the road.

[EBass]

For me it's been the cat's meow. Going on the 4th year, but I keep my boat in my garage when not in use and all winter.

I have a buddy who used to work for BASF and he sealed ALL sides after it was cut to fit (not installed) with some sealant for parking ramps, then he put silica sand on top for grip and another layer of this sealant stuff. So now it's water proof. The color isn't the best on the sealant, but it was free so I can't complain.

I can get some pics and show ya, but photobucket is blocked at work and my PC at home is a pile. So could I email the pics and someone post em?

It's strong stuff. I've had a 260lb guy on the front and back deck to test it and it passed. Granted it's supported, but still.