Plywood Curiosity Question

[Alixander Beck]

Would you use non-marine grade ply encapsulated in epoxy for bulkhead sections of a small sailing dinghy?

If encapsulation was done well would it not protect the wood well enough to stop bilge water - which would be the most likely place for water penetration.

[timgoz]

Alixander,

Do a forum search on plywood, marine ply, ect....

This issue has been dealt with numerous times. You will find a wealth of information.

Take care.

Tim

[KnottyBuoyz]

Originally Posted by Alixander Beck

Would you use non-marine grade ply encapsulated in epoxy for bulkhead sections of a small sailing dinghy?

If encapsulation was done well would it not protect the wood well enough to stop bilge water - which would be the most likely place for water penetration.

Hi Alix

For a dingy non-marine ply would probably be ok. Test your resin to see if it'll stick first. Some ply's don't take or hold resin well. If you can ad some fiberglass when you encapsulate the bulkhead. You may well need "Limber Holes" to allow water to flow from one compartment of a boat to the next. These are usually put at the very bottom of the bulkhead so that when the boat is at rest the water can flow uninterrupted out of the compartment. For a dingy it isn't that important, just haul it up on the beach/dock and tip it over. If you cut limber holes remember to goop up the exposed core (plywood) with some epoxy to keep it from getting wet.



Good Luck

Rick

[USCGRET/E8]

Exterior fur ply should be fine. I would try to find some B C grade, so it's pretty and smooth on both sides, unless your going to paint it.

[Alixander Beck]

Thanks for the advice Gents.

[PAR]

Make sure it's a WBP adhesive and not a type II (water resistant) adhesive. On exterior sheets it will be marked "continuous ground contact" (WBP glue) or "sheathing" (type II glue). A type II panel will eventually fail, if the bulkheads sit in pools of water, limbers or not. Encapsulation will help a type II sheet last a lot longer. Make great pains to insure the end grain (edges) and any holes, notches or cutouts are well coated with goo.

[Alixander Beck]

Originally Posted by PAR

Make sure it's a WBP adhesive and not a type II (water resistant) adhesive. On exterior sheets it will be marked "continuous ground contact" (WBP glue) or "sheathing" (type II glue). A type II panel will eventually fail, if the bulkheads sit in pools of water, limbers or not. Encapsulation will help a type II sheet last a lot longer. Make great pains to insure the end grain (edges) and any holes, notches or cutouts are well coated with goo.

Thanks!

yes of course the end grain is the most important to seal....Water's favourite entry point.

[chandler]

How long do want it to last? If it's a dingy you probably only need a 1/2 sheet. Spend the extra money. Construction grade plywood gets worse by the day, voids, poor quality veneers, etc.
Stay away from the big box store hardwood plywood, it's all junk!