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Permalink Reply by Riverman on June 21, 2014 at 8:57am

No one has an opinion on which plywood to use for a boat bottom? 

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Permalink Reply by Randy Dersham on June 21, 2014 at 11:23am

The best boat bottom wood is 1/2 in marine Douglas-fir.  I have worked with all of the boat materials and that is still by far the longest grain and toughest.  BS1088 Meranti in 1/2 is the second best.  

The advantage of the Meranti for you is that it will match the color of your sides.  On our shop boats we used Fir and painted the bottom with a dark brown bed liner type material.  The fir floor is a natural blond color and much lighter than the Meranti sides. 

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Permalink Reply by JAY STRUGNELL on June 21, 2014 at 11:37am

Why not use Douglas fir, it is plentiful, strong And reasonable

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Permalink Reply by Riverman on June 21, 2014 at 11:54am

Douglas fir for the bottom then...  thanks

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Permalink Reply by lhedrick on June 21, 2014 at 5:21pm

I have heard several people tell me that the modern douglas fir plywood is no longer worth using.  Less plies, more voids etc.  Just what I have heard so I would like to hear what others say.

I now build using composites.  When I use wood I use Okume or Meranti on the sides.  I will  never use wood on a boat bottom again.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Baker on June 21, 2014 at 10:10pm

Here is my .02 I still get very good doug fir and use for many bottoms. My favorite bottom is a 1/4" Meranti bottom with 1/2" Plascore or Nida Core bonded to it then glassed with 20 oz. Triax. Probably my imagination but I swear these boats float higher and lighter. I wonder if the plastic core adds a bit of positive flotation.

The main advantage is less weight and a 1/2" barrier to protect the plywood plus you get the Meranti look on the inside.

Mike

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