Hi I am in the process of replacing the teak ply in my sailboat
interior and was wondering if anyone has used any other type of floor
such as engineered or solid wood? What would the downside be to using
this type of material.

Thanks Dave

When you say "floor", do you actually mean "sole".
The floor inside the cabin of a sailboat is usually called the sole.
The floors are frame cross members beneath the sole.
Is the plywood a structural component of the hull?
More information would be needed to offer useful information.
The main difference between plywood and solid wood is that solid wood
may warp if it gets wet on one side and not the other.
I would guess that this is a plywood skin placed over a fiberglass
sole in a fiberglass boat. I have replaced this material with
strips of wood screwed to cleats running crosswise. I made the whole
thing removable to enable cleaning beneath. I used black locust(not
generally commercially available but works great)
You could use honduran mahogany if you can find any or douglas fir if
that is all you can get. Spruce and cedar may be too soft. Teak may be
too expensive.
I've also used industrial agricultural flooring material designed to
go under dairy cattle to keep thier feet dry. Also used in commercial
kitchens. This is seriously ugly though.
I would not use the popular composite type floor (pergo is one brand),
I don't think it is waterproof enough.


Dave Mac wrote:
Hi I am in the process of replacing the teak ply in my sailboat
interior and was wondering if anyone has used any other type of floor
such as engineered or solid wood? What would the downside be to using
this type of material.

Thanks Dave

steveJ wrote in message ...
When you say "floor", do you actually mean "sole".
The floor inside the cabin of a sailboat is usually called the sole.
The floors are frame cross members beneath the sole.
Is the plywood a structural component of the hull?
More information would be needed to offer useful information.
The main difference between plywood and solid wood is that solid wood
may warp if it gets wet on one side and not the other.
I would guess that this is a plywood skin placed over a fiberglass
sole in a fiberglass boat. I have replaced this material with
strips of wood screwed to cleats running crosswise. I made the whole
thing removable to enable cleaning beneath. I used black locust(not
generally commercially available but works great)
You could use honduran mahogany if you can find any or douglas fir if
that is all you can get. Spruce and cedar may be too soft. Teak may be
too expensive.
I've also used industrial agricultural flooring material designed to
go under dairy cattle to keep thier feet dry. Also used in commercial
kitchens. This is seriously ugly though.
I would not use the popular composite type floor (pergo is one brand),
I don't think it is waterproof enough.


Dave Mac wrote:
Hi I am in the process of replacing the teak ply in my sailboat
interior and was wondering if anyone has used any other type of floor
such as engineered or solid wood? What would the downside be to using
this type of material.

Thanks Dave

Hi Steve Thanks for the reply. I did mean the cabin sole and I have
already replaced the old with 1/2" ply sealed with epoxy on the back
and glass with epoy on top.Could solid or engineered wood be used if
it was sealed on both sides with epoxy or is it just better to replace
with teak and holly ply @$275.00cdn. per sheet x 2 ?? The downside of
the ply is the veneer is paper thin so wear is a concern.

Thanks Dave
Thanks D

A vinyl manufacturer, AMTICO makes two of their many wood designs in Teak
and Washed Teak. It is a glue down product, ( available in 3 / 4/ or 6
inch.. three foot long strips ....)and seems to be solid vinyl. I'd have to
guess that it would be a very appropriate replacement for a non-structural
sole.

Their web site is http://www.amtico.com/home/whats_new.asp and we have the
material "washed teak" down in our kitchen. Other than a poor leveling job
by the contractor, we are very happy with it's appearance. The contractor
will be back this weekend to rip it up and re-level the whole kitchen!

Nearly everyone thinks it is natural wood and most people couldn't tell the
difference without crawling on the floor. Home Depot (Expo) carries it.
RichG

"Dave Mac" wrote in message
om...
Hi I am in the process of replacing the teak ply in my sailboat
interior and was wondering if anyone has used any other type of floor
such as engineered or solid wood? What would the downside be to using
this type of material.

Thanks Dave

"Dave Mac" wrote in message
om...
Hi I am in the process of replacing the teak ply in my sailboat
interior and was wondering if anyone has used any other type of floor
such as engineered or solid wood? What would the downside be to using
this type of material.

The only downside I can see to using different construction materials on a
boat is the (remote) possibility of offsetting displacement if the weight is
too little or too much more than standard. But that's mostly theoretical,
unless you want to line your sole with lead.

Beneteau is using some kind of high pressure laminated flooring in the
36.7 (Farr design) sailboat. It's supposed to be much more durable,
scratch and dent resistant. It looks great. I don't know who makes
it for them.

Eric

(Dave Mac) wrote in message . com...
Hi I am in the process of replacing the teak ply in my sailboat
interior and was wondering if anyone has used any other type of floor
such as engineered or solid wood? What would the downside be to using
this type of material.

Thanks Dave