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Offline PartsMan

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Boat seat wood
« on: July 09, 2010, 12:02:23 PM »
I bought an old v bottom boat last night that needs new wood on the bench seats.
They look like 1 by 12 boards with a metal brace to help hold the weight.

What kind of wood should I use?
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Offline Sweetwater

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Re: Boat seat wood
« Reply #1 on: July 09, 2010, 01:02:47 PM »
The seats in my 1957 Crestliner were replaced in the early '70's with 3/4" Birch faced marine grade plywood - sold the boat to a gentleman in Daytona Beach, Fla in '91 and the seats were still fine.

Jeff
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Offline kynardsj

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Re: Boat seat wood
« Reply #2 on: July 09, 2010, 01:11:09 PM »
3/4 pressure treated plywood should work. Just have to rip it to the size needed and do a bit of sanding to get rid of any rough edges.
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Offline spruce

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Re: Boat seat wood
« Reply #3 on: July 09, 2010, 01:30:31 PM »
If you decide to use plywood you can save a lot of money by NOT using marine grade plywood.  If you were restoring a classic wooden boat then marine grade would be the way to go.

I'd just go with A/C exterior grade and put the "C" side down.  The only difference between it and marine plywood is aesthetics - and price!
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Offline Drilling Man

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Re: Boat seat wood
« Reply #4 on: July 09, 2010, 01:38:27 PM »
Quote from: spruce on July 09, 2010, 01:30:31 PM
If you decide to use plywood you can save a lot of money by NOT using marine grade plywood.  If you were restoring a classic wooden boat then marine grade would be the way to go.

I'd just go with A/C exterior grade and put the "C" side down.  The only difference between it and marine plywood is aesthetics - and price!

  Marine grade ply, always had more plys with less voids. (= stronger higher quality plywood)  did that change?

  DM
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Offline Sweetwater

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Re: Boat seat wood
« Reply #5 on: July 09, 2010, 08:15:39 PM »
A friend of mine used A/C exterior grade plywood for his seats and we were forever getting splinters where we didn't want them. Didn't have that problem with the marine grade. FWIW
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Offline PartsMan

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Re: Boat seat wood
« Reply #6 on: July 10, 2010, 04:06:18 AM »
Not a full restore but I think with some stained benches and new paint it would look nice.
I had not thought about plywood.
I'll have to see if I can get Marine grade near here.
What solid wood would you guys recommend.

Also. I checked the title and it is a 1969 Starcraft.
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Offline spruce

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Re: Boat seat wood
« Reply #7 on: July 10, 2010, 06:11:38 AM »
Drilling Man - You're right, I should have phrased that differently!

There is a difference in quality, hence the difference in price.  Since the OP referenced "an old V-bottom boat" I assumed (always problematic) we were talking about an inexpensive "knock around" type fishing boat - in which case I wouldn't spend the extra money for top of the line seat material.

That is just my OPINION and I should have clearly stated as much - didn't intend it to sound like a FACT!

Now that I know it's a 1969 Starcraft my opinion is likely somewhat different!!!
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Offline mechanic

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Re: Boat seat wood
« Reply #8 on: July 10, 2010, 10:41:50 AM »
Quote from: PartsMan on July 10, 2010, 04:06:18 AM
Not a full restore but I think with some stained benches and new paint it would look nice.
I had not thought about plywood.
I'll have to see if I can get Marine grade near here.
What solid wood would you guys recommend.

Also. I checked the title and it is a 1969 Starcraft.

If you have a cabinet supply nearby, you might check on cypress.  It will outlast you and the boat......

Ben
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Offline PartsMan

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Re: Boat seat wood
« Reply #9 on: July 10, 2010, 01:31:58 PM »
It is an old knock around boat now but I want to fix it up a little. It looks like it was like this one originally.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3061/2742022197_1ddb7a8f95.jpg

So we have plywood or cypress.
Is there anything in between?
Something nicer looking and harder than pine but not special order prices.
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Offline spruce

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Re: Boat seat wood
« Reply #10 on: July 10, 2010, 02:35:49 PM »
You might find something in stock at a specialty wood shop if you have any in your area.  They should have a decent variety to choose from.  Prices will be higher than pine of course, but for a relatively small quantity you may find it affordable.

Another place I would check would be at small woodworking shops such as cabinet makers, etc.

Cypress and Cedar are probably the two most weather-resistant woods, but with a good preservative finish and reasonable care most any hardwood should last quite a while.

I've used Cherry for decks on canoes and finished it with epoxy and spar varnish and it's still good after about 15 years on the oldest one.
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Offline mrbigtexan

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Re: Boat seat wood
« Reply #11 on: July 10, 2010, 03:27:09 PM »
if it is'nt that hard to replace them, then use cedar and boiled lindseed oil and replace them every 15 years or so.
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Offline DEACONLLB

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Re: Boat seat wood
« Reply #12 on: July 10, 2010, 05:45:52 PM »
As an old carpenter with years of experince working with wood I will just say before you use treated wood you might take a look at a handout sheet from the lumber yard on treated wood. It is not for use where it comes in contact with skin or hands and you are to use a dust mask when cutting it and are to wash your hands before eating if you have had you hands on it. Yes I know that it is used for decks and picnic tables and many places where it comes in contact with the skin. It is great and will last for years but it also has a health warning.
It will work good for boat seats but would say give it a couple of coats of paint to seal it off. You can get some 3/4 8 ply birch and put on a couple coats of clear varnish and it will last for years and look great.

Deaconllb




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Offline PartsMan

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Re: Boat seat wood
« Reply #13 on: July 11, 2010, 09:20:01 AM »
Thank you all. I think ceder would be easier to get here.
I will just see what I can find.

I thought treated was for ground contact anyway. Not sun and water.
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Offline Winter Hawk

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Re: Boat seat wood
« Reply #14 on: July 11, 2010, 10:06:53 AM »
I would look at how long and wide you need the boards.  Plywood will last you and won't cup if it gets weathered.  Lots of boats have been made with exterior grade plywood to save costs.  The marine grade costs more because all of the voids in the interior plies have been filled.  This gives eliminates weak spots.  They used to be filled with wood (a "football" was cut out around the hole and another football shaped piece glued in, pretty labor intensive) but the last time I bought some it had what looked like Bondo in some of my saw cuts.  The wood is also as clear as possible for each ply, while this may not be the case with exterior.

Having said this, I would still go with exterior plywood for the seats.  Just make sure to finish them with a waterproof finish.  Fiberglassing them would be the ultimate, and complete the job with a UV resistant poly-type varnish.  They will last longer than the rest of the boat that way!

-WH-
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Offline Drilling Man

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Re: Boat seat wood
« Reply #15 on: July 11, 2010, 10:28:25 AM »
Quote from: PartsMan on July 11, 2010, 09:20:01 AM
Thank you all. I think ceder would be easier to get here.
I will just see what I can find.

I thought treated was for ground contact anyway. Not sun and water.

  There are two "common" types of PT lumber.  "Flat" lumber treated to .40 and "square" lumber like 4x4's, 4x6's ect...  They are treated to .60, and are treated heavier for "in ground" use.

  I'd just buy the PT plywood or flat lumber, and seal it with paint or exterior stain, and not worry about it.

  DM
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Offline PartsMan

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Re: Boat seat wood
« Reply #16 on: July 13, 2010, 12:28:09 PM »
A pic for those that would like to see.

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Offline PartsMan

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Re: Boat seat wood
« Reply #17 on: July 22, 2010, 06:01:01 PM »
I went with Pine 1x12s.
Then added stain and polyurethane.
After

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Offline spruce

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Re: Boat seat wood
« Reply #18 on: July 24, 2010, 08:14:33 AM »
Looks good.  Nice fishing boat.
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Offline Sweetwater

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Re: Boat seat wood
« Reply #19 on: July 27, 2010, 04:30:04 PM »
Nice looking job!

Jeff
NRA Life
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Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway - John Wayne

The proof is in the freezer - Sweetwater
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