Pressure treated wood used for floor deck!!!

[jl_rotary]

Looking at a aluminum v hull thatvtheyvused pressure treated wood for the flooring. I know thats not what should be used, but should i be worried and stay away? Wondering how long it would need to be installed before it starts damaging the aluminum. Any insight or thoughts. I dont know how long its been on the boat, but know it was mainly stored in barn if that makes any difference.

 

[FuzzyGrub]

I can only tell you that it took over 20 years and wet transom to put "worm tracks" and a few small pin holes in the aluminum on my 1648. The transom wood was PT plywood with no visable sealing/paint.

If it has been fully sealed, probably not worth worring about. Dry is better than wet, but once wet, it will take allot to dry out the layer under the plywood. Is there foam uner the floor?

 

[mbullen]

The danger of treated wood is in the treatment.
All treated woods use a metal as a preservative...copper, zinc, arsenic, etc.
Dissimilar metals (contact with the boat's aluminum) lead to galvanic corrosion.

It happens at different rates due to the presence/absence of an electrolyte (polarity and salts) but it happens nonetheless.
I can wax poetic about the chemical processes if needed, but in general, it's best to simply avoid treated woods.

 

[thill]

Ask them if they put a barrier between the wood and metal. It will probably be fine, but it might not. If it's cheap enough, I'd just take the chance. If it's a $$$ boat, I would like to see under a panel or two.

 

[airshot]

The PT wood made in the past 20 years no longer has the harsh chemicals that it had before then. It also doesn't last anywhere near as long outside. So..if that wood is less than 22 years, you might be ok. Built a deck 24 yrs back with "new improved" PT lumber. That lumber has been bad for the past 3-4 years. According to the tags was to last over 25 yrs on direct ground contact. No ground contact yet rotted away before the untreated lumber around it !

 

[Matty Gilbert]

Would spraying the inside of the boat with a "bedliner" product save the work I've done unknowingly with PT?

 

[fwman1]

If you are kinda handy, you could try this method. Mine has been flawless over two seasons.
https://www.tinboats.net/threads/anyone-create-frp-board-and-polystyrene-sandwich-for-decking.49874/

 

[FuzzyGrub]

Would spraying the inside of the boat with a "bedliner" product save the work I've done unknowingly with PT?

I think that makes a bigger mess in the long run. It is the contact points that are the main concern, and would need to lift the floor to add any barrier.

 

[thill]

Your FRP floor panels turned out GREAT, Fwman1. Very impressive

 

[Fishingman48]

When I did my floor on my V-HULL MIRROR CRAFT 14ft.TROLLER after taking out the rotted plywood not knowing what manufacture used as boat was left outside, I went with marine ply and was lucky enough to find no damage to interior of hull prior to new floor .

 

[navipro]

For what it is worth. I have asked the manufacturer of treated plywood for home depot (MicroPro Sienna) and I have the email from them stating that their treated plywood is fine to be in contact with bare aluminum. They claim it to be same as regular plywood.
On another hand they don't reccomend using it for the transom because of constant water exposure that may cause deamination.

 

[navipro]

For what it is worth. I have asked the manufacturer of treated plywood for home depot (MicroPro Sienna) and I have the email from them stating that their treated plywood is fine to be in contact with bare aluminum. They claim it to be same as regular plywood.
On another hand they don't reccomend using it for the transom because of constant water exposure that may cause deamination.

 

[LDUBS]

For what it is worth. I have asked the manufacturer of treated plywood for home depot (MicroPro Sienna) and I have the email from them stating that their treated plywood is fine to be in contact with bare aluminum. They claim it to be same as regular plywood.
On another hand they don't reccomend using it for the transom because of constant water exposure that may cause deamination.

Interesting and thanks for sharing. This stuff is rated CDX. According to the spec's it uses a copper based preservative. I would be leery about the possible galvanic reaction. I'm not a chemist or scientist. Just a guy applying an abundance of caution. I would be happy to be shown to be wrong.

 

[thill]

Good to know! I would seal it just like regular wood if I used it. The new PT lumbers aren't very rot resistant, unfortunately, so it might not be worth it.

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

View attachment 122725

Good to know! I would seal it just like regular wood if I used it. The new PT lumbers aren't very rot resistant, unfortunately, so it might not be worth it.

You pay more for pressure treated wood then still have to seal it. Exterior grade properly sealed will last for many years.

 

[David Atkins]

View attachment 122725

Good to know! I would seal it just like regular wood if I used it. The new PT lumbers aren't very rot resistant, unfortunately, so it might not be worth it.

That's the seller stating it is approved for aluminum contact; doesn't say anything about it not being corrosive and causing damage to your aluminum boat! Think about the Covid Vaccine and that it was supposed to stop Covid, not hurt humans, etc.................................Think about it!