You might wince at the cost of coating with epoxy since the coating will possibly exceed the cost of the plywood itself but it is the only way to protect it. To make the plywood of the boat waterproof follow the below given steps: Clean the sides of the veneered marine boat with a clean cloth. The answer to this question is yes, Marine-Grade Plywood should be treated. Ken is comfortable using epoxy for a plywood bottom becuase plywood is “dimensionally stable”. Whether it’s balsa, plywood or some of the foam cores all can eventually absorb water from a leaking deck penetration. Next step is to take a paintbrush and fill all the holes and joints with epoxy. Although Marine-Grade Plywood is strong, durable, and heavily-resistant to moisture, an additional coat of seal is typically needed to prevent moisture from the wood’s doors. Wait for three hours and then apply a second coat. You can choose any suitable sealant. So I rebuild boats and have replaced sections of flooring before but this one I chose to rip the entire floor out and remove all the foam (what a pain that was) anyway this weekend I am going to put in the new floor, marine plywood, and drill and pour the new foam. Plywood used as a subfloor, wall underlayment or roof sheathing needs to have the seams sealed with caulk. He generally removes andreplaces bad wood, then reseals, varnishes and paints as appropriate without using epoxy. Plywood is a wood that is oftentimes used on docks and boats. When plywood is exposed to water or extreme humidity conditions it can cause the glue to come undone, weakening the entire integrity and foundation of the wood. As has been mentioned, for the deck on a bass boat, simply painting the plywood with a good quality oil based enamel (and maintaining it) will last for decades . With that said when I am done with that I have to seal it. Unfortunately, plywood is made by gluing layers of wood together where it is later finished with a veneer. Any reasonably handy boat owner can caulk their own boat, there is no magic involved. First, sand the plywood surface with 80 grit sandpaper. I took PAR's and Gonzos (and others) sealing advice almost a decade ago when I did an extensive restoration on a small cruiser. How To Seal The Plywood. Unsealed seams diminish the effectiveness of the cooling and heating systems of a home which can adversely affect utility costs. The many layers of Marine Grade Plywood are held together with waterproof adhesive, allowing the wood to withstand direct contact with water. Plywood that has been stored indoors and is still as dry (12%) as when manufactured, does not need to 'breath'. Jolt epoxy with glue and open lid then mix epoxy and hardener in a bowl. A leaking deck, especially with wood cores, can lead to core rot and eventually delamination of the deck and loss of structural rigidity. But total encapsulation is the key - that means enough coats to form an effective barrier, including all the sharp edges and bolt holes, etc. Both the above posts are accurate advice. However, there are several ways of waterproofing plywood for a boat. There are thousands of ply/epoxy boats built that are completely encapsulated. Among them, the best is using a wooden sealant. By sealing these seams, moisture, insects, dust and air can't permeate into a home. Ordinary plywood usually has 3 to 5 layers, while marine plywood has ten layers or more. Since it’s the ideal wood for moist or wet conditions, it’s often used to craft boats, boat parts, or outdoor furniture in coastal areas. Many of the boats in Ken’s shop are there because of poor maintenance, improper storage or other forms of neglect. On a new boat, with pristine seams between the planks, it is pretty straight forward. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do this. 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