Fastening new plywood decking together--

[Top Turret Gunne]

I need Help on fastening plywood together to make it wider----my deck will be about 5' 5" wide and about 6' long--will need to fit two pieces of wood together---
what is the best way and also to seal crack---wood will be epoxy clear coated --no carpet---- What thickness plywood is suggested ---new deck will be 12" above old deck----Thanks ---Gunne---

[ProcraftMike]

I would go with 3/4" plywood, for the added strength and less flexing. Are you using standard plywood or marine grade? If marine grade, you can probably get by with 1/2". To complete the seam, I would flip the plywood over and straddle the seam with another piece of plywood (do this on the underside of the finished deck), or other type of wood (1"x??), overlapping both pieces of plywood by 4"-6", if room permits. Epoxy resin and use some stainless steel or non-corroding screws to fasten it. You can probably fill the seam with epoxy resin, if it is not to wide.

I hope this helps!

[Top Turret Gunne]

Thanks for the info--I will go with reg plywood [Marine grade cost too much]---I will put cross braces under it to help support----will use clear coat epoxy to waterproof it---- Treated plywood is a lot cheaper and is fairly waterproof with a little care in use---- Gunne

[ProcraftMike]

No matter what you use, make sure the plywood is good and dry before you seal it up. If it is not, you will probably have problems down the line as that moisture tries to escape.

[Top Turret Gunne]

I am going to buy my wood in the next day or two--then it will bestored so it can completely dry out----Have read the reports that the wood has to be really dry before coating------thank you for all your info-----Gunne

[Top Turret Gunne]

Procraft Mike---I went with treated i/2" plywood with cross braces on 2/4 16"centers ---joined wood came together on a crossbrace and very smallcrack----
boat is outside and will be in sun to dry before coating---

My Grandson did the work [he is a finnish carpenter] and did a excellent job----

thanks for all your info to me for this project----

Gunne

[ProcraftMike]

Great! Keep us posted and post some pics if you can. We all love to see restoration work.

[Top Turret Gunne]

I took before and after pictures but they ain't been developed yet and I don't know how to post them ---I can e-mail pictures but can;t post-----Puter dumb ---

[ProcraftMike]

Get them loaded to Shutterfly.com and we can show you how to get them on here. Here's the instructions. http://www.bbcboards.net/zerothread?id=91069

[Top Turret Gunne]

ProfcraftMike---Went to link and read inst.--will try it when pictures get developed---
I'm gonna clear coat today and get this job finished---need to get on the water---

LOL--{Cabin Fever done took over}---- -----Gunne